Douroub Forums: A Space for Reflecting on the Roles of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Syria
Promoting Syrian Intangible Cultural Heritage
Ettijahat – Independent Culture is organising four meetings in Syria between the 3rd and 8th of October 2025 to address the reality and priorities of work in the field of cultural heritage in the context of Syria’s ongoing transformations. These meetings will take place within the framework of the Douroub programme, which deals with the preservation of the Syrian intangible cultural heritage. The aim is to create diverse and safe spaces that allow those interested in Syrian cultural heritage to reflect on its policies, the main mechanisms for its protection and preservation, and its use to promote civil peace and strengthen social cohesion.
These meetings will take place in Damascus, Aleppo, Homs and Hama and will be led by the academic and architect Hiba Alkhalaf, who specialises in architectural conservation and heritage management.
First meeting - Integrated efforts to protect tangible and intangible cultural heritage in Syria in in cooperation with Al-Nahda Association | 3 October – Damascus- Bayt Farhi at 6:00 pm
This meeting explores possibilities for developing comprehensive priorities for protecting Syrian cultural heritage in all its forms and manifestations. It brings together a number of participants from several sectors to discuss the legal and institutional frameworks required for preserving archaeological sites and museums, alongside supporting artisans and protecting traditional knowledge and living cultural practices. The meeting will also focus on analysing current policies and identifying gaps in protecting intangible heritage and the disconnect between academic institutions and local communities in heritage policy-making, whilst exploring mechanisms to activate the role of academic centres as bridges for communication. It also discusses the necessary steps for establishing a national strategy that ensures the preservation of Syrian cultural diversity and the development of heritage-based cultural industries.
Speakers:
- Amal Dakkak: Supervisor of the Master's Programme in Folk Heritage at Damascus University
- Luna Rajab: Assistant Minister of Culture for Heritage Affairs
- Mona Arakili: Director of Threads of Hope Initiative
Second meeting - Syrian Heritage Facing Environmental and Urban Challenges in cooperation with the Syrian Centre for Policy Research | 5 October - Aleppo- Old electricity building at 10:00 am
This meeting aims to develop concepts for an integrated vision that helps address current challenges by linking efforts to preserve archaeological monuments with reviving living traditions and cultural practices. The meeting will begin with a presentation of the study "The Dialectics of Heritage, Earthquake, and Conflict," which discusses the impact of the 2023 earthquake on Syrian cultural heritage, prepared by the Syrian Centre for Policy Research under the Douroub programme. It explores the current challenges facing Syrian cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible, in Syria's present moment. Participants will also discuss the impact of reconstruction and residential development projects on historic areas, the importance of coordination in protecting architectural heritage, the effects of disasters and conflict on archaeological sites and historic buildings, alongside the decline of heritage practices and the interruption of traditional crafts and folk music transmission.
Speakers:
- Andre Yacobian: Photographer working on a project documenting the photographic archive of Aleppo city
- Dima Dayoub: Architect responsible for numerous heritage preservation projects
- Mohammed Kikiya: Researcher at the Syrian Centre for Policy Research
Third Meeting - Cultural Heritage and Transitional Justice: Sites of Remembrance and Cultural Practises in the Service of Social Cohesion in cooperation with the Harmony Cultural Forum | 7 October – Homs- Harmony Cultural Forum at 10:00 am
This meeting discusses the pivotal role of cultural heritage in its tangible and intangible dimensions in promoting civil peace and increasing social cohesion among Syria's diverse components. Participants will explore how to use shared heritage sites and inclusive cultural practices as tools for reducing tensions and building bridges of understanding, and the role of women as bearers of intangible heritage in the public sphere. The meeting will focus on intangible heritage including traditional crafts, folk music, cuisine, and folk tales that unite Syrians despite their diversity, alongside monuments and historical sites that form a shared memory. It examines practical experiences in employing heritage in community reconciliation projects.
Speakers:
- Lama Aboud: Architect and President of Tarathna Foundation
- Rahaaf Ghanima: Project Coordinator at Mauj Foundation
Fourth meeting - Protection of cultural heritage in the local context in cooperation with Wellfy organisations and Harmony Cultural Forum | 8 October – Church of the Immaculate Virgin of the Syriac Catholics | Sheikh Anbar Neighborhood – Hama - 10:00 am
This meeting aims to discuss the challenges facing the protection and preservation of cultural heritage and the efforts that must be undertaken to ensure consideration of environmental and economic threats that prevent this, whilst taking into account local sensitivities and social context. This session focuses on how to protect traditional and craft practices and their effective role in confronting economic isolation, protecting cultural heritage in the Syrian context with emphasis on expanding the concept of heritage to include daily practices and relationships with the local environment, the most important challenges in local reality and community sensitivities around terminology used, and ethical considerations to be followed to benefit from new opportunities and youth initiatives in tangible and intangible heritage fields, and how to ensure it is not exploited or distorted, with focus on local communities' rights to their heritage. Finally, mechanisms for protecting intangible heritage that is threatened with extinction and ways of transmitting it to new generations through working with artisans and existing local groups.
Speakers:
- Jamal Hazouri: Professor at the Faculty of Architecture, Al-Manara University
- Suad Jarrous: Director of Wellfy Organisation
- Yasser Shohan: Former Director of the Deir al-Zor Museum
The four meetings will produce a comprehensive report of their key recommendations to be shared with active institutions in Syrian communities, heritage workers, supporters, and official and international institutions.
These meetings are developed with the support of Cultural Protection Fund at the British Council
To register for attendance, please send an email to douroub@ettijahat.org
