27th – 31st July 2009, Berlin, Germany

The International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy 2009 will bring together a diverse group of participants from across the world for a weeklong program of lectures, social events and panel discussions that will look at the role of soft power in contemporary international relations. The speakers during the week are experts and leading figures from politics, academia, and the private sector. The participants of the Symposium include students, young professionals, senior academics and diplomats, all of whom will have the chance to debate the future of soft power and cultural diplomacy with fellow participants and leading authorities. In the evenings the participants will have the opportunity to network in social events, enjoy live music and entertainment and to explore Berlin’s vibrant nightlife.

The theme of this year’s Symposium will be the role of soft power in the international environment, and the speakers will include Jorge Sampaio, United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilisations and former President of Portugal (1996-2006), Joaquim Chissano, former President of Mozambique (1986 – 2005) and former Chairperson of the African Union (2003 – 2004), Cassam Uteem, former President of the Republic of Mauritius (1992-2002), Dr. Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, former President of Latvia (1999-2007), and Dr. Vasile Puşcaş, Romanian Minister for European Affairs.

More information

Symposium Brochure

Contact: symposium@culturaldiplomacy.org

7th-10th July 2009

This tour will explore four towns in the Republic sharing information and good practice on what makes a high quality place.

From contemporary lighting schemes and public realm design in Cork to the colourful shop fronts in Youghal, embedded in the towns history, and Waterford’s vision “ to create a framework of public and civic spaces of character and visual quality” in a medieval city known for its ancient City Walls and craftsmanship, and finally an international conference in Kilkenny Castle – “Serving people while preserving heritage” – which will bring together practitioners and representatives from policy making bodies.

Programme Details and Online Booking

Places are limited and bookings must be received by 12 June.

Wednesday 3rd June

Please join an evening looking at contemporary architecture in the context of a World Heritage City with a special guest from Canada, Herb Stovel, an expert on World Heritage matters, to speak about his experiences with the changing landscape of international world heritage cities.

Please contact Glasgow City Heritage Trust on 0141 552 1331 to reserve your place (limited spaces available).

 Open Air Museums and Society

3rd-5th July 2009

at St Fagans National History Museum (near Cardiff)
Part of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

St Teilo’s Church, St Fagans © St Fagans: National History Museum

 ICOMOS-UK is pleased to invite you to our Summer Meeting Seminar and AGM at St Fagans National History Museum, south Wales, in collaboration with Eurwyn Wiliam, our Vice President for Wales, former Director of St Fagans, Deputy Director General of National Museum Wales and latterly Keeper Emeritus, National Museum Wales.

The ‘first generation’ open air museums were set up in Scandinavia at the end of the 19th century. Over the next 80 years many others followed in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Eastern Europe and North America.

Set up to highlight the value of regional buildings which contribute so much to our national identity at a time when many vernacular buildings were becoming vulnerable to destruction or radical change, they became the repositories of ‘unspoilt’ structures which could be read as social documents, particularly of rural life before the industrial era.

The meeting will include visits to the museum’s buildings, a concert in its painted, mediaeval church and a seminar discussing the vision, extraordinary diversity and benefits of open-air museums in Europe.

Programme:

Friday 3rd July:

5.30 – 6.30 Drinks Reception at St Fagans

6.30 – 8.00 Informal Concert at recreated mediaeval church of
St. Teilo’s from Pontardulais, West Glamorgan

8.30 – 9.30 Supper at Iolo Morganwg restaurant, St Fagans

Saturday 4th July:

Seminar: Open-Air Museums and Society,
(Committee Room, St Fagans)

10.00 – 10.30 Coffee

10.30 – 10.40 Introduction and welcome

10.40 – 11.00 Dr Eurwyn Wiliam, Keeper Emeritus, National
Museum Wales: Open-air museums in Europe: a visionary idea

11.00 – 11.20 Gerallt Nash, Senior Curator, St Fagans National History Museum: Presenting recent history at St Fagans

11.20 – 12.00 Richard Suggett, Manager of the Emergency Building Recording Team, Royal Commission for Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales: Searching for the earliest houses in Wales

12.00 – 12.20 Dr Thomas Bloch Ravn, Director of Den Gamle By, Denmark’s National open air museum, Chair of the Association of Open-Air Museums: Open-air museums and society

12.20 – 12.45 Discussion

12.45 – 1.45 Sandwich Lunch Iolo Morganwg restaurant

1.45 – 4.15 Guided visit to St Fagans National History Museum

5.00 – 6.00 ICOMOS-UK AGM in the Committee Room (The Annual General Meeting is open to all members and their guests)

6.00 – 7.00 Optional Supper

Sunday 5th July:

Optional tour to the landscape of the Blaenavon World Heritage site

The main price for ICOMOS-UK members at £50 includes the Friday evening reception, supper and concert, and the Seminar and lunch on Saturday. Guests and non-members are welcome. The pub supper on Saturday evening will be paid for individually by those attending. There is a supplementary £20 cost for the Blaenavon visit on Sunday.

Download the flyer and booking form

For more information please contact:
Camilla Massara
Events Co-ordinator
ICOMOS-UK
Tel: 020 7566 0031
e-mail: camillamassara@icomos-uk.org

This event is organised in collaboration with Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

19th-20th May 2009
Embankment Galleries, Somerset House, London 

This groundbreaking two-day conference takes as its focus how our built heritage can address the challenge of climate change.

Leading experts will provide perspectives on how historic buildings can sensibly and realistically meet the challenge of global warming.
Delegates will have the opportunity to view an exhibition of cutting edge environmental products and services.

The conference is organised by the Chartered Institute of Building, National Trust, English Heritage and Somerset House, and will be held in the prestigious surroundings of the Embankment Galleries at Somerset House.

Preferential Rate for Partner organisations: CIOB members and employees of The National Trust, English Heritage and Somerset House.

View more information

Contact details:

Veronica Dunn
The Chartered Institute of Building
t: + 44 (0) 1344 630 798
e:  vdunn@ciob.org.uk

22-23 April
Glasgow School of Art’s Digital Design Studio

The 2009 conference, designed for architects, planners, conservation specialists and people interested in the built heritage, addresses the use of advanced digital documentation technology. The event is in association with Historic Scotland, Leica Geosystems, Hexagon Metrology and the CyArk Foundation. Digital Documentation 2009 will have 14 presenters from the US, Mexico, Spain, Germany, Italy, Turkey and the United Kingdom to speak about digital documentation, laser scanning and 2D/3D representation within the heritage and conservation sectors.

Day one will consist of presentations focussing on the applied use of laser scanning and digital survey, particularly looking at heritage documentation. Day two will focus on the use of the technology from an owner and institutional level. The keynote speaker will be Gustavo Araoz, the President of the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).

Examples of new technologies will be on exhibition with the opportunity to look at and discuss methods with technical experts from Leica Geomatics, Hexagon Meteorology and Pointools. Exhibitors include the CyArk Foundation, Historic Scotland, The Rosslyn Chapel Trust and others

The Conference will be held at the Old Fruitmarket in the heart of Glasgow’s Merchant City. Tickets are priced at £65 for a single day or £100 for two. To register please fill in the form in the registration section and email or fax it to us at info@digitaldocumentation.co.uk / +44 (0) 141 353 4448. You can include payment details on this form or alternatively pay over the phone by calling +44 (0) 141 353 4422

View more information

Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 April 2009
Blackpool Winter Gardens

Blackpool Blackpool’s special history is rooted in its significance as the world’s first working-class seaside resort and its development into a unique centre of popular entertainment.

Today, still synonymous with fun and excitement, Blackpool constitutes an exceptional cultural landscape – a living, evolving expression of the industrial archaeology of the popular seaside holiday.

 Although always at the forefront of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship (the town’s motto is ‘Progress’), Blackpool continues to retain its core identity and ambience and to sustain its distinctive atmosphere of revelry and participation, with an impressive array of surviving architectures, built environments and entertainment traditions dedicated to the provision of leisure and enjoyment. Blackpool is now at a critical point in its historical development, looking to reinvent itself through a new masterplan, pursued through the urban regeneration company ReBlackpool. The Blackpool Resort Masterplan sets out an ambitious vision that will transform the town by redefining Blackpool’s future as a top-quality, world-class resort destination, improving the lives of residents and visitors alike. The trick will be to combine modernisation and the search for new markets with an appeal to tradition, identity and the heritage of the recent past and to encourage high quality architecture and redevelopment that responds to and respects the history, heritage and special character of the place.

View more information

ICOMOS-UK is looking for an enthusiastic and motivated person from a cultural heritage background with experience of office administration, book keeping, minute taking, diary management and working with volunteers.  The job also involves advertising travel grants for students and processing their applications and research reports. You will be working closely with our Secretary and Events co-ordinator, our Scientific Committees and Trustees, and liaising with people from a wide range of conservation and heritage bodies in the UK on issues relating to UK World Heritage Sites.  You will be expected to oversee the running of the Secretariat when the Secretary is away, so need to work independently and be self-motivated.

Responsible:             The Secretary

Based at:                   ICOMOS-UK, 70 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6EJ

Office hours:             28 hours, normally Monday to Thursday

Salary:                       £20,000 pro-rata

Annual leave:            25 days pro-rata

Start Date:                20^th April

Contract length:        5 months

Key areas of work:

1.      Direct support:  To provide direct administrative support to the Secretary, and in the general day-to-day running of the Secretariat, including diary management.  Front line response by phone, fax and email to members, students, general public, international secretariat, referral to Secretary, President and others as appropriate.  First contact with the Press queries and appropriate referral. 

2.      Committees:  Servicing the Executive Committee (Trustees of the Charity) and four national scientific committees, and the World Heritage Co-ordinators meetings.  This includes agreeing meeting dates with Chairs, drafting agendas, general management of meetings, drafting minutes, revision and circulation of papers. 

3.   Office Management:  Payment of invoices, purchase and maintenance of supplies and of equipment in consultation with the Treasurer and Secretary, insurance, liaison over rent and security.  Manage files and storage both on and off-site.  Liaise with IT support.

4.   Accounts : Book-keeping for ICOMOS-UK (petty cash and current account) by using QuickBooks accounting software, preparation of grant applications, liaison with bank, grant awarding bodies and auditor.  Provide the Honorary Treasurer with monthly and quarterly accounts, and support with finalising the accounts presented to the Trustees and the Annual Report.  Prepare Charity Commission Annual Returns for ICOMOS-UK, IMT and INTACH UK Trust and Gift Aid claims for ICOMOS-UK 

5.   INTACH UK Trust:  Administrative support for the Secretary.  Support the Secretary in the   organisation of the AGM in the UK.  Advertise the Travel Grant scheme and Project Grants to relevant bodies, process all applications and awards, and answer queries from applicants and the general public.  Circulate meeting papers and investment reports to the Trustees in India and the UK.  Basic book keeping and liaison with the bank over bank transfers to India.  Liaise with INTACH staff in Delhi. 

6.   Publications: Process all publication orders and payments from the public and book stores.  Maintain stock levels and re-order publications as necessary.  Review and evaluate publications offered for sale by ICOMOS-UK and consider buying in new titles for sale.  Despatch publication orders.  Provide administrative support for the Strategic Plan Working Group and coordinate, collect, write and edit text and images for the Strategic Plan.  Liaison with designers and printers and agree print proofs. 

7.   Personnel: Responsible for overseeing the work of student placements and  volunteers.

8.  International Monuments Trust:  Basic book keeping; liaison with Honorary Treasurer.  Servicing Committee meetings and AGM, this includes agreeing meeting dates with Chair, drafting agendas, general management of meetings, drafting minutes, revision and circulation of papers.  Coordinate the IMT Project Fund applications and distribution of awards. 

9.   Health & Safety:   To ensure compliance with relevant regulations.

10. Other duties: To undertake any other duties that may reasonably expected to be part of the role.

Please apply with CV and covering letter to:

 ICOMOS-UK, 70 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6EJ

admin@icomos-uk.org

The closing date for applications is Thursday 9^th April.

Maritime Greenwich World Heritage site

In celebration of 2009 “International Sites and Monuments Day”

WORLD HERITAGE AND SCIENCE

One Day Workshop 7th May 2009, 10am-4pm

Venue: The Museum of the Order of St John
St John’s Gate, Clerkenwell, London EC1M 4DA   

The history of the development of science and its application through technology is as important as any other part of our heritage to an understanding of the nature of modern human existence.

Many scientific achievements such as agriculture and industrialisation have been recognised on the World Heritage List, while other areas relating to scientific knowledge are under-represented, particularly the natural sciences (physical sciences including astronomy, chemistry, and geology, and biological sciences).

A distinguished panel of speakers will explore these issues and highlight the wealth of associations between milestones in scientific thought and World Heritage and Tentative list sites in the UK.

The Programme includes:

Prof. Alec Boksenberg, Chair UK UNESCO: What are the key scientific ideas we should be capturing?

Prof. Frank James, Chair of Science & Technology Network, Royal Institution: Understanding the development of ideas through physical evidence

James Simpson, Partner, Simpson & Brown Architects:
Edinburgh and the Scottish enlightenment

Prof. David Mabberley, Keeper of the Herbarium, Library, Art & Archives, Kew: Kew Gardens and the evolution of plant classification

Prof. Adrian Phillips, former Chair of IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas: Landscapes that reflect Darwin’s evolutionary ideas

Prof. Hugh Torrens, Emeritus Professor of History of Science and Technology, Keele University: Dorset & East Devon Coast, Giant’s Causeway and the History of Geological Science

Prof. Ian Wood, Professor of Early Medieval History, University of Leeds:
Monkwearmouth & Jarrow and the early scientific ideas of the venerable Bede

Dr Rebekah Higgitt, Curator of Science & Technology, National Maritime Museum: Greenwich as a centre for the development of horological/ astronomical thinking

See the full programme and booking form

Contact:
Camilla Massara
Events Co-ordinator
ICOMOS-UK
Tel: 0207 566 0031
camillamassara@icomos-uk.org

This event is organised in collaboration with The Museum of the Order of St John

Wednesday 18th  March 2009
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DW

As a specialized agency of the United Nations, UNESCO contributes to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information. As a global organization, it provides a forum for international debate, the establishment of global standards and indicators, the sharing of ideas, analysis and experience, and the assessment of results.  Its broad-base mandate  offers tremendous opportunities to develop interdisciplinary approaches in its fields of expertise.

This seminar, organised by the UK National Commission for UNESCO in Scotland, will explore current issues of best practice in international development from an interdisciplinary perspective, in a Scottish context. Through a series of case studies and workshops, this seminar will engage participants in reflecting about their own practice and experience about what constitutes best practice in international development today.

Registration Fee: £20
Student concession: £7

For more information and a copy of the programme please contact:

UK National Commission for UNESCO SCOTLAND Committee
Isabelle Uny- Fundraiser & Programme Secretary
c/o Museums Galleries Scotland
1 Papermill Wynd, McDonald Road, Edinburgh EH7 4QL
Tel: +44(0) 131 550 4100 — Email: iuny@unesco.org.uk