CULTURAL HERITAGE AT RISK:TODAYS STEWARDSHIP CHALLENGE

The stewardship of cultural resources may be the epic challenge for the new millenium as we strive to foster access for education and research while preventing theft and malicious damage to some of the worldʹs most valuable assets. The Janus Factor is about leadership, making a difference, managing risk while dealing with ambiguity, and maintaining focus in the midst of great cultural change. Like Janus-The Roman god of gates, often considered to preside over beginnings-stewardship can be represented with two faces, one looking back upon all that has been garnered over time and another that faces forward, anticipating, planning, preparing, and thinking strategically. Likewise, the Janus image portrays the need for security and preservation to work closely together in presiding over our contemporary "gates," so that our institutions can effectively provide stewardship of our cultural resources and ensure that they will be accessible for future generations.