ICCROM Sharjah striving to protect, preserve and promote Arab heritage

ICCROM Sharjah striving to protect, preserve and promote Arab heritage

SHARJAH, 4th February, 2018 (WAM) -- The first session of the Arab Cultural Heritage Forum, being hosted from 6th to 8th February, 2018, by ICCROM Sharjah, International Centre for the Study of Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, has turned the spotlight on an internationally reputed organisation, which has been dedicated to the conservation and promotion of Arab cultural heritage.

Operating held under the patronage of, and in the presence of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the first session of the Arab Cultural Heritage Forum will shine a light upon the regional and international efforts to protect, preserve and promote Arab heritage.

On this occasion, ICCROM’s grand prize for the conservation of cultural heritage in the Arab region (sites and museums), which is awarded every two years, will also be presented to encourage the best practices for the conservation of cultural heritage.

Offering details about the upcoming event during a recent press conference at the headquarters of ICCROM-Sharjah, in the presence of representatives of various government entities, international agencies and specialists, Dr. Zaki Aslan, Director of ICCROM's Regional Conservation Centre, thanked Sheikh Sultan for his constant support and guidance. He lauded the efforts of the Sharjah Heritage Institute and the emirate of Sharjah in preserving Arab heritage.

The first-of-its-kind forum in Sharjah is in line with the objectives of the ICCROM-Sharjah and complements its programmes aimed at enhancing the culture of heritage and spreading awareness about its importance and preservation, and discussing various issues and topics, emphasised Dr. Aslan.

"The forum aims to come up with a document conveying an Arab vision of the concept of cultural heritage in the Arab world and recommendations that can be implemented to contribute in achieving the goals of the forum," he added.

ICCROM-ATHAR, Architectural and Archaeological Tangible Heritage in the Arab Region, is a regional conservation centre founded by ICCROM and the government of Sharjah. ICCROM’s 27th General Assembly, convened in Rome in November 2011, chose to establish a regional office of ICCROM in Sharjah, where it has been based since its inception in 2012.

The ICCROM-ATHAR Regional Conservation Centre in Sharjah is a continuation of ICCROM’s ATHAR programme, which has dedicated its activities since it was launched in 2004 for the protection of Arab cultural heritage throughout the region.