From Fires and Devastation to Terrorism and Violence: Impact of Disasters on Cultural Heritage, Production and Policy. A Conversation with Rodrigo Correia do Amaral and Naomi Andrew Haruna

Natural, health, political and economic disasters are unexpected events that produce high degrees of damage and the likelihood of human fatality. One authoritative source defines disasters as (1) “an unexpected event, such as a very bad accident, a flood, or a fire, that kills a lot of people or causes a lot of damage”, (2) “a very bad situation that causes problems” and (3) “a complete failure” (OXFORD LEARNERS DICTIONARIES 2022). Recent examples include the huge flood in Artal, Germany in 2021 that not only destroyed the living conditions of many residents, but also caused damage to museums, galleries, an opera house, and archives. The art collection of the city of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler was entirely flooded, and 30 percent of the art works were completely destroyed. The regional museum association, Museumsverband Rheinland-Pfalz, assisted with support and with the drying, cleaning and conservation of objects. Renown museums offered immediate partnerships for the restoration of specific objects. The destruction of cultural institution buildings naturally further impacts cultural production and access to arts and culture for the long-term (REDAKTIONSNETZWERK DEUTSCHLAND 2021; DEUTSCHE WELLE 2021).