Aga Khan Trust for Culture

Historic Cities Programme

Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme

How the programme works

Projects

Awards Received

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The Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme (HCP) promotes the conservation and re-use of buildings and public spaces in historic cities in the Muslim World. HCP undertakes the restoration and rehabilitation of historic structures and public spaces in ways that can spur social, economic and cultural development. Individual project briefs go beyond mere technical restoration to address the questions of the social and environmental context, adaptive re-use, institutional sustainability and training. In several countries, local Aga Khan Cultural Service Companies have been formed to implement projects under the supervision of the HCP headquarters in Geneva.

Introduction

As of 2006, the Historic Cities Programme had been involved in revitalisation projects in eight quite different settings in the Islamic World, i.e., Afghanistan, the Northern Areas of Pakistan, Zanzibar, Samarkand, Cairo, Mostar (Bosnia), Mali and Syria, including nearly twenty distinct but interconnected projects that often are mutually reinforcing. Involvement in single project locations or regions tends to expand in order to constitute a critical mass for positive change--if the environment is found to be responsive. In all project locations, community participation, training of local professionals and local institution-building are essential components.

Funding Sources

Typically, HCP plans and executes projects with funding from the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and other donors. Many other institutions, such as the Getty Grant Program, World Monuments Fund, the Ford Foundation, the Swiss, Swedish and Norwegian bilateral aid organisations, and The World Bank have sponsored or co-funded HCP activities. Where necessary, HCP establishes local service companies as partners in implementation and prepares them for autonomous operation as self-sustaining community organisations.

Publications

For a current list of publications please see the Trust's Publications page.