UNESCO encourages role of private sector in heritage conservation

The UNESCO Tehran Cluster Office organized a media event for the promotion of UNESCO’s Asia-Pacific Awards for Conservation of Cultural Heritage, AVA Diplomatic reports.

The event was attended by Iranian and international media, two of the previous Iranian award winners, as well as experts in the field of conservation of heritage sites.

The UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation were set up in the year 2000 to encourage and recognize the crucial role that the private sector plays in the long-term safeguarding of the region’s cultural heritage.

The winning projects have set high technical and social standards for conservation in the region. They have increased local preservation efforts, inspiring communities to take action to save their historic buildings.

During the media event Dr. Talebian, Deputy Head of Cultural Heritage of Iranian Cultural Heritage, Handicraft and Tourism Organization, Dr. Nasiri, Acting Secretary General of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO, and Dr. Mansourzadeh, Manager of Sa’dabad Cultural and Historical Complex, all emphasized the important role of communities and the private sector in safeguarding Iran’s rich heritage.

Ms. Esther Kuisch Laroche, Director and Representative of the UNESCO Tehran Cluster Office, provided a comprehensive overview of the Asia-Pacific Awards for Conservation of Cultural Heritage for the media and other participants.

“The awards were designed to protect the inherent character and identity of the region from rapid development, leading to the destruction of irreplaceable heritage buildings and sites”, she said.

The UNESCO Representative explained that the awards recognized the achievements of the private sector and public-private initiatives in successfully conserving or restoring historical places, and also rewarded new-built structures which demonstrate outstanding architectural design that is well integrated into historic contexts.

To date, there have been four Iranian prize winners: “Polsheer House” Djolfa, Isfahan (2002 Award of Merit); “Zargar-e-Yadzi House”, Yazd (2004 Honourable Mention); “Zain-ad-din Karavansara”, Yazd (2005 Honourable Mention); and “Saryazd Citadel”, Yazd (2014 Award of Distinction).

After the opening speeches, two of the Iranian prize winners talked about their wining projects and the speakers responded to questions from the media.

The call for entries for the 2016 cycle is now open until 31 March 2016. The UNESCO Tehran Cluster Office would like to encourage individuals and organisations within the private sector to submit their applications before the deadline to receive international visibility for their achievements in heritage conservation.

The winners will be announced in early September 2016, with a selected number of entries receiving the “Award of Excellence”, “Award of Distinction”, “Award of Merit”, “Honourable Mention” and “Award for New Design in Heritage Contexts”.