Help Earthquake-Damaged Museums and Sites in Peru
The catastrophic earthquake that struck the south coast of Peru on Aug.
15 damaged numerous museums and archaeological and historic sites in the region. The major towns of Ica, Pisco and Chincha and the surrounding villages were the most heavily affected.
Assistance with damage assessment, the repair of adobe structures and collections care is most urgently needed, along with materials for collections storage. Irene Velaochaga, the director of the national system of museums in Peru, and Vanessa Wagner, the senior cultural specialist at the U.S. embassy in Lima, are coordinating donations of supplies and volunteers.
The following museums and sites are in particular need of assistance:
Huaca Malena Site Museum in the town of Asia and the 16th-century church at Coayllo. Contact Rommel Angeles Falcón, museum director and membership secretary for ICOM-Peru, at rommelangel@hotmail.com.
Ica Regional Museum. Contact Susana Arce, director.
Archaeological sites in Chincha and Ica, including the Paracas Site Museum on the Paracas Peninsula, the Inca
Palace at La Centinela and Cerrillos. Contact Rubén Garcia, INC regional patrimony director.
The Inca site of Uquira. Visit the website of National Cultural Institute (INC) in Lima for a list of current officials.
The International Council of Museums (ICOM), as part of its Disaster Relief for Museums Fund, has created a dedicated account to accept monetary donations for Peru. To donate to the Peruvian fund, contact Piet Pouw, interim secretary general, at secretariat@icom.museum.
Donations to the general fund are also being accepted.
In light of the recent release of the Red List of Peruvian Objects at Risk, soon to be posted on the http://icom.museum/redlist website, ICOM strongly supports the efforts to assist Peruvian museums and feels that this is another important step toward preserving the cultural heritage of this area.
-Francine Rinzel
This article has been published with permission from AAM.
|
