e-News n°101

12 décembre 2024

18 April - International Day for Monuments and Sites
Theme 2014: The Heritage of Commemoration

Every year on 18 April, ICOMOS celebrates the “International Day for Monuments and Sites”, whose establishment was approved by the 22nd UNESCO General Conference in 1983. The theme for 2014 is the Heritage of Commemoration.

Aim of the International Day

The aim of the International Day for Monuments and Sites is to encourage local communities and individuals throughout the world to consider the importance of cultural heritage to their lives, identities and communities, and to promote awareness of its diversity and vulnerability and the efforts required to protect and conserve it.

2014 Theme: The Heritage of Commemoration

Monuments and sites, including those more complex and diversified forms of heritage places such as living landscapes, are tangible carriers of the memory of a part of the human experience. Thus, through their authenticity and integrity, they contribute, in their way, to the commemoration and transmission of values which include history.

The theme provides an opportunity to present those constructions that have been intentionally created with the purpose of commemorating an event, a person, an idea, etc. This choice of theme is partly inspired by the centennial in 2014 of the beginning of the Great War of 1914-1918.

The heritage of commemoration takes a variety of forms: engraved inscriptions, mausoleums of exceptional architecture or works of monumental sculpture, more modest elements reflecting vernacular traditions or dedicated landscapes such as cemeteries or memorial gardens. This heritage also includes elements that were given a commemorative value; for example, ruins or industrial vestiges accompanied by dedication plaques, or public squares whose toponymy commemorates a historical event or individual.

Read more about the theme in English – French

Events and activities

18 April is celebrated all over the world by a wide range of organisations and many ICOMOS National and International Scientific Committees.

Events include scientific conferences and symposia, exhibitions, photography competitions, excursions, press conferences, the awarding of prizes, releasing press releases, publishing magazine articles, projecting films etc.

Please inform the ICOMOS International Secretariat on any activities you are undertaking to celebrate the day and this year’s theme, so that we can include it on the special web page as soon as possible.

Please send us information on your activities before 31 March 2014 in electronic format to secretariat@icomos.org (please mention 18 April in the email header) and preferably in the following format:
ICOMOS Committee or Name of organisation / Date / Place / Title of event and a web link or attached publishable PDF with information on the event.

Resources

Visit the 18 April web site for more information on the history of the International Day for Monuments and Sites and the themes of previous years; and for ideas on how to celebrate.

Image: Hiroshima (Japan), Peace Memorial and Genbaku Dome © Ronan Crowley/Flickr

ICOMOS International Secretariat 49-51 rue de la Fédération 75015 Paris, France Tel : +33 (0)1 45 67 67 70 Fax : +33 (0)1 45 66 06 22 secretariat@icomos.org www.icomos.org

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