Iran Heritage Foundation
 | |
| Formation | 1990 |
|---|---|
| Type | Foundation, Nonprofit Organization |
| Headquarters | 63 New Cavendish Street London W1G 7LP United Kingdom |
| Location | |
Chairmen | Ali Rashidian and Alireza Rastegar |
CEO | John Curtis |
| Website |
www |
The Iran Heritage Foundation (IHF) is a non-political UK registered charity with a mission to promote and preserve the history, languages and cultures of Iran and the Persianate world, covering all periods of Iranian civilization from ancient to modern.
History and organisation
The Iran Heritage Foundation was founded in the UK in 1990 and registered as a charity in 1991 (no. 1001785). It is funded by contributions from individuals and corporations, and through various fundraising events. The Foundation does not accept financial support from any government organisations or lobbying groups. IHF is governed by a body of trustees supported by an advisory board and grant-giving committees.
Chairpersons and Directors
- Chair
- Vahid Alaghband (1990-2017)
- co-Chairs
- Ali Rashidian (2017-)
- Alireza Rastegar (2017-)
- Directors / CEOs
- Farhad Hakimzadeh (1995-2007)
- Farad Azima (2008-2013)
- John Curtis (2014-)
IHF America
In 2010 IHF established an independent parallel organisation in the USA known as IHF America. This organisation supported a curatorial post at the Freer Sackler gallery in Washington DC and played a major role in the British Museum’s tour of the Cyrus Cylinder exhibition to five different US venues in 2013.
Object / Remit
The remit of IHF is wide and includes archaeology, history, art history, literature, the performing arts, film, photography, music and contemporary art. IHF achieves its objectives by organising and supporting exhibitions, cultural events and conferences, giving grants, sponsoring publications, and supporting posts in universities and museums. Cultural/educational institutions that have been supported by IHF include the universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh, Exeter, London, Oxford, Reading, and St Andrews, and the British Library, the British Museum, the Courtauld Institute of Art, Tate Modern, and the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Activities
The Foundation organises a regular series of events including lectures, panel discussions, performances, and film screenings. Major international conferences organised by IHF include: ‘Iran's Natural Heritage’ (2014); ‘From Persepolis to Isfahan: Safeguarding Cultural Heritage’ (2015); and two conferences on Tappeh Sialk and ancient Kashan (2017, 2018).
IHF also awards annual grants for academic and scholarly research as well as for contemporary and performing arts projects and festivals. These grants are awarded by two separate committees made up of external advisors.
IHF supports and sponsors events and activities which promote Iranian culture and history, including exhibitions such as ‘Forgotten Empire’ and ‘Shah Abbas’ at the British Museum in 2005 and 2009. Additionally, the 2013 exhibition ‘The Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia’, which toured around the US, was organised by the British Museum in partnership with the Iran Heritage Foundation and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. An ongoing major project supported by the IHF is the Golha Archive, an online digitized and fully indexed archive of the Golha radio programmes broadcast on Iranian National Radio from 1956 until 1979.