National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia

What National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia does

The National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia is a state institution under the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia, headquartered at Krtsanisi str. #58, Tbilisi. With approximately 30 employees, it serves as the country's exclusive regulatory authority over archaeological research permits, monument interventions, and heritage site management. The agency operates a network of museums and museum-reserves spanning every major Georgian region (Imereti, Kakheti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Svaneti, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Adjara, and others), providing public access, education, and conservation services. Its end-users include Georgian citizens, international tourists, educational institutions, the Georgian Orthodox Church, and inter-governmental heritage partners such as UNESCO and the European Council.

The agency's core technology is the Cultural Heritage Data Management Geographic Information System (GIS), developed in partnership with the Norway Cultural Heritage Directorate starting in 2013, accessible via memkvidreoba.gov.ge. This platform provides state institutions and civil organizations with structured, queryable data on heritage monuments, precise locations, and protected territories. The agency publishes the Online Archaeology journal (ISSN 2587-4608), distributes archaeological reports, and operates ancillary digital services including photo/video galleries and educational project portals. The 2018 partnership with VREX introduced virtual reality tours in museums and reserves, extending the product surface beyond physical visits.

The business model is primarily government-funded: the state budget allocation through the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection constitutes the principal revenue stream, supplemented by museum-reserve admission fees, voluntary donations, and the 'Befriend the Heritage' membership club (50 GEL annual fee per individual, with members able to direct funding toward specific heritage projects and receive discounts at museums nationwide). Major financial and strategic partners include Fund Kartuli, the World Bank, ICCROM, the US Department of State (USDOI-ITAP), the Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and Armenian restoration specialists. The 'Befriend the Heritage' club, operated in collaboration with the Public Service Bureau, represents the agency's primary direct-to-consumer channel.

Name

National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia

Legal name

National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia

Website

https://heritagesites.ge

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia is a state institution under the Ministry of Culture that exclusively regulates and manages archaeological research, monument conservation, and a nationwide network of museums and reserves, funded primarily by the state budget with supplementary museum fees, donations, and a 50 GEL annual membership club.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage Preservation Services

NAICS

Historical Sites (712120), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Non-Operating Establishments (9995), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAHAE

Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Arts, Culture & Heritage Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGAHAA

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Arts, Culture & Heritage Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAHAKAH

Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Architecture, Design & Planning Services

Keywords

• Cultural heritage preservation
• Archaeological research services
• Monument restoration services
• Museum reserve management
• Heritage site conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Tbilisi

HQ country

Georgia

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. State Budget Allocation: Primary government funding through the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia for heritage preservation activities.
2. Museum-Reserve Service Fees: Fees collected from visitors to museums and reserves under agency management.
3. Club Membership Fees: Annual membership fees of 50 GEL from 'Befriend the Heritage' club members, with donations directed to selected heritage projects.
4. Donations: Voluntary donations from individuals and organizations supporting cultural heritage preservation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia is a state institution under the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection that manages, protects, and restores Georgia's cultural heritage monuments and archaeological sites. It operates a network of museums and museum-reserves, issues permits for archaeological work, conducts restoration and conservation projects, runs educational programs such as 'Children's Archaeology', and maintains a national GIS-based heritage database. The agency also operates the 'Befriend the Heritage' membership club enabling public participation in heritage preservation through membership fees and project funding.

Product overview

The National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia operates a suite of digital platforms and services for managing and promoting Georgia's cultural heritage. The core offerings include the heritagesites.ge public portal providing access to news, projects, and heritage monument databases; the Cultural Heritage Data Management GIS Portal (memkvidreoba.gov.ge) developed with Norwegian partners as a national-standard system for state institutions; the 'Befriend the Heritage' membership club enabling public participation in heritage rehabilitation; publications including the Online Archaeology journal (ISSN 2587-4608); and museum-reserve services. These products collectively serve government agencies, researchers, tourists, and the general public interested in Georgia's cultural patrimony.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Museum-Reserves Services
• Cultural Heritage Data Management GIS Portal
• Befriend the Heritage Membership Club
• Cultural Heritage Monuments Database
• Online Archaeology Journal
• Heritage Sites Public Portal (heritagesites.ge)

Quantifiable outcome

• Gelati Monastery returned to UNESCO World Heritage main list in 2017 after 7 years on Danger List
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• US Department of State (USDOI-ITAP)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Technical assistance program for integrated cultural and natural heritage protection in Georgia. Development of collaborative platforms between agencies.
• RMG CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Business sector engagement in heritage rehabilitation program starting 2018.
• VREXminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership for introducing virtual reality tours in museums and reserves.
• Turkey Ministry of Culture and TourismmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 20174-year cooperation program in cultural heritage field. Joint missions to heritage sites including Tbilisi, Mtskheta, Akhaltsikhe, Zikkhili, Sakutstkheti, Atskuri, and Vardzia. Includes restoration methodology exchange and Georgian heritage assessment in Turkey.
• International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Monuments and Cultural Property (ICCROM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2016Joint conservation activities for UNESCO World Heritage sites. ICOMOS provides expert reviews for all restoration projects.
• Monolith Group (Private Construction Company)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Private sector involvement in cultural heritage rehabilitation, funding restoration of damaged wall paintings at Vardzia monastery following 2016 fire.
• Armenian Experts on Kumurdo RestorationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Joint development of restoration methodology and approaches for Kumurdo monastery with Armenian specialists.
• Norway Cultural Heritage DirectoratecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2013Development of Cultural Heritage Data Management Geographic Information System (GIS) and web portal (memkvidreoba-gis.gov.ge). The partnership provided expertise for creating a structured information system for managing material cultural heritage, enabling state institutions and civil organizations to access complex information about heritage sites.
• Public Service BureauminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Public Service Bureau for the 'Befriend the Heritage' club program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Historic England: Historic England is the UK government's statutory adviser on heritage, listing buildings, scheduling monuments, and providing grants — closely mirroring the Georgian agency's exclusive authority over heritage permits and monument protection. Both are government statutory bodies with regulatory and advisory functions.
• National Trust (UK): The National Trust is a heritage charity that operates historic houses, gardens, and archaeological sites while running a membership club — closely mirroring the agency's combination of museum-reserve operations and the 'Befriend the Heritage' membership model. Both rely on a hybrid of state/grant funding plus member-generated revenue.
• English Heritage: English Heritage is a UK charity (formerly state-funded) that manages and grants access to historic monuments, sites, and buildings — a near-direct functional analogue to the Georgian agency's museum-reserve operations and permit authority over protected heritage. Both combine site operation, conservation, and public engagement.
• Parks Canada: Parks Canada manages national historic sites and administers heritage conservation programs on behalf of the Canadian federal government — directly comparable in its combination of heritage site operations, conservation, and visitor services under a national mandate.
• Israel Antiquities Authority: The Israel Antiquities Authority is a state body responsible for managing archaeological sites, conservation, and heritage regulation — structurally analogous to the Georgian agency's combined permit-issuing, excavation, and site-management role. Both operate as government statutory bodies in heritage-rich jurisdictions.
• Riksantikvaren (Norwegian Cultural Heritage Directorate): Riksantikvaren is Norway's national agency for cultural heritage and the agency's direct technology partner on the GIS platform. It performs the same government mandate: cultural heritage management, protection, and policy at national level, making it the closest functional peer.
• Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga: Heritage New Zealand is the national authority identifying, protecting, and managing historic places — comparable in scope and statutory role to the Georgian agency, including its combination of regulatory authority, public engagement, and site management.

Broad incumbents

• Smithsonian Institution: The Smithsonian is a large federally-chartered institution operating museums, research, and publications — comparable in combining museum operations, archaeological publishing (analogous to the Online Archaeology journal), and public education, though at vastly greater scale.
• ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites): ICOMOS is the advisory body the agency coordinates with for UNESCO recommendations (e.g., Gelati restoration). It is an international peer in the heritage-preservation space, providing the standards framework the agency operationalizes at country level.

Regional players

• Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus: Cyprus's Department of Antiquities operates museums and archaeological sites and enforces heritage protection law — a comparable state-heritage agency in a similarly small Mediterranean/Caucasus-adjacent context with rich archaeological heritage.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/results?search_query=heritagesites.ge
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-agency-for-cultural-heritage-preservation-of-georgia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia