PROGRAMME

“SAFEGUARDING CULTURAL HERITAGE: POST-CONFLICT AND POST-DISASTER

STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE MUSEUM MANAGEMENT”

TRAINING

May 8 – 13, 2010 Kabul, Afghanistan

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In the same way as traditions, arts and knowledge have to be carefully fostered, so that they do not vanish for good in times of crisis – so we have to care about post-conflict reconstruction and preventive conservation of our movable cultural heritage. This needs to be done even much before an optimal condition of peace and abundance of resources is reached, and we always have to consider the risks involved in doing so, as well as the new opportunities that assessing these risks may become ripe for us. We also have to focus on correct planning – defining general aims, setting milestones, securing the means to reach both, and using apt strategies to simplify the whole process. Moreover, we have to consider that this is not done in a void. No institution – and even less change affecting them! – should be considered without looking at the context it lives in. Accurately considering specific information regarding the land lot hosting a museum or a monument, the district it is located in, as well as the regional diversity and the general situation of a country or a macro region is always very important, and so is considering human geography, and the degree of welcomeness, acceptance and (re)use of an institution or a site by the inhabitants of the surrounding areas. Thus, evaluating projects or proposals for reconstruction or for reuse of previously damaged, or even simply neglected, buildings and sites requires that we also ask questions – questions like: how?, why?, for whom? – related both to the existing situation and to its possible, or desired, future evolution. In this workshop, we will be examining three different contexts in the Kabul area – an ancient archaeological site, a mausoleum with its garden, and a beautiful building located in a war struck district undergoing radical renovation. We will also confront ourselves with the issues of promoting a cultural institution, and of taking into account a multiplicity of views regarding one and the same artefact, one and the same cultural tradition. This experiences will help us in looking with new eyes to similar or comparable contexts we may be familiar with, and in better planning a sustainable, effective management of many events and actions affecting the cultural institutions we represent and care for.

First Day

Session I Opening Ceremony

09:00-09:30 Registration of participants

09:30-10:00

Welcome speeches by:

• Dr. Omara Khan Massoudi, Director, National Museum Kabul

• Mr. Brendan Cassar, UNESCO Kabul Office

• Dr. Alessandro Califano, Senior Curator, CRDAV

Session II Introduction

10:00-10:30 Self-introduction of participants

10:30-11:30 Recap of previous workshop: “Risks and Opportunities: Difficult Challenges for

Museum Professionals”

11.30-12:00 Introduction to the workshop: “Issues in post-conflict reconstruction and

security / preventive conservation for museums”

12:00-13:30 Lunch break

13:30-14:45 Visit to the National Museum of Kabul: “What is new? What changed? What

are its plans for tomorrow?”

14:45-15:30 Description of subsequent days and Discussion: “Planning: A Conceptual Map”

SECOND DAY

Session III Visit to Timur Shah Monument – “A Case-Study in Restoration”

08:00-08:30 Travel from Museum to Monument

08:30-11:30 Visit to the monument and its surrounding area; on-site risk assessment (in

separate groups)

11:30-12:00 Travel from Monument to Museum

12:00-13:30 Lunch break

Session IV “In House” Session

13:30-14:45 Discussion : On-site risk assessment tour evaluation (all groups) : town area,

land parcel, monument, details

14:45-15:30 Preview: Murad Khane and the Peacock House – description and slides

THIRD DAY

Session V Visit to Murad Khane District and Peacock House – “Reconstruction and

Reuse”

09:00-09:30 Travel from Museum to Murad Khane District

09:30-11:30 Visit to the district and the Peacock House

11:30-12:00 Travel from Murad Khane District back to the Museum

12:00-13:30 Lunch break

Session VI “In House” Session

13:30-14:45 Discussion : Evaluation of restoration / reuse; similar issues at participants’ sites

15:00-15:30 Nine agents of deterioration: “A simple device to reduce light impact on both

collections and fragile structures”

FOURTH DAY

Session VII Visit to Tepe Naranj – “Planning a new Museum”

09:00-09:30 Travel from Museum to Site

09:30-11:30 Visit to the Site

11:30-12:00 Travel from Site to Museum

12:00-13:30 Lunch break

Session VIII “In House” Session

13:30-15:00 Discussion : “A new museum – where, how, for whom?”

15:00-15:30 “Takht-i Rostam” – slides ; Discussion: “Which are / could be your audiences?”

FIFTH DAY

Session IX “In House” Session

09:00-10:30 Promoting a new Museum : How? (Aims, stakeholders, strategies)

10:30-12:00 A possible Move – Artefact of the Month Campaign : “Who is involved?”

12:00-13:30 Lunch break

Session X “In House” Session

13:30-14:00 “Audience, communities, multiple voices” – Business Theatre (Rashōmon)

14:00-15:30 Discussion : “US/Afghan photography exhibition. For whom is it?” ; handout:

“Workshop evaluation and wish-list”

SIXTH DAY

Session XI “Wrapping It Up”

09:00-09:45 “Restoration, Reuse, Planning” – Lessons Learned

09:45-11:00 “Wrapping it up”: Discussions and Questions

Session XII Closing Ceremony

11:00-12:00 Closing Ceremony (with UNESCO and other official representatives)