SAARC Archaeology and Heritage Management Training Workshop Footsteps of the Past, Custodians of the Present, Heritage of the Future Afghanistan

1.    BACKGROUND
The SAARC Cultural Centre held two capacity building workshops on heritage management – “Management Systems of World Heritage Sites in South Asia” in Pakistan in 2013 and “Preparation of Proposals of New Sites for Inclusion in the World Heritage List” in Lumbini, Nepal in 2014.  Subsequently at the Plenary and Academic Sessions of the Research Seminar on “Buddhist Cultural Trails: Journey Through Time and Space, of Merchants, Monks and Pilgrims” held in 2017, the need for training programmes in Archaeology and Heritage Management within the Region was highlighted.

Tangible Cultural Heritage (TCH) of South Asia is not limited to World Heritage Sites and the landscape is dotted with archaeological sites indicating the long and eventful history of the Region.  In many of these TCH sites there are associated Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) which are neglected due to lack of resources.  There are sites in the Region which are yet to be identified, conserved, restored and managed for posterity.  However, the biggest challenge the SAARC Region is facing now is the lack of human resources.  This workshop hopes to lay the foundation in building the human resources of the region to face the challenges of Heritage Management for present and future.

 

2.    OBJECTIVES OF THE WORKSHOP

2.1    To discuss the current requirements of Member States in Archaeology and Heritage Management and facilitate Programmes within the Region.   (SAARC Agenda for Culture 9.4 – SAARC Exchange Programme on Culture – Exchange of expertise, information and technology on archaeological excavation, preservation of artefacts, protection of heritage sites etc.
•    To identify the skills and technology required within the Region.
•    To share the knowledge resources of the Member States.
•    To share the available technical knowledge of the Region.

2.1    Preservation and Conservation of South Asian Cultural Property (SAARC Cultural Centre Mandate point 2 – Identification and documentation of the regional tangible and intangible cultural heritage, existing across the region, particularly traditional and diminishing cultures, arts and related traditions)
•    To contribute towards the preservation, conservation and protection of South Asia’s Cultural Heritage within the frame work of the SAARC Agenda for Culture.
•    To identify Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in and around Tangible Cultural Heritage (TCH) sites and locations.

2.2    To develop the Human Resources of the Region in Archaeology and Heritage Management (SAARC Agenda for Culture 9.1 – SAARC Exchange Programme on Culture – Human resource development in the field of archaeological and cultural heritage)
•    To train in Cultural Heritage Management Plans (CHMP).
•    To train in customizing/individualizing the CHMP to each heritage site.

2.3    To facilitate Sustainable Tourism Promotion at the Cultural Heritage Sites.  (SAARC Cultural Centre Mandate point 7 – Contributing inputs to the promotion of cultural and religious tourism in the region)
•    To discuss the state of policies of sustainable tourism in the Member States.
•    To build a South Asian framework for sustainable tourism of heritage sites.

2.4    To identify Research and Policy Requirements for the facilitation of Sustainable Cultural Heritage Management Plans (CHMP) of SAARC.  (SAARC Agenda for Culture 5.10 – Economic development through connectivity and culture: Promotion of SAARC cultural and religious tourism – Harmonization of local policies on the promotion of culture and arts and financing systems, and develop a SAARC common policy on selected areas of culture and arts
•    To identify the relevant Government Ministries and Departments in the Member States for Sustainable Tourism.

 

3.    SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY OF THE WORKSHOP
The scope of the Workshop is based on the 9th clause of the SAARC Agenda for Culture which highlights SAARC Exchange Programme on Culture.  The scope of the Workshop are as follows:
•    Human resource development in the field of archaeological and cultural heritage,
•    Short-term training programmes of areas of cultural interest,
•    Exchange of expertise, information and technology on archaeological excavation, preservation of artefacts, protection of heritage sites etc.

Methodology
The Workshop will be structured on building/sharing knowledge through presentations, discussions, case studies, etc.  Participants will be required to prepare a Site Report/Country Report of a tangible heritage site(s) from each Member State prior to the Workshop.  The Site Reports/Country Reports will be used as case studies during discussions.  The Resource Persons participating from each Member State will lead discussions in the fields of their expertise.

 

4.    WORKSHOP TRAINING MODULES
This is a tentative module and will change according to the Resources Persons nominated by each Member State.
4.1    Cultural Heritage Management Plans (CHMP).
4.2    Site interpretation and public awareness.
4.3    Disaster preparedness for cultural heritage.
4.4    Documentation of archaeological sites.
4.5    Photo-documentation of paintings and murals.
4.6    Collection management in archaeological sites and museums.
4.7    Cultural Impact Assessments in Development Projects.

 

5.    RESOURCE PERSONS FOR THE WORKSHOP
Each Member State is kindly requested to nominate a minimum of 1 Resource Person from mid to senior level professionals.  The field of expertise can be one from the list below but not limited to the fields identified below.
5.1    Archaeological Excavations
5.2    Artefact conservators (metal, terracotta, wooden, glass, etc.)
5.3    Disaster Preparedness and Management of Cultural Heritage
5.4    Collection Management
5.5    Tourism promotion of archaeological sites/tangible cultural heritage
5.6    Architectural conservation
5.7    Archaeological Surveying
5.8    Archaeological Impact Assessments
5.9    Experts on GIS and 3D modelling.

 

6.    TARGET PARTICIPANTS FOR THE WORKSHOP
The Nominees for the Workshop may be selected from amongst diverse disciplines among Academics and Policy Makers.  Priority should be for early to mid-career level professionals involved in heritage management, policy makers and persons associated with the World Heritage Sites in the Region.  Resource Persons should be selected from mid to senior level professionals.

Academics and Scholars should include but not limited to:
•    Archaeologists,
•    Art Historians,
•    Conservators,
•    Planners,
•    Architects,
•    Curators,
•    Museologists,
•    Heritage Site Managers,
•    Persons working with national and local authorities with experience in the fields of archaeological Conservation and Preservation,
•    Tangible and Intangible Heritage Experts,
•    Managers, planners and staff of heritage sites.

 

7.    DETAILS FOR PARTICIPATION AT THE WORKSHOP

7.1    Official Nominees from the Member States
The SAARC Cultural Centre invites all Member States to send a maximum of Five Official Nominations.  One of the Nominees should be a Resource Person with an expertise mentioned in No. 5 of this document (mid to senior level professionals).  The others should be early to mid-career professionals working at or in charge of a heritage site of the Member State.
•    The SAARC Cultural Centre would provide the local hospitality (Hotel accommodations on full board basis) and the local transport to all Official Nominees of the SAARC Member States (Participants / Resource Persons).

•    The Airfare of the Official Nominees of the SAARC Member States is to be borne by the respective Member State.

The Host Country can nominate a maximum of 15 Official Nominees and they will be provided with the Workshop material and the Cultural Tour and accommodation only for participants who are out of town subject to availability of budget.

7.2    Other Participants
Category A – The SAARC Cultural Centre would also accept the participation of other Participants/Resource Persons from the Member States (other than the Official Nominees of the respective SAARC Member States).  Air Travel to be borne by the participant and SCC will provide accommodation, Workshop material and the cultural tour.
•    Other Participants (Category A) Selection of Other Participants in this category will be at the discretion of the SAARC Cultural Centre depending on the availability of space.

Category B – Participants from the Host Country where the Workshop is held can participate.
•    Other Participants (Category B) from the Host country will not be provided with accommodation.
•    Selection of the Other Participants will depend on the availability of space.

7.3    Nomination Process

7.3.1    The Official Nominees will be selected by each Member State comprising of leading archaeologists, architects, planners, conservators, site managers and those working with local authorities with experience in the field of management of cultural heritage sites and persons in charge of archaeological sites (Heritage Managers) from the Member State.  Official Nominations should be submitted to the SAARC Secretariat, with the Registration Form (Annexure 1) and the Format for the Submission of Site Reports/Country Papers (Annexure 2) attached and the details requested at 7.5 of this document.

7.3.2    All Other Participants (Category A and Category B) from each Member State should forward their information (including the Annexure 1 and Annexure 2) through the respective Foreign Ministries to the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu.

7.3.3    All Applications must be sent through the respective Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Ministry of External Affairs to the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu.  An Advance copy can be emailed to the SAARC Cultural Centre.

 

7.4    All Participants should include:
I.    Full Name and Affiliation of the Person and other details requested in the Registration Form attached herewith.  (Registration Form – Annexure 1)
II.    Detailed CV of the participant.
III.    Scanned Copy of Passport
IV.    The Site Report of a Tangible Heritage Site the participants (Official Nominees and Other Participants) are familiar with.  The Resource Persons may submit a general report on the Archaeology and Heritage Management of the Country if so desired.  The Site Report and Country Report should be submitted in the Submission Form attached herewith.  (Format for the Submission of Site Reports/Country Reports – Annexure 2)
V.    The Officially nominated Resource Persons are requested to prepare Country Reports (ie. Situation of the respective Member States) from the perspective of his or her expertise.  The Country Report should be submitted in the Submission Form attached herewith.  (Format for the Submission of Site Reports/Country Reports – Annexure 2)

 

7.5    Format for Submission of Site Reports/Country Reports
The Format for the Submission of Site Reports/Country Reports are attached as a separate document (Annexure 2).

 

8.    SITE REPORTS/COUNTRY REPORTS
All participants must prepare a Site Report of an Archaeological or Cultural Heritage site which you are familiar with.  These Reports will be used as case studies during the Workshop.  The Resource Persons may submit a Country Report.  Please use Annexure 2 to submit the Site Reports.  The Report must contain the following information.
8.1    Basic Information (Location – Longitude and Latitude, Country, State/Province, District, Town, Village, etc., a map of the area, etc.)
8.2    Type of Site (Religious, Administrative, Agricultural, Residential, etc.)
8.3    Authority/Ownership of the Site (Local Government, State Government, Religious Order, etc.)
8.4    Description of the Site (History, chronology, architectural details, landscape, etc.)
8.5    Current status (the number of visitors, infrastructure available for visitors, information available for visitors, etc.)
8.6    Existing publications regarding the site.
8.7    Websites which refers to this site.
8.8    Any other relevant details.

 

9.    Other Information
9.1         The Language of the Workshop will be English.
9.2         The Workshop material (delegate kit, tea, working lunch) as well as invitations to special events would be extended to all participants.

 

10.    Time Schedule for the Workshop & Site Report Submissions
Call for Participation: 20th February 2020
Deadline for accepting Nominees & Participants: To be announced
Submission of Site Reports/Country Reports: To be announced
Workshop: To be announced
Cultural Tour: To be announced