Overview

Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center is a private non-governmental non-profit organization founded in 1998. CHP upholds the conviction that sound holistic national development must include the preservation of the nation's past, as expressed in its tangible and intangible cultural heritage, and that to neglect this vital task strips the national and local communities of their roots, their identities, and their souls. In carrying out its mission, CHP undertakes a range of training activities among communities and government officials, organizes grassroots demonstration projects that can be replicated, and provides consultation services to government units and local communities in heritage protection law and in strategies for conserving heritage. In other words, while other organizations active in cultural heritage focus on the preservation of physical monuments, CHP focuses on the crucial and complimentary "software" of cultural heritage protection, enabling local communities and local officials to use their own resources and skills to protect the heritage that lies within their jurisdictions.

Objectives of CHP

The specific objectives pursued by CHP are to:

1.) Raise public awareness of the importance of protecting cultural heritage

2.) Mobilize local communities through providing the knowledge and tools to protect cultural heritage in their own areas

3.) Increase the level of understanding of and capabilities in cultural heritage conservation of government officials of all levels

4.) Uphold rights to enjoy cultural heritage in accordance with international conventions and national regulations

5.) Promote cultural diversity by assisting minorities to conserve and protect their cultures

6.) Encourage legal infrastructure development by providing legal aid for cultural heritage protection

Background to Cultural Heritage Protection in China

China's cultural heritage ranges from magnificent imperial architecture to the rich store of village folk heritage spread out all over the country. Conservation of imperial architecture and the major monuments of China receives national and international attention from the government, UNESCO, and from major donor agencies. CHP focuses on community and grassroots heritage, which tends to receive less attention as a result of lack of understanding at the local level, financial constraints and priority accorded to achieving economic development goals at the expense of all else.

The Chinese Government has a clear policy to conserve and protect its rich cultural heritage, including its archaeological sites, historic buildings and cultural relics. In support of this policy, it has enacted a series of laws and promulgated supporting decrees, the most recent being the China Law on Cultural Heritage Protection passed in 2002. It has also signed a number of key international agreements relating to cultural protection. However, there is a gap between national policies and practice. Insufficient public awareness, inadequate training of officials and enforcement authorities, and weaknesses in the judicial system are contributing factors in the continuing loss of cultural heritage.

Cultural protection, like environmental protection, can only be carried out effectively with the active participation, understanding and support of the population at large. The development of civil society in China offers an opportunity for NGOs to play an effective role in supplementing the government's efforts. Most of the focus falls on the small number of highly visible monuments, leaving most of the country's historical art and architecture to neglect or irresponsible exploitation. CHP seeks to fill this gap.

Legal Status and Organization

CHP has no direct links to the government, but does enjoy the de facto support of the National Administration of Cultural Heritage and other government entities in working towards its objectives. CHP's official registration with the Beijing Bureau of Civil Affairs validates its sustainability, allowing the organization to claim tax exemption on donations received, to open a bank account in its own name and to hire employees on the same basis as other legally recognized entities. The Beijing Bureau of Cultural Heritage is CHP's official supervisory agency, to which CHP submits annual operational reports and audited financial statements. A recent inspection by the Beijing Bureau of Civil Affairs ranked CHP among the top three NGO's in Beijing in terms of carrying out its stated institutional objectives. CHP operates out of its headquarters in Beijing, based in an office, training, and exhibition center in a newly built complex.

Board of Governors

The members of CHP's supervisory Board of Governors are:

CHP also benefits from the guidance of several international consultants: