ICCROM-ATHAR to Open Soon in Sharjah

UAE-Sharjah/Sharjah Media Centre: December 7, 2014 - Following the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, Sharjah has always paid great attention to heritage and history.

According to a report by Sharjah Media Centre, the constant support provided by Sharjah to heritage conservation organisations, including the Regional Conservation Centre in Sharjah (ICCROM-ATHAR), has played a major role in the selection of the emirate as a regional headquarters for the Centre by ICCROM’s 27th General Assembly.

ICCROM-ATHAR seeks to meet priority preservation needs of heritage in the Arab region, eventually ensuring its long-term protection through capacity development work for professionals working at various heritage institutions in the Arab region. These professionals have also the task to work inter-sectorally to integrate heritage as an essential vector for sustainable development.

Dr. Zaki Aslan, Director of ICCROM-ATHAR, said: 'Thanks to the gracious support of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, several activities were implemented, including the setting of the corner-stone for the building of the ICCROM-Sharjah Centre at the Sharjah University City. The new construction of the ICCROM-Sharjah Centre is due to open its doors this month.” Dr. Aslan pointed to the “Sharjah Initiative”, which provides a strategic framework for Arab countries to take actions to protect cultural heritage in times of crisis.

The new Centre, from its location at the University City, will continue its efforts to address emerging needs of the region, as well as addressing needs that the professional community can develop for the safeguard and recovery of endangered cultural patrimony.

Post-graduate Programme

Dr. Aslan announced that under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, ICCROM-ATHAR and University of Sharjah are jointly starting a new post-graduate programme leading to a Higher Diploma/Master degree in “Cultural Heritage Conservation Management”, which includes the study of heritage sites and museum collections.

He indicated: “This is in order to achieve the Centre’s goals not only related to the actual impact of the programme but also relevant to needed recognition of professional qualifications by higher educational systems. Thus, past and future participants will greatly benefit from this initiative as of September 2015.”
Heritage Initiatives Sharjah is keen to support all initiatives aimed at preserving heritage. Moreover, it has numerous heritage-oriented initiatives and projects of its own, not to mention its many historic sites, museums and old houses, which still pulsate with the spirit of the past.
In this regard, Dr. Aslan said: “Sharjah is a beacon in the world of culture, archaeology and heritage,” pointing to the significant role of cultural heritage institutions, which lay the foundations for heritage conservation.
He added: 'The attention given to preserving heritage by Sharjah, in general, and His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, in particular, is unmatched and attested to by the emirate’s prominent presence in international forums. It is also attested to by the decisions of international organisations and regional meetings in the fields of culture and heritage conservation, including, but not limited to the recent decisions of the Arab Ministers of Culture and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property in Rome.”

He went on to say: “ICCROM-ATHAR will enhance conservation work in Sharjah, UAE and neighbouring countries by providing technical advice on issues related to heritage conservation, management and planning.”
World Heritage

According to Dr. Aslan, ICCROM-ATHAR Regional Conservation Centre in Sharjah has in recent years endeavoured to train workers in the fields of heritage and archaeology and provide world-level technologies to protect ancient buildings in Sharjah, while striving to highlight important sites in the emirate, including the heart of Sharjah and the archaeological site of Al Faya, which, thanks to the Centre, have been included on the Unesco’s tentative list of World Heritage sites.

ICCROM-ATHAR, in collaboration with the National Council of Tourism and Antiquities, has contributed to the tentative world heritage list of the UAE through the preparation of nomination files for heritage sites in six different emirates.

The Director of ICCROM-ATHAR noted that the Centre, in coordination with the concerned authorities, is looking at mechanisms to highlight the major role played by Sharjah under British rule and as a gate to Trucial States. It is conducting this research through the study of books published by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and other relevant references.

Dr. Aslan said: 'Cultural heritage conveys various meanings and messages, as well as lessons to learn from. It is the memory and identity of nations and is, therefore, very important to protect, particularly now as it faces the danger of destruction and theft on a daily basis.

Expressing his concern that the heritage of many countries is endangered as a result of ongoing conflicts, he added: “This heritage must be saved to prevent the loss of evidence, meanings and values that form the basis for planning the future of civilisations and their contributions to the world.”
Education

Dr. Aslan stressed that ICCROM-ATHAR Regional Conservation Centre in Sharjah depends mainly on regional expertise. However, when experience in a certain area of heritage conservation is not found regionally, international expertise is tapped.

The Director of ICCROM-ATHAR said: “We strive today to educate the public and have them benefit from the Centre’s studies through lectures, websites, social networks and the media, and through Sharjah Media Centre, which supports the initiatives of ICCROM-ATHAR.”

He clarified that the courses offered by the Centre are prioritised according to the region’s needs. “ICCROM-ATHAR has developed programmes on the protection of cultural heritage in times of crisis, emergency preparedness and safeguarding audio-visual heritage, among other things,” added Dr. Aslan.

It is noteworthy that ICCROM-ATHAR, in coordination with school administrations, has worked on a teacher’s guide aimed at introducing young people to heritage conservation and distributed it through ministries of education. The Centre has also held competitions at different schools to educate students on the significance of heritage preservation.