The Ministry of Culture signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Riwaq Syrian Heritage Forum to support the documentation of Syria’s tangible and intangible heritage. The agreement aims to strengthen national efforts to preserve cultural memory and make it accessible to the public through responsible scientific and professional frameworks.
The MoU was signed on behalf of the Ministry by Deputy Minister of Culture Saad Naasan, in the presence of Minister of Culture Dr. Muhammad Yassin al-Saleh. Dr. Hala Qasqas signed on behalf of the Riwaq Syrian Heritage Forum. The step reflects the Ministry’s policy of expanding partnerships with specialized, active initiatives in the field of heritage preservation.
Documentation as a Tool for Heritage Protection
The memorandum outlines mechanisms for enhanced coordination and cooperation in documentation, research, and cultural programming. It also facilitates fieldwork within established legal frameworks, contributing to the protection of Syrian heritage, affirming its authenticity, and presenting it as a living and accessible memory for future generations.
Both parties affirmed that this cooperation is grounded in an integrated approach to heritage, recognizing both physical artifacts and living traditions, while fully respecting the rights of individuals and communities carrying and sustaining this heritage.
A Balanced Partnership with Independent Initiatives
Naasan stated that the agreement reflects the Ministry’s commitment to building balanced partnerships with independent cultural initiatives serving the public interest while safeguarding national heritage. “The Ministry of Culture plays a fundamental role in documentation, knowledge dissemination, and supporting those working in these fields, as they are among the most important tools for protecting heritage,” Naasan said.
He emphasizedproducing reliable knowledge is essential to protecting Syrian cultural memory from marginalization or distortion. Naasan concluded by stressing that the Ministry seeks partnerships that contribute to responsible public knowledge and enhance societal awareness of Syria’s cultural heritage.
Making Heritage Accessible in the Voice of Its People
For her part, Dr. Qasqas, founder of the Riwaq Syrian Heritage Forum, described the signing as an important milestone in a long journey dedicated to documenting and protecting Syrian heritage and making it accessible with dignity and in the voice of its own people, free from reductionism or falsification. The Forum documents tangible heritage such as architecture, ornamentation, and traditional crafts, alongside intangible elements including oral histories, skills, rituals, and performing arts.
Qasqas noted the Forum operates through a voluntary team of approximately 70 Syrian experts, distributed across field documentation, archiving and editing, and technological and digital platforming teams. This structure ensures systematic, professional work respecting the dignity and rights of heritage bearers.
She emphasized the agreement underscores the importance of integrating official institutions with independent cultural initiatives, facilitating fieldwork, protecting community rights, and making public accessibility a key tool for safeguarding heritage and its memory.
The Riwaq Syrian Heritage Forum is a cultural and knowledge platform dedicated to documenting and protecting Syria’s tangible and intangible heritage. It seeks to raise awareness of its human and cultural value and to connect generations to an authentic Syrian identity through research, dialogue, and cultural activities.
