World Monuments Fund trains Syrian refugees to rebuild Palmyra

The World Monuments Fund (WMF) has launched a $500,000 campaign to train Syrian refugees in the Zaatari camp in Jordan to restore the ancient site of Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage site devastated by ISIS in 2015. The project, developed with the Petra National Trust, aims to equip young Syrians with conservation skills so that reconstruction is not solely dependent on international experts. The initiative was announced during Refugee Week (June 20–27), which highlights refugee conditions through cultural events. Separately, artist Kara Walker presented her work 'Figa' at the Deste Foundation Project Space on Hydra, Greece (June 20–September 30, 2017). The sculpture, a large left hand made of polystyrene and sugar, references a traditional gesture of fertility and protection, and is displayed alongside videos of the refugee crisis, including migrants drowning off Greek coasts. Walker's work serves as a relic for those who have lost their homes. Other artists addressing refugee issues include Ai Weiwei and Olafur Eliasson, whose 'Green Light' project at the 2017 Venice Biennale involved 80 asylum seekers and refugees producing lamps for charity.