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US/ICOMOS is happy
to announce that the outstanding dedication of our Chair Emerita Ann Webster
Smith to the international advancement of heritage protection was recognized
at the 15th ICOMOS General Assembly in Xi’an, China by being
awarded the 2005 Gazzola Prize. (Read
more about US/ICOMOS at the ICOMOS General Assembly).
Given every three years, the Gazzola Prize
is the highest honor conferred by ICOMOS, and for many it is the closest
equivalent of a Nobel Prize in Heritage Conservation. The Prize is awarded
to an individual or group of individuals who have contributed with
distinction to the universal heritage conservation aims and objectives of
ICOMOS.
Ms Smith’s nomination was unusual in that, in
addition to being nominated by US/ICOMOS, her host National Committee as
required, 30 illustrious ICOMOS members from Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Egypt,
Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, Russia,
South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Venezuela and Zimbabwe joined Ms Smith’s
nomination and made it a true universal recognition of her contribution and
commitment to international cultural cooperation. |
A larger-than-life photo of Ann Webster Smith,
winner of the Gazzola Prize. The award was made at the Plenary
Session of the 15th ICOMOS General Assembly in Xi'an, China, October 17,
2005. Gustavo Araoz (US/ICOMOS Executive Director, at
podium) and John Fowler (Chair, US/ICOMOS, behind him) thank ICOMOS
on behalf of Ann Webster Smith.
Reception Honoring Ms. Webster Smith
Memoriam
for Ann Webster Smith
(d. April 20, 2006)
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In presenting her merits, the nomination
recounts:
“The work and achievements of Ms Smith in
fostering a global culture of protection for the cultural heritage of the
entire world are so prolific and varied that they defy description. Her
unwavering dedication, passion and generosity for ICOMOS, where a large part
of her work on behalf of international preservation has taken place, are
universally known, almost legendary by now. Because of the many roles that
she has played in the organization, she knows ICOMOS, and has helped it from
its many perspectives: as a regular member, as an Honorary member, as
Secretariat staff, as National Committee president, as coordinator of the
International Scientific Committees, and as a member of the Bureau. For
three decades Ms Smith has been at the very core of the dreamers and doers
who have nurtured ICOMOS to its current maturity. Her commitment to
cooperation and teamwork has enlarged our reach, and ushered many to join in
building a better organization. Her home was always open to accommodate
those passing through, and her apartment often was - and is - the venue to
many an impromptu ICOMOS meeting or strategy session.
“Her service to ICOMOS has been
uninterrupted for 30 years, and continues to this day, through her active
participation in US/ICOMOS and her ongoing advice to any ICOMOS member who
seeks it. Her sharp and detailed memory has merged into the corporate memory
of ICOMOS, and her impartial use of that vast repository of information has
been her tool for steering our growth. A true visionary never fearing change
for the sake of improvement, she has conceptualized, supported, championed
and enabled numerous cultural programs for international cooperation;
influenced major decision-makers towards the preservation ethic; steered
private and public funds for the support of international preservation
initiatives; mentored dozens of young preservationists into their full
professional capacity; and given her unfailing support and assistance to new
and young ICOMOS members. She has always made time for nurturing new folks
into ICOMOS, seeing their potential and developing their interests for the
organization’s benefit and future. She is
as active, dedicated, generous and enthusiastic today as she was 30 years
ago.”
All of ICOMOS extends its gratitude and warm
wishes to Ann. And all members of US/ICOMOS are fortunate for having
profited from her generous guidance, tenacity and leadership for over thirty
years, and hopefully, for many yet to come.
Established in 1979, the Prize commemorates
our first President, Piero Gazzola of Italy, an outstanding personality in
the history of heritage conservation, and closely linked to the creation of
ICOMOS. Salvador Aceves of Mexico, Cevat Erder of Turkey, Birgitta Hoberg
of Sweden, Yukio Nishimura of Japan and Roland Silva of Sri Lanka
constituted the distinguished 2005 Gazzola Prize Selection Panel. Messrs
Silva and Erder are respectively former recipients of the award in 1999 and
2003.
Directly below are excerpts from Ms. Smith’s worlds of
acceptance:
“I am deeply grateful to ICOMOS and its members for
the enormous honor you have bestowed upon me in naming me as Gazzola
Prize Laureate for 2005.”Also, may I express my thanks to all of my ICOMOS colleagues who, I am
told, supported my candidacy. I would like to express my particular thanks
to the Prize Committee for 2005, to Yukio Nishimura, to Birgitta Hoberg, to
Cevat Erder and to Roland Silva, the latter two Gazzola Prize winners in
their own right, all of them long-time and respected friends and colleagues
over many years, and to Salvador Aceves, one of the founding members of
ICOMOS at its Constituent Assembly in Warsaw forty years ago. Also, I would
like to acknowledge the memory of another American, Dr. Ernest Allen
Connally, another Gazzola Prize winner and the mentor who first brought me
into the world of ICOMOS 30 years ago.”Piero Gazzola for whom the prize is named was not only the founder or
ICOMOS. He and his long time associate Professor Raymond Lemaire, were the
guiding spirits behind the organization and the enunciation of its
objectives. Together they and their associates as well as those who have
followed them, sought to ensure the preservation and conservation of the
monuments and sites, the cultural treasures which make up the heritage of
all peoples and in particular to guide those whose daily objective is to
ensure that these properties are preserved and enhanced for the enrichment
of the minds and lives as well as for the pleasure of society today and that
of those who will come after us.”Piero Gazzola was a much loved man, an inspiration to all those who had the
privilege and distinct honor of working with him, his colleagues at home in
Italy and his friends and associates at ICOMOS. I came to ICOMOS just as he
was leaving but was instantly aware of what an example he provided for his
friends and for professionals everywhere. He would be proud to see how the
organization has grown and thrived. And I am proud to have played a part in
ICOMOS and its work; never quite so proud and pleased as I am by the honor
you do me today. Thank you! Thank you all.”
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