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2008 - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec

2007 - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec

27 February

• “The voice of the voiceless” project
  “The Voice of the voiceless” is a program aimed at promoting and preserving musical expressions, “rituals” and dances that integrate Latin American cultural heritage, by giving voice to its artistic-musical identity. This project aims at documenting those phenomena that, being representative of some cultural traditions, have not only been undocumented, but also unknown or not valued in its same areas of use as in the centers of economic and cultural consumerism of Latin America. Contact: Ada Rosa Pentón, Culture Program Specialist, UNESCO Quito, apenton@unesco.org.ec

• Heritage South Australia E-News February 2009 No. 22
  An e-newsletter from the Heritage Branch of the South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH). This monthly e-newsletter aims to deliver timely updates of news and events to people involved in looking after South Australia's built and maritime heritage.

• Opening of the Course on Conservation of Modern Architecture (Cuba)
  The Advanced integral Conservation Studies Center (CECI) and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) is proud to announce the opening of the Latin American Course on Conservation of Modern Architecture (MARC-AL), that is the first initiative in this sector in Latin America. Contact: Víctor Marin, Culture Oficial Program, UNESCO La Havana, v.marin@unesco.org.cu

• The project “Preservation and conservation of the Tiwanaku and the Pyramid of Akapana, Bolivia” starts
  The Tiwanaku is one of most important pre-Inca archaeological sites of Bolivia and represents one of the key scenes of the history and cultural development of territories like Peru, Chile, Argentina and Bolivia. This 3-year project of “Preservation and conservation of the Tiwanaku and the Pyramid of Akapana”, is launched as an attempt to strengthen the sustainable development of the local community through the appropriate management and conservation methods of the Site, totally in line with the Culture Program and UNESCO. In addition, the project will allow indigenous communities to find alternative survival ways. Contact: Ada Rosa Pentón, Culture Program Specialist, UNESCO Quito, apenton@unesco.org.ec

26 February

• Conference on rescue archaeology
  On 8 December 2008, at the Assemblée Nationale in Paris, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Sub-Committee on the Cultural Heritage held a conference on rescue archaeology - the study and preservation of significant elements of archaeological heritage under threat from development work.

25 February

• [italiano] PDF Rassegna Uno Sguardo sul Mediterraneo: LIBIA
  Continua il viaggio alla scoperta della Libia, della sua storia millenaria, delle sue tradizioni, dei suoi costumi e della sua produzione culturale. Altri Mondi propone un itinerario di approfondimento sulla cultura libica. Archeologi responsabili di missioni dell’Italia in Libia, nella prestigiosa cornice del Museo Nazionale d’Arte Orientale di Roma, presenteranno i risultati delle ultime campagne di scavo, mentre giornalisti, scrittori ed intellettuali si avvicenderanno lungo un percorso che, dalla Libia pre-romana a quella contemporanea, creerà occasioni di riflessione e di dibattito.
  • Giovedì 26 febbraio, ore 17.30. Incontro sul tema: CIRENE – ATENE D’AFRICA: NUOVE SCOPERTE. Prof. MARIO LUNI – Archeologia e Storia dell’Arte greca e Romana, Università di Urbino. Museo Nazionale d’Arte Orientale - Via Merulana, 248.
  • Venerdi 20 febbraio, ore 18.30. Incontro sul tema: RACCONTI DI VITA NELLA LIBIA ITALIANA. Francesca Di Pasquale – Ricercatrice. Libreria Melbookstoore, via Nazionale, 252-255.

23 February

• Arqueología Industrial - La apuesta cooperativa de de Clermont-l'Hérault
  La villa de la Capitelle du Broum, que data de la era del cobre (3000 - 2400 a. de C.), es el único establecimiento metalúrgico industrial de Europa occidental de esta época que asocia estrechamente las minas de cobre y las actividades metalúrgicas. Forma parte del sitio minero de Cabrières, uno de los más precoces centros franceses de producción de cobre y un complejo metalúrgico único en el Mediterráneo occidental.

• PDF Indian-Belgian group of experts visited colleagues at the Archaeological Survey of India
  Between 13 and 19 September 2008, a group of the UNESCO Chair on Preventive Conservation visited colleagues at the Archaeological Survey of India. In view of the previous Memorandum of understanding between the ASI and the Janssen Pharmaceutica for Preventive Conservation, the supporter of the UNESCO PRECOMOS Chair, the Belgian team visited their Indian colleagues in order to exchange recent research results and investigate the activities in preventive conservation maintenance and monitoring in India. Read more in the RLICC Newsletter (page 7)

• PDF Management Plan for the Emirati Oases in Al Ain
  From July to August 2008, Hsien-yang TSENG participated as an intern in the preparation of the Management Plans of Ain Oasis, Jimi Oasis and Qattara Oasis (Al Ain Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates). Collaborating as an international consultants, local professionals and authorities. The project aims at identifyng issues and associating relevant stakeholders, plans and actions to manage the historical oases in the crowded and rapidly development city of Al Ain. Read more at RLICC Newsletter (Page 25).

• OPEN HOUSE Raymond Lemaire International Centre for Conservation March 7, 2009 - KULeuven Belgium
  You can visit their website where you can find directions to reach the open house location, download their last newsletter, subscribe to their mailing list and find additional information about their educational programmes like their Master in Conservation of Monuments and Sites, activities, staff and much more. For those who are planning to participate, please send an email to Arch. Sara Van Rompaey sara.vanrompaey@asro.kuleuven.be.

12 February

• PDF Research and Studies Association of Rural History (AREH)
  The municipality of Saint-Romain owns a considerable cultural and natural heritage, object of interdisciplinary studies (environment, geology, archeology, history, architecture, ethnology) and protection measures (classified site, ZPPAUP, Life program, Natura 2000). A rich and varied documentation colelcted since 1966 by professional and voluntary scholars, allows to emphasize the training and the transformation of the town and its land, from the prehistory to the present time. Based on the teaching program, the establishment project, the pedagogical objectives, the level of the students, their needs and the time available, a specific schedule between interested professors is settled down. Interventions in class can also be programmed.

• PDF Delft University Newsletter Nº 9 - December 2008
  In October MIT Delft Research Centre, was one of the first departaments to move into the temporary new accomodation of the Faculty of Architecture. At present, the building work to convert the Julianalaan premises is still underway but the Delft architecture community is slowly being reunited at an inspiring location. This provides an excellent environment for new forms of cooperation as well as cross-pollination between departaments. This spirit is also expressed by the 2009-2012 research portfolio.

• Trust for African Rock Art (TARA) - Newsletter 2008
  To create greater global awareness of the importance and endangered state of African rock art; survey sites; monitor status; be an information resource and archive; and promote and support rock art conservation measures. TARA is the world's only organisation dedicated to this cultural imperative, and as such it has received support and recognition from the Ford Foundation, the Andrew Mellon Foundation and the National Geographic Society, among others. TARA's singular contributions have also been widely acclaimed in the scientific and popular media including National Geographic, Time, Natural History, People and the London Times.
  • Newsletter PART 1.pdf (3.19 MB)
  • Newsletter PART 2.pdf (2.55 MB)
  • Newsletter PART 3.pdf (1.18 MB)

   

• Yachay Wasi - recovery Program of Andean technology
  Yachay Wasi, Higher Institute of conservation and restoration, supports a research program on the pre-Columbian textile techniques used in Peru. The populations settled around the archaeological site participate in this scientific work of textile experimentation and they are associated to the conservation of monuments of the site. The sale of the woven objects allows to self-finance the project and alleviate the poverty of these communities.

11 February

• Begins April 2009: Postgraduate Course on “Heritage and Sustainable Tourism”
  The UNESCO Chair of Cultural Tourism announces the launching of a Postgraduate Course on “Heritage and Sustainable Tourism”, to be held from April to November 2009. It will offer seminars, both with personal attendance and distance education, under the direction of Architect Alfredo Conti and the participation of an outstanding team of experts. The course targets university graduates of Argentina and other countries in Latin America, and its objective is to add value to the region’s cultural and natural heritage through sustainable tourism.

• Online publication of Final Report of the First European Heritage Forum
  The Council of Europe is pleased to inform you that the final report of the First European Heritage Forum which took place in Belgium on 23-24 October 2008 is now available on the website of the European Heritge Days. This final report, prepared by Mr François Matarasso, should be disseminated with your help in all the countries participating in the European Heritage Days. It will soon be published in the framework of the new European Heritage Days series of publications as will the updated Handbook for the European Heritage Days coordinators on the practical organisation of the European Heritage Days and the Brochure on the 25th anniversary of the European Heritage Days (under preparation with the assistance of Europa Nostra).

10 February

• Association for Environmental Archaeology (AEA)
  The AEA promotes the advancement of the study of human interaction with the environment in the past through archaeology and related disciplines. We hold annual conferences and other meetings, produce a quarterly newsletter for members, and publish our conference monographs, as well as our journal - Environmental Archaeology: The journal of human palaeoecology. AEA membership is open to all those actively involved or interested in any aspect of environmental archaeology.

• Docomomo launches the MoMo Registers - New URL
  In 2006 Docomomo Registers launched the MoMo Registers online as a shared and dynamic project of Docomomo International. Please note that since January 2009 the new url of the MoMo Registers is <http://www.docomomo-registers.org>. The MoMo Registers website is a work in progress established by Docomomo chapters under the umbrella of the International Specialist Committee on Registers (ISC/R). Each year, chapters are invited to submit a new series of fiches. Since 2003 the selection has been related to a specific theme; the related fiches can be downloaded in pdf from the website. The Docomomo Register archive, all in hard copy format, can be consulted at the Netherlands Architectuur Instituut (NAi), Rotterdam.

• The Norfolk School Survey
  The Norfolk Historic Buildings Group is embarking on a survey of rural schools in the county. Of the 464 that existed in 1944, 405 had been built before 1900 and 200 before 1870. Many of the 464 have already been closed and many more are due for closure, yet they represent an important source of both architectural and social history as well as forming an important part of the village scene. The Group plans to locate them on early OS maps and then visit their sites and photograph, at least externally, all that survive in a recognisable form. More detailed surveys will be undertaken on a selected few. Supporting documentary material survives, both in the record office and in the schools themselves, while Kelly's and White's Directories often note the date of building, the patron, if there was one, and the number of children they catered for. An important source are the plans drawn for applications to the Privy Council for grants towards building, available from 1846 into the 1870s.

9 February

• Exhibition: discover Paris and its Universal Exhibitions
  Until March 6 in the Petit Palais and until March 12 in the Conciergerie. The Spectacular Paris Universal Exhibitions marked the collective memory and still are valuable witnesses of their time. Two hundred photographs from the collections of the Media library of architecture and heritage and the national Archives invite you to an architectonic trip through time, to the beat of the Parisian Universal Exhibitions from 1855 to 1937. And to know more, the Petit Palais invites you to attend five free conferences…

4 Febraury

• Safeguarding endangered languages
  Over 3000 languages in danger of disappearing... Languages are not only extremely adequate tools of communication, they also reflect a view of the world. Languages are vehicles of value systems and of cultural expressions and they constitute a determining factor in the identity of groups and individuals. Languages are an essential component of the living heritage of humanity. Yet, over 50% of some 6700 languages spoken today are in danger of disappearing. The experts estimate that:
  • 96% of the world's languages are spoken by 4% of the world's population
  • One language disappears on average every two weeks
  • 80% of the African languages have no orthography

   

• Project Restore
  Project Restore is a collaborative project between Prof. Ching-chih Chen and Prof. Piero Baglioni of The Center for Colloid and Interface Science (CSGI-Consorzio interuniversitario Sistemi Grande Interfase) of the University of Florence. The CSGI Group has developed an innovative chemical nanoparticle technology method for saving cultural relics in paper, fresco, wood, stone, etc. Their work has expanded to cover works of art in various parts of the world besides Italy, and the database of restored images of the works of arts has grown rapidly to several thousands of pre- and post-restored images. In collaborating with Ching-chih Chen, this valuable collection of images and videos with extensive metadata and annotations are added. This unique collection is essential to education and research, but most are not accessible due to the distance and condition of the original artifacts which have been badly damaged through time. This project is to find new ways to enable academic users to access and exploit these significant research collections via a global network.

• Exhibition: Mediterranean Heritage and Creativity
  From 16 to 26 February 2009. Paris, France
  The project “Heritage and Creativity in the Arab and Euro-Mediterranean countries” has lead to the creation of a professional network for the exchange of information, training and promotion, aiming at preserving the intangible heritage and a specific know-how that can be adapted to contemporary creativity. The exhibition, organized jointly with the Association “Culture Sud”, shows a selection of items by designers from Algeria, Egypt, France, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Spain, Syria and Tunisia. They all succeeded to associate harmoniously the traditional handwork with innovation in the field of jewellery, weaving and embroidery.

• Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger of Disappearing
  The goal of UNESCO's Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger of Disappearing is to raise awareness on language endangerment and the need to safeguard the world’s linguistic diversity. The first edition of the Atlas directed Stephen Wurm, was published in 1996. It comprised 53 pages including 12 pages of maps, and appeared in three linguistic versions (English, French and Spanish). The first publication of its kind, the Atlas met with vivid scholarly and journalistic interest and soon became a general reference book for the general public. A second updated English edition of the Atlas appeared in 2001, again edited by Stephen Wurm, and expanded to 90 pages including 14 pages of maps. Third Edition to Appear in early 2009

2 February

• Results of the International Seminar “Bridges: from their construction to their heritage approach”
  This International Seminar co-produced by the national Institute of heritage (Department of permanent training) and the Cité of architecture and heritage, with the participation of the Convention France-UNESCO and the national School of Ponts et Chaussées, took place from November 26 to 28, in Paris, under the sponsorship of UNESCO. It provided an update of the heritage aspects related to this type of construction, their degree of inventory and knowledge; the protection to be established and the gaps; the restoration and valuation situation; the use reserved for closed-down bridges, etc.

• Training “Cultural heritage and local development”. Porto Novo, Benin, November 18-21, 2008
  The first training session of the program “Cultural heritage and local development” took place in Porto Novo, Benin, from November 18 to 21, 2008 and gathered elect positions of Benin, Togo and Burkina Faso. This awareness-raising seminar was jointly organized with the Workshop of cultural heritage Directors of the Africa 2009 program. It took place in the School of African heritage. The first day of technical introduction on the topic of the cultural heritage was exclusively dedicated to the elect positions and municipal officers. A visit of Porto Novo and the work in favor of the heritage carried out by the city - among others things within the framework of the decentralized co-operation with the city of Lyon - allowed to present a case study that must be analyzed in next sessions.

• Technical Workshop on the cultural heritage inventories in Mediterranean countries, in collaboration with Euromed heritage: UNESCO, December 10, 2008
  This Workshop, jointly organized by UNESCO (office of Rabat and CFU) and by the management Unit of the Euromed Heritage IV program (RMSU) gathered around thirty participants who represented the management of heritage in nine countries, and experts from other three countries. The opening session on December 10, 2008 allowed officers from UNESCO and the RMSU to receive participants and place this initiative within the framework of the requests made by Mediterranean countries as well as in the strategic axes of UNESCO and the European Union.

• Exhibition. Cultural heritage of Astrakhan: Crossroads of great civilizations
  From 4 to 6 February 2009. Paris, France
  On the occasion of the Conference of Astrakhan. This exhibition is an invitation to discover the beauty of the region of Astrakhan in Southern Russia, a vast sector located in the river basin of the Caspian Sea known by its unique biodiversity and its cultural monuments that date back to the Sarmate civilization. From the different objects exhibited, the center of attention will be a 4m-high model of the Astrakhan Kremlin, unique monument of the historical and urban Russian architecture. Besides this exhibition there will be a seminar of experts in museums, urban history and architecture (Room VIII).

• Network of the Indian cities of living culture: Monitoring of the project
  As a result of the exchanges initiated under the auspices of UNESCO (New Delhi office and CFU) together with the national Association of the cities and countries of arts and history and the cities with safeguarded and protected sectors (ANVPH and VSS) and the Higher Studies center of Chaillot, it was organized a study trip to France, from September 27 to October 3, 2008, for the elect positions of several Indian cities (see newsletter n.11). The detailed documents regarding this trip (documents of reference presented by the cities visited, as well as basic texts on different topics dealt with) were gathered in a compilation that will be soon available from the CFU webpage: http://whc.unesco.org/fr/villes-indiennes/

• The UNESCO Courier 2009 - number 1: Submerged memory
  More than three million shipwrecks are lying on the ocean floor today. Hundreds of underwater decorated caves, towns and monuments remain to be discovered. How can we make use of the knowledge contained in these remains? How can they be presented to the general public? This issue of the Courier tackles these questions. This issue was prepared in collaboration with UNESCO’s Section of Museums and Cultural Objects. It coincides with the entry into force of the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage this January and the first Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, which will be held 26 and 27 March at UNESCO.

Future Publication of Proceedings of the 10th International Docomomo Conference - Rotterdam 2008
It is already five months since the wonderfull keynote lectures, paper and poster presentations, debates and tours at the 10th International Docomomo Conference in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, took place. This mail is to let you know that “The Challenge of Change” hasn’t faded out yet. If you would like to get or keep in touch with people you met at the conference, please find the list of participants attached. Pictures taken during the conference are now available on the conference website <http://www.docomomo2008.nl>. We look forward to two publications regarding the conference.

1. the report on the 2nd International Docomomo Student Workshop “Strategies for the Coolsingel Strip” will be published at the end of February 2009. It will discuss the assignment and its context, and will contain the solutions proposed by the various groups and the jury’s report.
2. somewhere around June 2009 we intend to publish the report on the 10th International Docomomo Conference “The Challenge of Change.” This report will contain a general overview of the conference and its outcomes, and the complete texts of the keynote speakers Herman Hertzberger, Wessel de Jonge and Barry Bergdoll.

Finally, it is still possible to order a copy of the proceedings. If you would like to order the proceedings, please fill in the attached order form and send it to the publisher IOS Press, the Netherlands. Their address is mentioned on the order form.

Summary of conference on rescue archaeology
On 8 December 2008, at the Assemblée Nationale in Paris, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Sub-Committee on the Cultural Heritage held a conference on rescue archaeology - the study and preservation of significant elements of archaeological heritage under threat from development work. Archaeologists, developers, public authority managers, NGOs and representatives of European and international institutions debated the topic, and concrete examples were considered in the form of case studies. In particular, the conference helped to identify the roles of the different interested parties as well as principles of good practice. It will contribute to the preparation of a PACE report on a balanced approach to the rescuing of archaeological finds from development projects.

New edition of UNESCO’s Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger
UNESCO launched the electronic version of the new edition of its Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger on 19 February. This interactive digital tool provides updated data about approximately 2,500 endangered languages around the world and can be continually supplemented, corrected and updated, thanks to contributions from its users.

Proceedings Patras Symposium - March 2006 Historic Cities Harbours of the Mediterranean & Their Urban Operations in the 20th Century
Proceedings of CIVVIH Symposium in Patras (9-12 March 2006) published
ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Historic Towns and Villages (CIVVIH) / ICOMOS Greece: Proceedings of CIVVIH Symposium in Patras (9-12 March 2006) published. The Proceedings of the Scientific Symposium organized by CIVVIH, ICOMOS Greece, and the Technical Chamber of Greece, held 2006 in the city of Patras, have been published under the title “Historical city ports of the Mediterranean region and urban operations of the 20th century” (ISBN: 978-960-98316-0-4). The Publication will soon be available in the UNESCO-ICOMOS Documentation Centre. If you wish to receive a copy of the publication, please contact: Sofia Avgerinou Kolonias: skolonia@central.ntua.gr