|
 |
Launched in 2020, Heritage Now is a series of conversations at the nexus of history, culture and current global issues with top thought leaders, activists, artists, journalists, and politicians. In these events hosted by WMF President and CEO Bénédicte de Montlaur, the public is invited to explore why monuments and other cultural heritage sites are such a vital part of our local and global ecosystems; the history and relevance of these sites in our contemporary context; the urgent threats to their preservation; and what we can do—individually and collectively—to protect these irreplaceable treasures.
Events
Saving the Soul of Beirut: The Path to Recovery
Thursday, October 15, 2020
Virtual Event
Consider future models for the protection and revitalization of Beirut's urban landscape in the aftermath of the August 4 explosion with Dr. George Arbid, architect and director of the Arab Center for Architecture in Beirut; Mona El Hallak, architect, heritage preservation activist and the director of the Neighborhood Initiative at the American University of Beirut (AUB); and Nadine Labaki, award-winning director, actress, and activist.
The Confederate Monument Debate: International Perspectives on the Future of Monuments with Difficult Pasts
Friday, October 30, 2020
Virtual Event
Explore the intersection between cultural preservation, global heritage and ownership, and the public sphere alongside Kwame Anthony Appiah, British-Ghanaian philosopher; Dr. Joshua Arthurs, social historian of twentieth-century Europe; and Sethembile Msezane, visual artist and performer based in Cape Town, South Africa.
When Will We Return to Venice and Should We?
Thursday, March 25
Virtual Event
Venice is living on borrowed time. Learn more about the monumental obstacles the city is facing - from unsustainable tourism to the threat of rising sea levels and climate change - and the changes it will take to overcome them with Jane da Mosto, environmental scientist and Executive Director of NGO We are here Venice; Tomás Saraceno, visual artist and activist; and David Landau, respected scholar, curator, philanthropist, and author.
Afghanistan: Cultural Heritage and the Forever War
Thursday, May 6, 2021
Virtual Event
In light of the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, explore the history and importance of cultural heritage in Afghanistan, critical preservation efforts over the past 20 years, and the impact the new political equilibrium may have on heritage sites in with Rory Stewart, British diplomat, author, explorer, and politician; Dr. Omar Sharifi, Country Director at the American Institute of Afghanistan Studies; and Shoshana Stewart, CEO of Turquoise Mountain.