Arab Forum For Cultural Heritage 2020

As a continuation to these important discussions, and after publishing the proceedings of the First Forum, ICCROM-Sharjah decided to organize the second Arab Forum for Cultural Heritage, entitled “Authenticity, Community and Conservation in the Arab Thought”. The second edition of the forum will discuss the characteristics of Cultural Heritage in the Arab Region, the specificity and diversity of heritage and the notion of authenticity in an Arab Architectural – Urban context; its association with ideological understandings of heritage and its relation to the origin, memories, and languages. This forum will particularly focus on the socio-cultural dimensions related to the notion of living heritage It will further address global perspectives in this field versus local and regional perceptions expressed through tangible and intangible aspects. Participants in the Forum will also present various case studies from various Arab and international contexts, highlighting how cultural heritage is defined and undertaken in actual projects, the principles used for conservation lessons learnt, and regional priorities.

The Forum Structure

The forum will gather over 100 international and regional researchers and speakers as well as heritage professionals and academics from the region who will discuss and debate views rooted in the Arab and/or Islamic cultural contexts.

The forum consists of panel discussions and presentations by the speakers of each session where each panel will be comprised of 6 to 7 panelists and moderated by a specialist in relevant topics. The time allocated for each panel is 90 minutes. It will be followed by open discussions.

DSCN2262
DSCN2195

Target Audience

The Arab Forum for Cultural Heritage is aimed at experts and researchers working in the field of culture and cultural heritage in the Arab World. These include, but not limited to:

  • International and regional academics, researchers, and students.
  • Heads of the Antiquities Departments and Cultural.
  • Heritage organizations from the Arab Region.
  • Heritage professionals in the region and beyond.
  • Cultural Heritage NGOs in the region and beyond.
  • International and Regional organizations and their representatives.
  • Thinkers, researchers, and historians.
  • Media professionals and journalists.
  • Architects, archaeologists, conservators, or relevant professionals with knowledge in cultural heritage studies and conservation doctrine.

Objectives

This forum is expected to promote a dialogue aimed to revisit regional and diverse cultural perceptions and values, pose significant questions, and critique a spectrum of regional views on the subject. The forum specifically aims to:

  • Encourage experts from a range of cultural fields to discuss concepts related to the notion of authenticity and the essence of cultural heritage conservation in the Arab region.
  • Advocate and promote the significance and meanings of Cultural Heritage with embedded attributes as perceived in the region.
  • Explore means to encourage cultural dialogue to promote the exchange of viewpoints and perceptions, as well as understanding the meaning(s) of cultural heritage conservation on local, regional, and global contexts.
  • Inform cultural heritage policies in the region, in order to integrate heritage within sustainable urban development and explore means to engage diverse communities in conservation and post-disaster recovery projects.
  • Analyze the role of museums and education in forming a better understanding, and in making cultural heritage relevant to the public.
  • The ICCROM-Sharjah office will follow up on the forum’s objectives through its mission as a “school” for heritage conservation and promotion serving the region, and as a think-tank for policymakers in the region. It will continue to contribute to the dissemination of knowledge at institutional, socio-cultural, and professional levels.

Expected Outcomes

This forum is expected to promote a dialogue aimed to revisit regional and diverse cultural perceptions and values, pose significant questions, and critique a spectrum of regional views on the subject. The forum specifically aims to:

  • Encourage experts from a range of cultural fields to discuss concepts related to the notion of authenticity and the essence of cultural heritage conservation in the Arab region.
    Advocate and promote the significance and meanings of Cultural Heritage with embedded attributes as perceived in the region.
  • Explore means to encourage cultural dialogue to promote exchange of viewpoints and perceptions, as well as understanding the meaning(s) of cultural heritage conservation on local, regional and global contexts.
  • Inform cultural heritage policies in the region, in order to integrate heritage within sustainable urban development and explore means to engage diverse communities in conservation and post-disaster recovery projects.
  • Analyse the role of museums and education in forming better understanding, and in making cultural heritage relevant to the public.
  • The ICCROM-Sharjah office will follow up the forum’s objectives through its mission as a “school” for heritage conservation and promotion serving the region, and as a think-tank for policymakers in the region. It will continue to contribute to the dissemination of knowledge at institutional, socio-cultural and professional levels.