This scholarship at the University of Western Australia is part of a research initiative on the use of history and heritage to advance 21st Century Silk Roads trade and diplomatic ties across Eurasia and the Indian Ocean Region.

Launched in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) aims to ‘revive’ the overland and maritime trading routes, commonly known as the Silk Roads, for the 21st century. Driven by a highly ambitious language of regional connectivity, BRI seeks to build infrastructure, energy, foreign policy and people-people ties across Asia, Europe and East Africa.

The scholarship focuses on the cultural components of BRI. There is flexibility in terms of its focus, with possible themes including a critical analysis of ‘shared heritage’, or the intersections between heritage and development or international relations. Candidates with fieldwork experience in Asia are encouraged to apply.

Appropriate research and mentoring support will be provided, with excellent travelling opportunities in Asia and/or the Indian Ocean Region as well as to relevant conferences in Australia and Overseas.

Deadline: 05 April 2019

View more details and apply online

The Cultural Landscape Association (CLA) is a non-profit organization specialized in the area of Cultural Landscape and the only institution in Iran that focuses on cultural landscapes interdisciplinary. The Association’s mission is to strengthen the role of cultural landscape in sustainable development in Iran and the region, by building the capacity of all those professionals and bodies involved with cultural landscape recognition, protection, conservation and management in the region, through training, research, the dissemination of information and network building. 

For  more information, you can see the tour webpage: http://classociation.org/upcoming/

To review the first workshop and tour see the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr9FX3Ygy2c

In the case on any queries do not hesitate to contact us by email: info@classociation.org or classociation1@gmail.com

Parastoo Eshrati, Assistant Professor, University of Tehran, Iran

Call for Papers: 3rd SEAMEO SPAFA International Conference on Southeast Asian Archaeology

http://www.seameo-spafa.org/conference2019/

The conference will be held from 17-21  2019 in Bangkok, Thailand. The conference will consist of three days of paper presentations (17-19) a day of site visits, and a day of workshops (21 June). Registration details will be released in December.

Please go to the conference website for a full list of sessions, and to propose your paper through the online form. While all presentation and proposals must be in English, you are also highly encouraged to submit an abstract and title in the appropriate Southeast Asian language. 

Noel Hidalgo Tan,  Email: noel@seameo-spafa.org

UNESCO has announced that the next annual meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage will take place from 9 to 14 December 2019 in Bogotá, Colombia. This decision was taken in Port Louis, Mauritius at the close of the thirteenth session of the Committee, which brings together the representatives of 24 States Parties to the UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Committee decides on measures to safeguard oral traditions and expressions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe or the knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts, which constitute intangible heritage.

Read the press release.

On 1-7 September 2019, Kyoto will be the city to receive some 3,000 participants to the ICOM General Conference. A flood of discussions and exchange of ideas on museum-related issues will sweep the city during the week. 

ICOM Kyoto 2019 General Conference aims to provide a forum for considering how museums look towards the future whilst respecting the traditions of the past. By creating new functions as cultural hubs, it must be possible to create a richer future – as museums make use of traditional culture, with the theme- “Museums as Cultural Hubs: the Future of Tradition”.

We hope that Kyoto 2019 will be an opportunity to bring participants together from any discipline across the museum and culture sector from all over the world, whether they be academic or professional to come together to discuss topics and case studies relating to the themes.

View the Calls for Papers on the conference website

ICOMOS General Assembly 2020 – Sydney, Australia

Deadline: 15 February 2019

Expressions of interest are invited for the volunteer position of the International Co-Chair of the Scientific Symposium to be held between 5 and 9 October 2020 as part of the 20th Triennial General Assembly of ICOMOS in Sydney, Australia (GA 2020).

The GA 2020 Scientific Symposium will be overseen by two Co-chairs; one appointed by Australia ICOMOS, Steve Brown, and the other appointed by ICOMOS international. These positions are voluntary and the Co-Chairs are expected to attend the General Assembly and Scientific Symposium in person at own cost (registration, travel, accommodation, etc.). If eligible, financial support for attendance can be sought, for example through the ICOMOS General Assembly Travel Grants programme (but is not guaranteed).

It is intended that the Co-Chairs will be assisted by a small supporting sub-committee, also volunteers, half of which will also be selected following an international ‘Expression of Interest’ process in the first half of 2019.

The theme of GA 2020 Scientific Symposium is ‘shared cultures – shared heritage – shared responsibility’. Within the framework of this overall theme, a range of sessions will be offered covering different subjects, in a variety of formats and of varying lengths. Some sessions may be traditional ‘conference-style’ presentations whereas others may be less formal workshops or facilitated discussions. Building on previous ICOMOS events and responding to the interests of GA 2020 project partners, some sessions – such as the ICOMOS / IUCN ‘Nature-Culture Journey’ and programs that connect selected National Committees of ICOMOS with Sydney’s related multicultural communities – will need to be included, while others will be selected by the Scientific Symposium Co-Chairs and Sub-committee.

A call for expressions of interests will invite proposals for specific sessions and session conveners, papers or other program ‘content’. Selected posters from the Scientific Symposium will be included in a public ‘Heritage Exposition’ to be staged at Sydney’s International Convention Centre during the course of the Scientific Symposium and over the following weekend. The call for sessions, papers and posters for the GA2020 Scientific Symposium is scheduled to take place in the second half of 2019; with the selection announced in late March 2020 following review of all submissions.

The role of the international Co-Chair will include:

1. Liaison with the ICOMOS Scientific Council and Advisory Committee regarding the GA2020 Scientific Symposium; Working collaboratively with the Australian Co-chair to develop the symposium structure and organisation, including calls for sessions and papers, matters relating to timetabling, oversight of assessment of proposals (with the GA2020 Scientific Committee), ensuring geographical representation and development of symposium publications and documents. The responsibilities of the International Co-Chair would commence as soon as possible and be most intensive during 2020, but would continue into 2021 to ensure post-Symposium tasks such as reporting and publication of proceedings;

2. If necessary, on invitation by the GA2020 Organizing Committee (costs covered), attend a planning meeting in Sydney (perhaps in early 2020).

Expressions of interest are encouraged from energetic, experienced and engaged ICOMOS Members who have suitable personal attributes, skills and experience, including: a public profile, appropriate academic credentials, good connections within the cultural heritage sector, experience in conducting similar events and processes, a combination of creative and critical skills, team leadership, demonstrated commitment to inclusiveness, ethical conduct, as well as the necessary time available and energy. Proficiency in French and/or Spanish languages is desired.

Expressions of interest should:

• state the reason why the applicant seeks appointment;
• indicate relevant skills, experience and interest of the applicant;
• indicate commitment to the time available and timeframe required
• include at least one written reference and a one-page summary CV;
• be no more than 4 pages in length (inclusive of the one-page summary CV and reference); and
• be sent by 12:00pm Friday 15 February 2019 to secretariat@icomos.org.

Interpret Europe Conference | 31 May – 3 June 2019 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina | #iecon19

At the IE conference, ‘Engaging with diversity’, we will explore the significance of EU’s ambitious motto ‘United in diversity’ in all its diverse meanings and implications. Cultural diversity can be a great asset that broadens horizons, facilitates creativity and thinking outside the box. But history is full of examples of diversity being framed in ways that reinforced stereotypes and fueled hate.  Almost everywhere, a particular building or a species of animal can invoke very different feelings in different people because they may associate different meanings with them. This poses challenges to heritage interpreters and puts a high responsibility on their shoulders.

Several aspects matter to heritage interpretation when contemplating ‘diversity’:

• the diversity of the heritage phenomena, tangible or intangible, such as artefacts in a collection, traditions around a site or biodiversity of a protected area;
• the diverse perspectives of historic stakeholders to whom heritage features are meaningful for different reasons;
• the diversity of subject areas such as social history, history of arts or of technology, or the biology of species, ecosystems approach or evolutionary perspectives;
• the diversity of contemporary stakeholders involved in heritage communities affected by heritage management and interpretation;
• the diversity of people visiting heritage sites with different knowledge, experiences, beliefs, values systems, world views and identities;
• and, last but not least, the diversity of interpretations by professional interpreters.

1 March 2019: Deadline for the submission of abstracts

Visit the website for further details

The International Journal of Intangible Heritage is a refereed academic and professional journal, published annually in English and Korean and dedicated to the promotion of the understanding of all aspects of intangible heritage worldwide, and to the communication of research as well as examples of good professional practice.

The journal is actively seeking submissions from anyone engaged in the field of ICH for Volume 14. Submission deadline is 31 January 2019.

 Read the full call and submit on their website.

Thank you to Gabriel Caballero for providing the following photos of ICICH members at the recent 2018 ICOMOS General Assembly and Advisory Committee and Scientific Symposium in Buenos Aires, 4-8 December.

View the ICOMOS-BUE Assembly Website

Access the Assembly’s Working Documents

Read about the Buenos Aires Declaration

ICICH members enjoying a meal at ICOMOS-BUE 2018

Museo de Arquitectura y Diseño

ICICH Annual General Meeting Chair, Angel Cabeza

ICICH Annual General Meeting, Marilyn Truscott

ICICH Annual General Meeting attendees

ICICH Annual General Meeting attendees

UNESCO is transmitting a live webcast of the 13th session of the Intergovernmental Committee, available on their website and YouTube channel.

The thirteenth session is taking place in Port Louis, Republic of Mauritius, from Monday 26 November to Saturday 1 December 2018. Over the six days, the twenty-four States Members of the Committee, elected by the General Assembly of the 2003 Convention, are to discuss a number of issues that are important for the safeguarding of living heritage around the world.

Please see the UNESCO ICH website for further details, including copies of the agenda, documents, and all recordings.