A three day conference jointly organised by the Centre for Conservation Studies, University of York and ICOMOS-UK
3-5 June 2010, King’s Manor, York, UK
Is there such a thing as a global conservation philosophy for cultural heritage? Should there be? Or should cultural heritage conservation reflect cultural diversity? The Conference will consider these thoughts through exploring conjunctions and differences between conservation philosophies and principles in UK, India and China.
Agra Fort, India, photo: M & G Therin-Weise
These aspirations were translated into an Australian national framework by the Burra Charter, the Australian National Charter, 1979. The idea of universality was strengthened by the 1972 World Heritage Convention with its concept of outstanding universal value for properties that might be seen part of the ‘world heritage of mankind as a whole’, which thus translated universal ideas to places perceived to be of universal value.
In recent years the China Principles, 2002, and the INTACH Charter for the Conservation of Unprotected Architectural Heritage and Sites in India, 2004, have developed conservation guidance related to specific cultural traditions. Do these still somehow reflect the idea of an over-arching conservation philosophy that can be seen to be global? Or are they stand alone documents whose similarities merely reflect the interchange of ideas between east and west? We considered these thoughts through exploring conjunctions and differences between conservation philosophies and principles in UK, India and China.
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26 January, 2010
Categories: Conferences, ICOMOS-UK Events . Tags: conservation, World Heritage, architecture, international relations . Author: icomos-uk . Comments: Leave a Comment
PRESS RELEASE, 23rd June 2010
Like other parts of the Third Sector, ICOMOS-UK understands the need for government cut-backs but is concerned about the possibly severe implications of the budget in terms of the capacity of the charitable sector in general, and the heritage sector in particular to deliver appropriate services in the light of the re-trenchment of the public sector in many areas.
The ability of the heritage sector to deliver important cultural services (alongside equally important eco-system services) is now widely recognised. These resources relate to the social aspects of the ‘big society’ that the Government has rightly focused on – the sense of place, sense of well-being and the idea of local distinctiveness, all of which have been acknowledged in the new PPS5 and in the work many Agencies have been undertaking in response to the ratification of the European Landscape Convention. The ability of the heritage sector to contribute substantially to GDP is now also widely recognised, through the way it underpins much of the tourism sector, as has been confirmed by the arrangements for the 2012 Olympics.
Yet the cultural heritage sector relies to a much greater extent on the charitable sector than either the Arts sector or the Environment sector. And the anticipated cut-back of DCMS resources linked to a potential decrease in revenue from gift aid, as a result of the £1,000 increase in the personal income tax allowance, and to an increase in VAT, will all impact negatively on the charitable sector.
There is an urgent need for the heritage sector to create a platform from which to engage with the government in order to underline the strong relationship between the charitable sector, government agencies and local authorities and to make the case for appropriate resources to sustain these relationships, in straightened times.
25 June, 2010
Categories: Service News . . Author: icomos-uk . Comments: Leave a Comment
The UK Government is preparing a new Tentative List of natural, cultural and mixed sites for potential nomination for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List, to be submitted to UNESCO in 2011, with a view to putting forward nominations to the World Heritage Committee from 2012.
The closing date for applications is: 11 June 2010
The Tentative List was last revised in 1999. This is the chance for all aspiring sites to be considered for possible nomination over the next five to ten years. Please spread the news of this process to appropriate organisations who might have an interest in suggesting a site.
All applications will be assessed by a panel of independent experts appointed by Government. The new Tentative List will be submitted to Ministers for approval before going forward to UNESCO in 2011.
Full details of how to apply including the necessary forms and an application pack can be found on the DCMS web-site at: http://www.culture.gov.uk/consultations/6740.aspx
21 May, 2010
Categories: World Heritage . Tags: UK World Heritage . Author: icomos-uk . Comments: Leave a Comment
International World Heritage Day is celebrated at World Heritage Sites across the world every year on 18th April, to raise awareness of the diversity of the world’s cultural and natural heritage and the steps that are being made to protect it, conserve it and promote understanding of it.
ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) has decided that the theme for International World Heritage Day 2010 is the Heritage of Agriculture. Whilst Liverpool’s World Heritage Site has no significant agricultural heritage, its role as the supreme example of an international seaport has resulted in an outstanding heritage in the storage and transportation of agricultural produce. Liverpool City Council has therefore organised five free guided tours of different areas of the World Heritage Site on 17th and 18th April 2010, looking at the agricultural exchanges, headquarters of insurance companies, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, the Triangular Trade across the Atlantic and the merchants’ activities around Duke Street. The tours will be led by qualified tour guides.
For further information and for details on how to book, view the Liverpool International World Heritage Day 2010 leaflet and/or visit www.liverpoolworldheritage.com
12 April, 2010
Categories: Conferences, World Heritage . . Author: icomos-uk . Comments: Leave a Comment
