Historic Annapolis, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is pleased to welcome Dr. Richard Kurin, Distinguished Scholar and Ambassador-at-Large of the Smithsonian Institution, for a special presentation.

Ever since the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the Smithsonian has become a national and international leader in responding to cultural crises caused by natural disaster and human conflict. It has worked with FEMA, cultural organizations, and local partners in the U.S. following hurricanes and flooding to save museum collections, as well as help survivors recover their family treasures. In Mali, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, Smithsonian teams have protected cultural heritage from terrorism, trained local professionals, developed new techniques for monitoring, and predicting destruction, helped with the recovery of institutionsÑlike the Mosul Museum, joined with the U.S. Army in revitalizing the Òmonuments men and women,Ó and worked with the FBI and Homeland Security on identifying and repatriating stolen and trafficked antiquities.

The SmithsonianÕs Dr. Richard Kurin recounts these efforts and concentrates on current efforts in Ukraine. Culture has been at the crux of the conflict, with Putin denying Ukrainian history and identity, and Ukrainians fighting for their freedom to preserve it. Dr. Kurin goes behind the scenes, describing how the Smithsonian has worked with partners in providing supplies, materials, and equipment to Ukrainian institutions to protect valued collections and facilities, holding Zoom conferences to advise hundreds of cultural professionals on best emergency practices, and supporting Òconservation house-callsÓ throughout Ukraine. He also explains his teamÕs effort to monitor some 28,000 cultural sites in Ukraine and document damage and destructionÑpotential war crimesÑvia satellite sensors and imagery.

This lecture is presented in partnership with the Smithsonian Affiliates and Maryland Hall. The lecture will be followed by a Q&A.

Registration requested.

Cost: FREE

About Our Presenter: Dr. Richard Kurin is the Distinguished Scholar and Ambassador-at-Large of the Smithsonian Institution, helping guide the worldÕs largest museum, research, and educational organization. During his 46-year career, Kurin has served as the SmithsonianÕs Acting Provost and as the long-time Under Secretary, overseeing all_the InstitutionÕs national museums, scientific research centers, and cultural programs. For two decades he served as Director of the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Dr. Kurin received his PhD in anthropology from the University of Chicago, aided by Fulbright and other fellowships. He has served on UNESCO juries and commissions and helped draft an international treaty to safeguard living cultural heritage now ratified by more than 170 nations. He has led efforts to save heritage threatened by human conflict in Syria, Iraq and currently in Ukraine, and natural disasters in Haiti, Nepal, The Bahamas and Puerto Rico. He serves on the U.S. Department of State Cultural Heritage Coordinating Committee, is a founding board member of the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH), and co-leads with FEMA the U.S. Heritage Emergency National Task Force. He has served as Smithsonian liaison to the White House Historical Association and the PresidentÕs Committee for the Arts and Humanities and is a member of the Federal Interagency Panel for World Heritage deciding which U.S. sites to nominate for the World Heritage List.