Mosul Cultural Museum

In June 2014, just as MCM prepared to reopen after years of renovation, Daesh (also known as ISIS) captured the city; in February 2015, the group detonated a bomb inside one of the museum’s halls and smashed priceless artworks with hammers as a part of a deliberate attack aimed at the erasure of history and culture. Major Assyrian works that were damaged or destroyed include a colossal lion from Nimrud, two lamassu (guardian) figures, the significant Banquet Stele, and the throne base of King Ashurnasirpal II. Over 28,000 books and rare manuscripts were burned. Although MCM was retaken by the army in March 2017, the site remains closed to the public. 

In 2021, the project’s objective transitioned from stabilization of the building to planning the museum’s future as a vibrant gathering place that will aid in the city’s recovery. For a city still recovering from the trauma of war, the space offers a way to renew a sense of belonging, community, and connection to the area's extraordinary past.  

Spearheaded by WMF, the physical conservation of the building will bring the structure back in line with Makiya’s original bold vision while making the galleries more accessible. A community-driven approach that engages local experts and residents in the design process will result in the re-establishment of the museum as a living center for culture and education. The project includes preparing a heritage assessment and condition survey of the site; creating a rehabilitation design conscious of the building’s structural conditions, historical and architectural significance, urban context, and future needs; and delivering on this design.