Sanne Letschert is Head of the Cultural Emergency Response (CER) programme of the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development, based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. CER provides ‘First Aid’ to cultural heritage in case of conflict and disaster situations by providing quick relief to stabilize a situation, evacuate objects when possible or document what is left. The CER programme adapts its response to specific situations, needs and possibilities and only works directly with local partners and organisations in the affected communities.
This year, the programme is developing into being an independent foundation as of July 2022. Ms. Letschert leads this transition and the establishment of the new organisation. She focuses on programme development, partnerships and fundraising, and coordinates the development and implementation of emergency actions and capacity building initiatives. CER is currently actively engaged in cultural relief projects in Yemen, Kenya, Haiti, Guatemala and Lebanon. Ms. Letschert has been working at the Prince Claus Fund since 2017. She has a background in Art History, European Studies and Cultural Diplomacy, and a Master’s degree in Heritage & Memory Studies (University of Amsterdam).