Public sees cultural heritage protection in conflict zones as a high priority

Nearly nine in 10 people across the UK support cultural heritage protection in conflict zones, according to new research commissioned by the British Council.

The findings have been released to mark the 10th anniversary of the UK’s flagship international Cultural Protection Fund, which supports communities around the world to safeguard cultural heritage at risk.

The programme, led by the British Council in partnership with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), has recently been extended for a further three years. The extension includes an £8.95m investment to support community-led efforts to protect cultural heritage worldwide.

The extension of the programme comes at a time when the British Council is facing cutting its workforce further and closing operations in 11 countries as it struggles to repay a crippling £197m Covid-induced government loan.

The new research, conducted by Censuswide, surveyed 2,500 people aged 16-44 across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Respondents were asked how they define cultural heritage, how they connect with it in their daily lives, and how important they believe its protection is in times of crisis.

The key findings were that nine in 10 people, or 86%, of the UK public agree cultural heritage must be protected in times of crisis; that 81% agree cultural heritage protection should be considered alongside humanitarian efforts; and that most respondents engage with cultural heritage in-person – over half at home with family (53%), compared to just 23% via social media.

When asked what cultural heritage means to them, more than half selected family traditions and celebrations (58%), closely followed by historic buildings and monuments (57%). Food and recipes passed down through generations (45%), and music, songs and dance (45%), were also highly selected.

The survey also explored how people engage with cultural heritage. While almost a quarter of respondents (23%) engage through social media, respondents mainly engage through in-person experiences.

More than half of respondents (53%) said they connect with heritage at home with family, while around a third (34%) cited visits to museums, galleries or heritage sites.

More than four in five respondents (81%) agreed that safeguarding cultural heritage should be considered alongside humanitarian efforts during conflict or environmental crises, while just 3% disagreed.

Among the projects supported by the Cultural Protection Fund over the years are efforts to safeguard one of the world's oldest and most significant fossil sites, including the protection of 1.5-million-year-old hominin footprints at Ileret in Kenya.

Funding has also helped revive Maqam music in Mosul, Iraq, a centuries-old musical tradition that came close to disappearing and is now being preserved for future generations.

Stephanie Grant, the cultural protection fund director at the British Council, said: “These findings show just how much cultural heritage is woven into our everyday lives – from how we engage with it digitally and in person with our friends, families, and communities.

"At a time of growing threats from conflict and climate change, our work at the Cultural Protection Fund highlights the vital role heritage plays in bringing people together and strengthening resilience in the face of global challenges.”

The report comes at a time when the British Council is cutting its workforce by 15% and closing operations in 11 countries in order to pay off a £197m Covid-era government loan. Critics say the cuts are shortsighted and have called on the government to do more to support the public body.