International Heritage News
01
UNESCO Headquarters to Hold 35th Anniversary Event for the Silk Roads Programme
UNESCO will hold the 35th anniversary celebration of the “Silk Roads Programme” at its Paris headquarters on April 6. The event is jointly organized by UNESCO and China, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Oman.
The program includes the “Silk Roads International Forum: Diversity, Dialogue and Peace,” the opening of the “Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads” photography exhibition and Silk Roads cultural relic exhibition, the “Silk Roads Youth Research Grant” academic forum, film releases, and a concert.
Among these activities, the Silk Roads International Forum will review the achievements of UNESCO’s Silk Roads Programme in strengthening intercultural dialogue and building a culture of peace, while also discussing future directions and goals under the current global environment.
Chen Jie, Vice Minister of Education of China; Yang Jin, China’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO; Jiang Bo, Vice President of ICOMOS; Yi Na from the Institute of Ethnic Literature at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; and Li Ruohong, Chairman of the Beijing International Peace Culture Foundation, will attend the event.
Text and image source: www.unesco.org
02
Society of Architectural Historians to Hold Online Discussion on Chinese Heritage Conservation
The Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) in the United States will hold an online seminar on May 9 (U.S. time) titled “Debates on Modern and Contemporary Chinese Heritage Conservation.”
The event aims to highlight China’s rich built heritage and emphasize the need to discuss heritage conservation concepts, particularly local perspectives that differ from Western-centered notions of authenticity and integrity.
Discussions will focus on “culture” through the following case studies:
— Heritage conservation in China through the preservation of Chairman Mao’s former residence
— Virtual reconstruction of Shikumen residences based on residents’ memories and the challenges of conserving inhabited heritage
— “Restoring the old as it was” during restoration projects and the purposeful use of heritage values by different stakeholders
— How redevelopment neglecting landmarks and neighborhoods erodes the historical fabric of Shanghai’s old city
— Grassroots reinterpretations of orthodox heritage conservation concepts on Chinese social media
Conference registration address:
https://sah1365.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Rclz33UnQMqc_4paIuq38A#/registration
Text and image source: International Heritage Observation
03
2023 UNESCO Creative Cities Applications Open
Applications for the 2023 UNESCO Creative Cities Network are now open.
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network was established in 2004 to promote international cooperation among cities that view culture and creativity as drivers of sustainable development. The network aims to build resilient, sustainable, and future-oriented cities while generating positive economic, social, cultural, and environmental benefits, supporting implementation of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda at the local level.
Creative Cities are divided into seven categories: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, and Music.
Nearly 300 cities worldwide have joined the network so far. UNESCO will continue strengthening the network’s geographic representation and cultural diversity.
Applications close on June 30.
Application address:
https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/content/2023-call-applications
Text and image source: www.unesco.org
04
ICOM-CC Triennial Conference to Be Held in Spain in September
The International Council of Museums Committee for Conservation (ICOM-CC) Triennial Conference will be held in Valencia, Spain, from September 18–22.
This year’s conference theme is “Working Toward a Sustainable Past.” It will explore several key questions: after twenty years in the digital age, are the past and its material symbols at risk of becoming unsustainable commodities? If society’s relationship with the past, its representations, and associated values weakens, what does this mean for cultural heritage guardians?
As one of the world’s major events in the cultural heritage field, the triennial conference will bring together more than a thousand professionals to share experiences and ideas through lectures, exhibitions, academic field visits, and networking activities.
Text and image source: icom-cc2023.org
05
Paris Pompidou Center to Open Branch Museum in Seoul
The Centre Pompidou in Paris recently announced plans to establish a branch museum at Seoul’s 63 Square, with completion planned for 2025.
The project will be developed in cooperation with the Hanwha Foundation, whose headquarters are located at 63 Square. The foundation will pay €20 million over four years in brand licensing fees and organize eight special exhibitions.
French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, who previously participated in interior design projects for the Louvre, the British Museum, and Incheon International Airport, will take part in designing the new museum.
In addition to Seoul, the Pompidou Center also has branch museums in Spain, Belgium, and Saudi Arabia.
Text and image source: www.lefigaro.fr
Domestic Heritage News
01
Sichuan and Chongqing Salt Industry Heritage Join Forces for World Heritage Application
(Daying Zhuotong Well Site Furnace Room)
On March 12, an expert consultation meeting on the World Heritage application for Sichuan and Chongqing salt industry heritage was held in Daying County, Suining City. Salt industry heritage sites from Sichuan and Chongqing will jointly pursue World Heritage inscription.
The first step will be seeking inclusion on the “China World Cultural Heritage Tentative List.”
China possesses abundant brine resources. Over centuries, salt production in Sichuan and Chongqing developed a complete drilling technology system while leaving behind rich salt-production heritage sites and remains.
According to preliminary statistics, Chongqing still preserves more than 100 immovable cultural relics directly related to salt industry history and culture. Salt industry heritage remains in Zigong, Daying, and other Sichuan locations are especially abundant.
Chai Xiaoming, Vice Chairman of ICOMOS China, stated that Sichuan-Chongqing salt industry heritage is rare and unique in type and exceptionally rich in content.
He noted: “Not only were salt, gas, and brine extracted simultaneously, but beyond salt production remains there are also docks, guild halls, streets, and many other surviving heritage elements.”
Professor Sun Hua and Professor Li Shuicheng from Peking University’s School of Archaeology and Museology argued that the heritage application should particularly emphasize the technologies and characteristics of narrow well drilling, percussion drilling, and simultaneous gas-brine extraction, as well as their contributions to the global history of science and technology.
Text and image source: Sichuan Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration
02
Jingdezhen Kiln Site Heritage Application Coordination Meeting: Ensure Successful Inscription by 2026
On March 13, a coordination meeting on the World Heritage application for the Jingdezhen Kiln Sites was held to plan the next stage of work.
The nomination title has been expanded from “Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Site” to “Jingdezhen Kiln Sites,” with six additional candidate component sites added.
The application theme has also changed from “Witness to the Peak Development of Global Ceramic Manufacturing from the 14th to 18th Centuries” to “Witness to the Golden Age of Chinese Porcelain Production.”
The number of heritage component sites increased to 13. In addition to existing sites such as the Imperial Kiln Factory Site, Luomaqiao Site, Hutian Ancient Kiln Site, Gaoling Porcelain Clay Mine Site (Dongbu Dock), Nanyao Site, and Sanlü Temple Dock, six new sites were added, including Xianghu Lantian Kiln Site, Shou’an Nanshi Street Site, Sanbao Peng Porcelain Stone Mine Site, Changjiang Liyang Kiln Site, Guanyinge Site, and Diaojiaolou Folk Kiln Site.
Liu Feng, Secretary of the Jingdezhen Municipal Party Committee, emphasized that Jingdezhen’s heritage application is currently in a period of opportunity and that confidence must be strengthened to ensure successful World Heritage inscription in 2026.
Text and image source: Jingdezhen Release
03
Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries in China for 2022 Announced
On March 27–28, the final evaluation meeting for China’s Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries of 2022 was held in Beijing.
The selected projects were:
— Xuetang Liangzi Site in Shiyan, Hubei
— Zhaojia Xuyao Site in Linzi, Shandong
— Bicun Site in Xing County, Shanxi
— Multi-grid urban layout of the Erlitou capital site in Yanshi, Henan
— Royal tombs and surrounding remains at Yinxu in Anyang, Henan
— Xitou Site in Xunyi, Shaanxi
— Dasongshan Tomb Complex in Gui’an New Area, Guizhou
— Temple Site at Gucheng Village in Hunchun, Jilin
— Zhou Bridge and nearby Bian River site in Kaifeng, Henan
— Shuomen Ancient Port Site in Wenzhou, Zhejiang
Many of these discoveries filled important gaps in related research fields.
Text and image source: Guangming Daily
04
Update Work for the “China World Cultural Heritage Tentative List” Begins
On March 28, the National Cultural Heritage Administration notified provincial cultural heritage bureaus that, in order to optimize reserve heritage application projects, improve application quality, and promote high-quality development of World Cultural Heritage efforts, it would begin updating the “China World Cultural Heritage Tentative List.”
The update aims to improve the dynamic management mechanism for the tentative list, strengthen cultivation mechanisms for candidate projects, and establish a reserve pipeline for future World Heritage nominations.
Priority will be appropriately given to relatively rare heritage types as well as cross-provincial and transnational joint World Heritage applications. Consideration will also be given to the foundations of each project in terms of protection, management, research, presentation, and utilization.
The work will be carried out through independent local applications, multi-level selection, and professional review. Based on submitted materials, recommendations from provincial cultural heritage authorities, and expert evaluations, the National Cultural Heritage Administration will release an updated “China World Cultural Heritage Tentative List.”
Text and image source: Love World Heritage
