San Francisco, CA – December 9th, 2022 – Global Heritage Fund, partnered with the U.S. State Department, is set to launch its project to support artisans in Tipasa, Algeria this weekend. The project is led by Global Heritage Fund in collaboration with SW Associates, a Washington, D.C.-based international sustainable development consulting agency.
“The development of our new project in Algeria speaks to the commitment of Global Heritage Fund to invest in the economic development of local communities in order to preserve their historic traditions while working with them to innovate for sustainable futures, ” said Nada Hosking, Executive Director.
Located around the Tipasa Archaeological Site, the aim of the project is to increase economic development and capacity building for the local community, particularly women and youth, through traditional handicraft training, marketing, and distribution. In alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Heritage Fund mission to transform communities by investing in cultural heritage, the project in Algeria will revive the community’s artisanal traditions and empower its inhabitants to remain connected to its living cultural heritage for generations to come.
The project launch, taking place on December 10th and 11th, is grounded in comprehensive training programs and workshops that will focus on increasing the quality, development, and marketing of local handicrafts and cultural products. Activities will include two workshops led by an international expert on craft heritage and a roundtable discussion where Algerian artisans will be connected with peers in the United States. A pop-up sale where the local artisans will have the opportunity to sell their products to the public will be held at the same time.
“Our work with local Algerian artisans in Tipasa hits on a multitude of different impacts. It strengthens the local economy by expanding the skillsets of artisans and providing a new location for them to sell goods and services. It helps protect and preserve the Tipasa natural heritage site, developing it into a local tourist site that Algerians want to visit and preserve,” said Megan Mattson, Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer at U.S. Embassy Algiers. “Further it works hand in hand with the Algerian Ministry of Culture to develop the artisanal sector in Tipasa with the vision Algerians have in mind. U.S. Embassy Algiers is proud to partner with Global Heritage Fund on this impactful project.”
Tipasa Archaeological Site sits around 70 kilometers west of Algiers and is one of the most extraordinary archaeological complexes of the Maghreb. Originally a Carthaginian trading center, Tipasa played the role of a maritime port of call, a place for commercial exchanges with the indigenous population. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tipasa’s ties to its traditional, and ever-evolving, arts and culture make it a prime site for a Global Heritage Fund-led project.
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Founded in 2002, Global Heritage Fund invests in the preservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage to support the social and economic well-being of communities. Our programs leverage cultural heritage assets to address today’s most pressing global issues including economic disparity, gender inequality, and environmental sustainability, while benefiting local communities directly. Global Heritage Fund has strong partnerships with national governments, multilateral agencies, foundations, civil society organizations, and private sector companies. Our work aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and promotes environmentally-conscious tourism.
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For more information, please contact:
US enquiries
Matthew Strebe
Global Heritage Fund
mstrebe@globalheritagefund.org
+1 (510) 499-3819
UK enquiries
Olivia Jarrell
Global Heritage Fund