ICOMOS collaborates with Eesti Kunstiakadeemia/Estonian Academy of Arts to organise a capacity building summer school for Heritage Alert and Advocacy

ICOMOS International in collaboration with EKA’s Cultural Heritage & Conservation Department conducted a week-long Global inter-university summer-school on Heritage Alert and Advocacy from 9 to 13 August 2021.

This summer school was designed to actively engage students and emerging professionals in the preparation of heritage alerts and recognising the threat to heritage as a global phenomenon. The course was a follow-up to the ICOMOS study Analyzing the Effectiveness of the ‘Heritage at Risk’ Initiatives by Jayashree Bardhan, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Germany.

A total of 50 students representing 24 countries from 14 different universities spread across 5 continents participated in this one of a kind colloquium. A diverse group of experts, including many ICOMOS International Board members were invited to share their thoughts and experience as tutors. A committed group of ICOMOS Emerging Professionals’ facilitated group work as tutor assistants.

The workshop encouraged participants to evaluate the effectiveness of heritage alerts as an advocacy tool; assess the workability of the format, process and timelines currently in place. For instance, should heritage alerts be released in a two-fold process to ensure community support can be garnered in a timely manner? How comprehensive should the alert document be? How promptly should the documents be collated?

With this collaboration, ICOMOS International proposes to build capacity on heritage alert and advocacy within the student community and emerging professionals. It also acknowledges the need for swift and region-specific action to protect cultural heritage properties worldwide.

Download the full press release here

For more information, contact: Riin Alatalu and Nupur Prothi, ICOMOS Board Members, riin.alatalu[at]icomos.org and nupur.prothi[at]icomos.org 

See more

Discover ICOMOS Heritage Alerts

Read about ICOMOS programme 'Heritage at Risk'