Workshop Spotlight

Clues to the Cloister: Scientific Investigation and Documentation
April 20 - May 3, 2008, Serravalle, Italy

This spring, HCN returns to the medieval town of Serravalle, Vittorio Veneto at the foot of the Italian Alps. The town’s narrow streets wind through a veritable treasure trove of buildings that retain much of their original design, materials and faded finishes. This is the second year for this documentation project at the monastery of San Giovanni Battista, focusing on the cloister’s wall paintings and stone columns. In 2008, there will be an additional focus on chemical and physical analysis, making this a remarkable opportunity for students and professionals to obtain scientifically based instruction.

The workshop will include a one-day lecture on Bio-Deterioration of Monumental Rocks: Decay Mechanisms & Control Methods, taught by Dr. Piero Tiano of the Italian Center for National Research in Florence (CNR), and a two-day workshop entitled Nanotechnology in Wall Painting Conservation: Nanolime as a New Tool for Consolidation, led by Prof. Luigi Dei of the University of Florence.

Guided fieldtrips to Treviso and Venice will offer a feast of art and architecture as well as food and wine. See our website for additional details and to register.

Great Strides in Ghana

But Much Remains to be Done
HCN's first workshop in Africa began with a ceremony at the king's house and ended with pledges to do more to help preserve the architecture of James Town, Accra's historic port. During the first week, participants from the University of Georgia's Ghana Global Service Learning Program joined students from the University of Ghana in restoring the east wall of the Ablekuma stone house. The second week was spent doing preliminary work on a historic structure report for the Naa Laingoye House.

The condition assessment revealed the critical condition of the building's porches. Sam Baddoo, our local partner, is hoping to obtain materials for emergency stabilization measures that will keep the porches from collapsing until proper work can be done; HCN will be seeking corporate funding for the restoration itself. If you can help save this building, visit our website and Donate Now!

Make 2008 the Year You Help Build a Future for the Past

We have a broad - and inspiring - range of workshops scheduled for next year. From the plains of North Dakota to the vineyards of Slovenia, the settings promise to be as spectacular as the structures themselves. Volunteers will be working with structures that date as far back as the 15th Century as well as some that are a bit newer, just under a hundred years old. With both new and continuing projects on the drawing board, we need more hands-on volunteers than ever joining us in our efforts to save the world's architectural heritage. Pitch in for preservation - Sign up today!

Call for Papers

34th Annual CAC Conference and Workshop

The Conference will be held from May 30 to June 1, 2008. Abstracts on all aspects of conservation are invited and should be submitted by Submit abstracts by December 15, 2007. For more information and details on format, see www.cac-accr.ca/english/e-CAC-conference.asp.

Conference Calendar

Preservation Matters! - National Preservation Conference
October 2-6, 2007, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA

The National Trust for Historic Preservation hosts its annual conference for professionals in preservation and allied fields, dedicated volunteers, and serious supporters. For information, see www.nthpconference.org.

Old World Technologies Adapting in the New World
November 3-7, 2007, San Juan, Puerto Rico

The Association for Preservation Technology hosts a conference and workshops covering topics such as Traditional Lime and Brick-Dust Mortars for Restoration, Preservation of Wood in Historic Structures, and Architectural Conservation. Conference social events will be held at historic sites throughout Old San Juan. For more information, see http://www.apti.org/conferences/2007/index.cfm.

National Trails of Tears Assocation National Conference
November 5-8, 2007, Rome, Georgia, USA

Attendees have the opportunity to learn about new discoveries and current research along the Trail, as well as experience cultural activities, through lectures and tours. For more information, see www.nationaltota.org.

10th International Conference on the Study and Conservation of Earthen Architectural Heritage
February 1-8, 2008, Bamako, Mali

This conference provides a unique opportunity to discuss and observe firsthand conservation issues particular to sub-Saharan Africa, a region rich in earthen architecture. Specialists will present papers and posters that reflect the latest research and practices in the study and conservation of earthen architecture worldwide. Funding opportunities for participants from developing countries to attend the conference will be available. Conference registration forms and additional information, including details on conference costs, postconference tours, and travel to Mali, are available at: www.getty.edu/conservation/field_projects/earthen/earthen_2008_conf.html.

Contested Cultural Heritage on the Landscape and in Museums: Religion and Nationalism in a Global World
April 24-25, 2008, University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign, USA

The conference will bring together ten international scholars to discuss the interplay of religion and nationalism with cultural heritage, both portable and monumental. Among the cases considered are the Bamiyan Buddhas; Parthenon/Elgin Marbles debate; Peru vs. Yale University controversy over the Machu Picchu collections; NAGPRA and Native American cosmology; the Balkans War; and Egypt's repatriation demands for the Rosetta Stone and Bust of Nefertiti. Full conference information and the registration form are available at this website: www.champ.uiuc.edu.