Culture

ICCROM Regional Centre, University of Sharjah collaborate in conservation

22 Sep 2024

An ICCROM project.

Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

The activities of the sixth intake of the ICCROM Master’s Program in Conservation Management of Cultural Heritage, have kicked off at the International Organisations premises in Sharjah. The Program is being implemented in a collaboration between the ICCROM Regional Centre in Sharjah (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property) and the University of Sharjah, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah and Member of the Supreme Council.

The ICCROM Master’s Program in Conservation Management of Cultural Heritage is an initiative that aims to develop and preserve cultural heritage in the Arab region and to develop the skills to face the significant challenges the neighbourhood is witnessing. It aims to impart knowledge and enable a new generation of heritage specialists.

On the first day of the programme, the hosts presented an overview of ICCROM and its Regional Centre in Sharjah, focusing on its mission, strategies and activities. The presentation also focused on the training opportunities provided by the centre.

Nasir Al Darmaki, Deputy Director of the ICCROM Regional Centre in Sharjah, said the Master’s Program represents one of the essential activities implemented by the ICCROM Centre in Sharjah in the framework of the cooperation agreement signed with the University of Sharjah.

He also spoke about the Program’s objectives, which seeks through research, academic and practical initiatives, to contribute to qualifying national cadres to support the preservation of cultural heritage in the Arab region and enhance scholarly research.

Specialists at conservation work.

Architect Anwar Sabik, Programme Officer (Training and Field Projects) at the ICCROM Regional Centre in Sharjah, spoke about its contribution to the Master’s Program through the continuing design and development of the training facilities, in cooperation with university professors and the provision of international and regional experts/teachers as visiting lecturers from the ICCROM staff or its network of global experts.

He also highlighted the contribution of the ICCROM Regional Centre in Sharjah, which provides scholarships for students. This year, four of them obtained scholarships (from among 70 students). They hail from Bahrain, Tunisia, Egypt and Palestine.

Dr. Monther Jamhawi, programme coordinator at the University of Sharjah, referred to the diversity of backgrounds of the participating students and the importance of representing several Arab countries in the schedule.

Since its launch in 2019, the ICCROM Master’s Program in Conservation Management of Cultural Heritage has witnessed increasing local and regional participation. The number of students enrolled in the Program has reached 108; they come from across the region. In the current season (2024-2025), the Program has 15 students, including nine from the United Arab Emirates and a student each from Bahrain, Egypt, Tunisia, Palestine, Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Close focus on a problem.

Through 10 training courses implemented over a year, students will learn about important aspects of conservation, absorb skills and understand the principles of cultural heritage conservation management. They are hosted at the training halls provided by ICCROM and the Sharjah Institute for Heritage at the International Organisations building in Sharjah. In the following year, they will return to their countries to work on their graduation projects.

The ICCROM Regional Centre in Sharjah is a cultural hub supported by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah and Member of the Supreme Council. The institution is considered a powerhouse of cultural heritage knowledge, and has been specially created for the widespread adoption of best practices in Arabic-speaking countries.

Meanwhile, ICCROM — Sharjah has also announced the Jury Committee for the 4th Cycle of the ICCROM Sharjah Award for Good Practices in Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management in the Arab Region (2023-2024). Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah and Member of the Supreme Council, the ICCROM-Sharjah Award for Good Practices is a biennial competition that highlights exceptional initiatives that have demonstrated tangible results in addressing challenges faced by cultural heritage professionals and related communities.

A ruin waits for renaissance.

The six members of the Jury Committee who will evaluate and select the award recipients are Dr. Farouk Yaghmour (Jordan), Chairman of the Board and Partner-in-Charge at Yaghmour Architects, Jordan; architect Najet Hedhly (Tunisia), former Dean of the National School of Architecture and Urbanism (ENAU) and Professor, specialising in local and sustainable development, environmental conservation and urban preservation in Tunisia; architect Sumaya Dabbagh (Saudi Arabia), Saudi architect and founder of Dabbagh Architects in Dubai; Sheikh Ebrahim AlKhalifa (Bahrain), Deputy Director of the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH), Bahrain; architect Abeer Seikaly (Jordan), Jordanian-Palestinian architect, artist and multidisciplinary cultural producer; and Marwa Al Aqroubi (UAE), Executive Director of House of Wisdom in Sharjah, UAEBBY President, SBA Board Member and Supervisor of the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature, since 2010.

A building post conservation.

“The ICCROM-Sharjah Award for Good Practices is one of our pioneer initiatives,” noted Nasir Al Darmaki. “The diverse backgrounds, extensive knowledge and deep understanding of the cultural heritage sector of the Jury Committee members lend inclusivity, credibility and objectivity to the selection process,” said Shireen Sahouri, Programme Officer, Outreach and Development at the ICCROM Regional Centre in Sharjah. The jury committee will convene later this month to review the submitted projects and select the shortlist. The winning projects will be unveiled at a special ceremony expected to be held in Sharjah in November 2024.