Meet the Fondation Marcel Hicter

The Fondation Hicter is a non-profit organization established in 1980. Its goals are : - the promotion and the public awareness of cultural democracy in Belgium, Europe and at the international level, by networking, analysis spreading and innovative actions ; - the empowerment of citizens thanks to an offer of cultural training programs and tools stressing interdiciplinary approach and co-operation at the European level. Training professionals to cultural management is, since the Fondation was established, one of its specialities. Its various training programs enable operators to build bridges between the evolution of cultural practices and new needs concerning working methods and skills to develop. The Fondation Hicter also promotes culture among decision-makers and fosters cultural co-operation enabling partners to undertake common projects taking into account all specificities. As a provider of life-long learning services, the Fondation Hicter plays the interface between field operators and cultural decision-makers. It informs and monitors cultural managers. The Fondation sometimes advises public cultural authorities. It plays a role in analysing actual and future policies and actions through action-research programs produced in partnership with European cultural organizations. The Fondation’s fundings come mainly from three sources : the Belgian French speaking Community, the European Union and incomes generated by services it provides.

The Fondation Hicter manages various projects in partnership with European cultural organizations. They deal with the production of innovative cultural management training tools and with studies on cultural trends in Europe as well as on the transborder cultural co-operation practices. The complexity of such projects needs the contribution of structures specialized on the issue, the subject and/or on the choosen territory. The Fondation Hicter is always very aware of the impact of such projects regarding both citizen involvement and territorial development.

Research on women access to key management job in the cultural sector
The number of women taking part to cultural management training programs constantly increases. However the number of them who reach a post equivalent to their training level remains lower. Artemis is a research project that aims to experiment various actions allowing women to reach the professional level of responsibility they wish to get according to their skills and competences. They concern the employers’ public awareness as well as taking on board the gender issue in the cultural sector. The study will identify the positive and negative elements influencing this highly sensitive equal opportunity topic. Concrete innovative proposals will be made to improve the situation. The Fondation Hicter is the leader of Artemis, an Equal project organized with as partners : La Vénerie cultural center, CESEP and FLORA, a gender network.

Can Corfu obtain/create its own "GAUDI" cultural identity?

This moment Barcelona is investing heavily in their cultural identity and the aim is to protect their unique cultural identity and their unique cultural competitive advantage/characteristic.

In Corfu, there are not only unique architectural buildings but we can promote the work of famous Corfiots, by creating museums and exhibitions.

Just to mention the SAGRADA FAMILIA project will be finished in 10 years time and is funded mainly by the visitors, which are hundreds of thousands every year.

INVESTMENT and LONG TERM STRATEGY IS CRUCIAL and this blog can help all interesting parties learn by best practices around the world on how to implement successful cultural heritage methodologies.

Meet the Australia Heritage Network

This portal is excellent and it proves the large scale investment after UK and Canada that Australia is putting in.
Beside other interesting key features here are the key resources that you can explore:

Asia-Pacific Focal Point
The Asia-Pacific Focal Point is a regional network for World Heritage Managers, established to share experience, knowledge and resources between countries in the region.

Ask First: a guide to respecting Indigenous heritage places and values
A guide for consultation with Indigenous communities to avoid unintended damage to places as a result of planning and development decisions.

Australian Dinosaur Story
Information about Australian dinosaurs and the Dinosaur Stampede National Monument (Lark Quarry dinosaur trackways).

Australian Heritage Bibliography
A bibliographic database about significant places in our natural and cultural environment.

Australian Heritage Places Inventory
Summary information about places listed in State, Territory and Commonwealth Heritage Registers.


Australian heritage agencies publication lists
Australian Heritage Commission
Heritage Council of WA
Heritage South Australia
Heritage Victoria
NSW Heritage Council


This list contains details and links for many key heritage publications.

Australian Heritage Photo Library
Online photographs of heritage places throughout Australia based on the Register of the National Estate. Compiled by the Australian Heritage Commission.

Australian Natural Heritage Charter
Standards and principles for the conservation of places of natural heritage significance.

Australia's Natural Lands and Rivers
Information from the Australia's Rivers and Catchment Condition Database (formerly Wild Rivers) and the Australian Land Disturbance Database (formerly the National Wilderness Inventory).

The Burra Charter
The Burra Charter sets a standard of practice for those who provide advice, make decisions about, or undertake works to places of cultural significance.

Heritage Advisory Services Handbook
Guidelines for Government, Advisers and the Community, August 2000.

Making Heritage Happen: Incentives and Policy Tools for Conserving Our Historic Heritage
This report outlines the heritage incentives currently offered in Australia and overseas, compares them with incentives for nature conservation; examines their effectiveness or otherwise and draws conclusions about potential reforms that should be considered to support Australia's historic heritage.

Our house: histories of Australian homes
This online publication reveals and celebrates the heritage of the small Australian house. More than forty of Australia's leading historians have contributed to this edited collection of articles.

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Protecting Heritage Places kit
Step by step guide to protect the natural and cultural heritage significance of places.

Introduction
An award winning publication
How to use this Website
Are you involved in community action?
Are you seeking funding?
Are you helping or teaching others?
Do you work for government?
Are you in local government?
Are you involved in tourism and heritage places?
What is heritage conservation?
Principles for heritage conservation
Australia's natural heritage charter
Australia's cultural heritage charter

Step 1 What is your heritage place?
Have a go - step 1

Step 2 Who has an interest in your heritage place?
How do you find out who is interested?
Who can you identify?
Types of individuals and organisations who might be interested
Tips for identifying interests
Example of different interests working together- Bunbury Big Swamp, WA
Have a go - step 2

Step 3 What do you need to know?
Where is the boundary?
What information is available?
Heritage registers
Finding out more about heritage
How do you do documentary research?
How do you do a field study?
How do you collect community knowledge?
What is a thematic study?
Australian Historic Themes Framework
Migrant heritage places
Studies of Indigenous heritage places
What additional information is required?
What goes into a heritage study?
Using your heritage study
Have a go - step 3

Step 4 Why is this place important?
Examples of heritage values
Who should be involved in assessing heritage significance?
Assessing the significance of a place
Using criteria for assessing significance
Compare this place with others
What is a statement of significance?
Tips for writing a statement of significance
Expressing and communicating significance in other ways
How have others prepared statements of significance?
Dawn Fraser Swimming Pool, Balmain
Eureka Rebellion Precinct, Ballarat, Victoria.
Vinja Camp Myth Site
Kulpitjata, Northern Territory
Boonarga Cactoblastis Memorial Hall, Queensland
Mulgoa Nature Reserve, New South Wales
Holsworthy Area, Sydney Basin
Have a go - step 4

Step 5 What are the issues?

Issues to consider
What is the condition of the place?
What are the current and future trends affecting the place?
Consulting about issues
Doing a SWOT analysis
Identifying priority issues
Have a go - step 5

Step 6 What do you want to achieve?
What other influences need to be considered?
Tips for writing your objectives or policy
Examples of objectives
Woodlands Historic Park, Victoria
Laura Aboriginal sites, Queensland
Up-to-Date Store, Coolamon, New South Wales
Have a go - step 6

Step 7 What do you need to do?
What kinds of strategies and actions are needed?
A new use for an old building
Tips for developing your strategies
Examples of strategies linked to objectives
Brisbane City Council protecting native vegetation
Scott Creek Conservation Park, South Australia
Australian War Memorial, Canberra
Baloon Cave, Queensland
What are conservation processes?
What are some conservation processes?
Have a go - step 7

Step 8 What is your plan?
What's the difference between a conservation plan and a management plan?
What a management plan should include
Types of studies and reports to assist you plan
Who is responsible for what?
Ensuring monitoring is included
Factors that can be monitored
Monitoring the Button Wrinklewort in the ACT
Have a go -step 8

Step 9 Do it!

Step 10 Review it!

CONGRATULATIONS!
Heritage Place details form
Feedback form
How others have used these steps
Examples of how others have used these steps
Resources
Key heritage books and publications
Glossary
Contact us

(If we just adopt similar policy there will be nothing else than success)

Council of Europe: Heritage Protection News

The cultural and natural heritage provides a sense of identity and helps to differentiate communities in a climate of globalisation. It allows cultural communities to discover and understand one another and, at the same time, constitutes a development asset.
The Council of Europe's co-operation programme entails devising common policies and standards, developing transnational co-operation networks, providing technical support for member states and organising schemes to increase awareness of heritage values.


NEWS

HERITAGE POLICIES
Archaeology: protection and development
Digitalisation of culturalproperty
European Heritage Network and online information and monitoring system

DIALOGUE AND IDENTITIES
Intercultural dialogue and conflict prevention
Cultural identities, shared values and European citizenship
Art exhibitions
Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe
European Heritage Days Heritage education

REGIONAL CO-OPERATION
Technical Co-operation and Field Action Unit

COMPLETED PROJECTS
Europe, a common heritage: follow-up of the Campaign 1999-2000
Heritage skills and crafts
Social integration: NO’MAD project

RESOURCES
Reference texts Publications
Ministries Information and documentation services

STEERING COMMITTEE FOR HERITAGE (CDPAT)
Members of the Bureau Restricted Access for members of the CDPAT(authorised persons may obtain a password from the webmaster)

PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITIONS
Architectural and Urban Heritage of Prizren, Kosovo
Putting Hope in the Picture, Sarajevo

Historic Environment Local Management by English Heritage

Information and training to help those who make decisions about the historic environment.

Established in 2004, Historic Environment Local Management is a partnership project led by English Heritage and supported by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs.
The aim of the project is to share best practice and build capacity and confidence in those dealing with the historic environment. HELM provides and funds written information and training in a number of ways.
The HELM website features case studies and policy statements produced by English Heritage, as well as guidance produced by English Heritage, HELM partners, Local Authorities, regional agencies and other key organisations.

Putting Local Authorities at the HELM

HELM provides accessible information, training and guidance to decision makers in local authorities, regional agencies and national organisations whose actions affect the historic environment. Working with key partners, HELM aims to provide the tools to manage change in the historic environment with increased skill and confidence. English Heritage promotes the need for properly resourced and actively consulted historic environment departments, conservation officers, archaeologists and historic environment records. More than 55% of local authorities have now appointed historic environment champions to provide leadership on heritage issues.

Guidance and information
A range of expert guidance has been produced by English Heritage much of it specially tailored for the HELM initiative. These encompass topics as diverse as regeneration, housing, farming historic landscapes, areas of outstanding natural beauty, the future of historic school buildings, transport and streetscapes. Guidance from key partners and others is also available.

www.helm.org.uk

The HELM website is a fully accessible one-stop-shop for historic environment guidance and information. It contains the latest HELM and English Heritage publications, information on training events, useful web links and news. There are searchable databases of good practice case studies and of local authority historic environment publications. These have been collected from across England to encourage the sharing of knowledge, experience and good practice across the sector.

Training
Training is available for elected councillors, historic environment champions and officers in local authorities, regional agencies and government organisations. It is designed particularly for those involved in regeneration, development control, highways, conservation, strategy, estates, housing, leisure and the public realm.

We are expanding our training programme to include bespoke courses for conservation and archaeological professionals. Course details are advertised in the HELM training section as they become available.

What you can do
There are many ways in which you can get involved:
Appreciate that your decisions will impact on the historic environment
Ensure your local authority has a Historic Environment Champion. If not, contact us at champions@english-heritage.org.uk for advice on appointing one
Promote projects that deliver social, economic and historic environment benefits in equal measure
Help us to promote and share best practice
Set high standards in heritage asset management. Aim to be a benchmark that others aspire to
Aim to ensure that heritage services in your authority are properly resourced, utilised and consulted
Work with us. Send us case studies showing good practice and guidance which we will put on the HELM website
Send us information on relevant training courses and events that you know about so we can publicise them on our website
Provide feedback and ideas that can help us improve our service to you.

Contact us at comments@helm.org.uk
Subscribe to our news updates for the latest information about HELM.

Steering towards the Future
English Heritage is committed to helping local authorities develop the skills, knowledge, advice and capacity to make the most of their historic environment. HELM relates directly to central Government agendas and the project is supported by the Department for Communities and Local Government, Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
HELM works closely with key partners including the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, Institute of Historic Building Conservation, Local Government Association, Planning Officers Society and Planning Advisory Service.

Contact Us
Email:HELM Project Manager jenny.frew@english-heritage.org.uk
HELM Training bob.hook@english-heritage.org.uk
HELM Website and Case Studies timothy.brooks@english-heritage.org.uk
Historic Environment Champions adina.gleeson@english-heritage.org.uk
Write to:HELM
English Heritage1 Waterhouse Square,138-142 Holborn,London EC1N 2ST

Check th HELM Leaflet.

Visit the HELM website or email us for further information.

(Corfu's public authorities should initiate a similar project!)

Could Learn Corfu Heritage with Games

Check out what the Highland Council is promoting the Scottish Heritage:

CHILDREN WELCOME HERE but adults not banned.

Here you will find Flash games and comics based on some of the Highlands' most amusing characters.

All comics and games are in English and Gaelic to help you get into the swing of things.
Games for Gaels
General Guidance Notes for Teachers and Players

The Games
Try out your Gaelic skills. Learn to recognise simple Gaelic, practise common constructions, or just play for fun. You can even make your own tartan!
The Quizzes
Test your knowledge of Highland History and Culture with these multiple choice quizzes.
The Comic Books
Have fun with these animated comics which retell some of the Highlands' strangest stories.
The Cartoons
Take your pick.

Lessons from English Heritage

The historic environment is relevant to many government policies, including sustainable development, climate change, civil renewal, rural affairs, transport, tourism and fiscal reform. English Heritage engages with a wide range of policy issues to draw attention to the public value of the historic environment, and the contribution it can make to the quality of life.

Here are two very important reports that can be absorbed or can be used as references by the forthcoming monitoring committee in Corfu.

Guidance on the management of conservation areas

(English Heritage, August 2005)

identifies the key aspects of good practice that need to be taken into account by local authorities in managing their conservation areas, whilst recognising that resources are limited and have to be prioritised.
It aims to relate the designation and management of conservation areas to the principles of conservation management planning for historic assets, outlines how the management of conservation areas relates to the new development plans system and provides references to other relevant information.
This document replaces Conservation Area Practice (English Heritage, 1995).

Guidance on conservation area appraisals

(English Heritage, August 2005)

offers advice to those undertaking, or commissioning, conservation area appraisals. It complements and should be read in conjunction with the companion English Heritage’s publication Guidance on the management of conservation areas. This document replaces Conservation Area Appraisals (English Heritage, 1997). Both documents have been produced with the assistance on ODPM and DCMS. Illustrated printed versions, including case studies and images will be available shortly.


Both available from English Heritage

Customer Services on 0870 333 1181 .

Planning and the Historic Environment. Planning Policy Guidance Note 15, Department of the Environment/Department of National Heritage, 1994.

Useful addresses
For details of local conservation areas and advice on whether a Conservation Area Partnership scheme is running in your area, contact your local authority planning department.
The English Historic Towns Forum also publishes many useful publications.
For details write to:
EHTF PO Box 22BristolBS16 1RZ

Research
Measuring change in conservation areas:A research report.

English Heritage commissioned ‘The Conservation Studio’ to build on a pilot project they had undertaken which examined change in one conservation area in west London. The intention of the research was to establish the extent to which systematic information might be gathered and how a methodology for measuring change in conservation areas could be developed.
Measuring Change in Conservation Areas part 1 (431KB)
Measuring Change in Conservation Areas part 2 (277KB)
Measuring Change in Conservation Areas Part 3 (3,772 KB)

Joburg !!!! MEGA BRANDING

Rebranding a City by INTERBRAND

Business Issue Interbrand was selected to re-define the City of Johannesburg as a brand in late 2001. This was the result of a recognition by the Mayoral committee that protecting and enhancing the City’s brand status will play a major role in its future among its citizens and the world at large.
Brand Response An extensive brand audit was conducted to determine how the City presented itself and to better understand the perceptions of both citizen and visitor.
The strategic work paved the way for a naming and creative brief. All avenues and possibilities were explored for the name, including abstract and African names, and consideration was given to leaving it completely unchanged.
The new wordmark hopes to convey the creativity determination, dynamism and zest of the city. The City’s heritage in gold is seen in the golden dot below the exclamation mark.
Business ResultThe official name of the City remains “The City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality,” while the new Joburg identity will become its consistent public face. The new identity rolled out to great celebration throughout Joburg in an effort to attract attention from both locals and visitors.

Services:
- Corporate Design
- Integrated Marketing
- Internal Brand Alignment
- Naming & Verbal Identity

Industry:
- Government
- Non-Profit & Organizations

The success of Edinburgh

Plans for developing a new brand for Edinburgh took the next, important step forward as the Edinburgh City Region Brand Project team announced the appointment of Interbrand as brand consultants.
The contract to develop the brand for Scotland's capital city was advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union and attracted interest from more than 70 companies. 26 tenders were received and six companies were invited for interview after a rigorous selection process.
The Interbrand team was judged to be the best in both quality and price and have extensive international experience of both location and blue chip company branding. Recent work includes developing brands for London and Estonia.
Selection of the consultants was carried out on Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 May. The selection panel comprised the Brand Project Manager and senior representatives from Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian, Edinburgh and Lothians Tourist Board and the City of Edinburgh Council.
Geoff Ball, joint chair of the Brand Steering Group and Chair of CALA Group Ltd, said: “We are delighted that Interbrand are now on board. Their expertise in brand development for international locations and companies will be vital to the success of the project. They will be engaging in the widest possible discussion with city stakeholders to ensure that the brand works on behalf of all sectors that have an interest in a successful and prosperous Edinburgh.”
The City of Edinburgh Council Leader and joint chair of the Brand Steering Group, Donald Anderson, said: “Edinburgh has an enviable reputation as a vibrant, world class city, but we cannot rest on our laurels. Appointing Interbrand is a significant move toward developing a brand that represents every aspect of this diverse city and builds upon Edinburgh's success. Cities like Barcelona, Hong Kong and Sydney are already reaping the benefits of successful marketing initiatives and that is what we must compete against.”
Rita Clifton, Chairman of Interbrand, said: “We are delighted to be working with the Edinburgh team to help promote Edinburgh effectively as a world class city. There are so many positive things going for the city, and we will be consulting extensively with the different audiences to make sure that we reflect the key strengths in the right way”
The brand consultants have been employed to develop and deliver a programme of research amongst a wide range of city region stakeholders over the next three to four months.
They will:
carry out and analyse market research
develop a set of brand values
recommend guidelines for implementing the branding strategy
develop a monitoring and evaluation framework.
The project results will be ready by spring 2005. A family of brands, providing a consistent marketing image for the city will be developed. It will be aimed at boosting employment, investment and increasing tourism revenue.
Building on the city's reputation for education, heritage, culture and business, the new brand will ensure Edinburgh is well placed to compete with other successful cities such as Prague, Barcelona and Copenhagen.
The brand will also promote Edinburgh as:
an ideal location for companies to grow and prosper
a place which attracts a talented and skilled workforce to meet the needs of its key sectors
an area with a high quality of life for its residents
a vibrant, high quality tourist destination
a confident and contemporary city with a remarkable history and architectural heritage
As part of its ?24.7 million allocation from the Scottish Executive's Cities Growth Fund, Edinburgh was awarded ?800,000 to develop and implement a city brand.
Notes to editors
The Edinburgh City Region Brand Project is a public/private partnership. The group consists of senior representatives of the major sectors of the Edinburgh economy, including local business, finance, higher education, local government, festivals, tourism, voluntary, bio-technology, information technology, retail, creative industries, local enterprise and other professional sectors. The public sector partners are the City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh and Lothians Tourist Board and Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian.
The city brand is a key component of the Strategy and Action Plans of both the Local Economic Forum for Edinburgh and the Lothians and the Edinburgh Tourism Action Group.
Interbrand is the leading international brand consultancy, with 40 offices around the world. Its people come from many different skill backgrounds, including research and strategic consultancy, multi-media and design, and marketing and communications. They pioneered the discipline of brand valuation, and they are leading publishers of all aspects of branding whether product, service, corporate or not for profit brands. Their clients include BMW, Oxfam, Procter & Gamble, John Lewis and Standard Life.
Media Contacts

The City of Edinburgh Council, Catriona McKenna, Media Officer
Tel: 0131 529 4430 E-mail: catriona.mckenna@edinburgh.gov.uk


Interbrand, Jane Kennedy, PR Manager
Tel: 0207 554 1113 E-mail: jane.kennedy@interbrand.com

Glasgow City Marketing Bureau

Following the reorganisation of Scotland’s tourism industry on April 1 and subsequent creation of 14 VisitScotland network offices, Greater Glasgow & Clyde Valley Tourist Board has been dissolved and there are now major changes on how the city will be promoted both at home and overseas.

The new Glasgow City Marketing Bureau - headed by Scott Taylor as Chief Executive - will undertake a raft of separate but complementary responsibilities to that of the new VisitScotland - Glasgow network office, which will lead on tourist information services and leisure tourism.

Funded by Glasgow City Council with contributions from the private sector, the not-for-profit company has 27 staff engaged in national and international activity comprising:

· Conventions, incentives, events, meetings and exhibition sales
· Conference and event accommodation bookings
· Development and implementation of the city branding campaign: Glasgow: Scotland with style
· Public Relations
· Development and optimisation of the website: www.seeglasgow.com

Councillor Alex Mosson has been appointed Chairman of the new organisation and is joined on the Board by Councillor Charles Gordon, the Leader of Glasgow City Council.

The private sector is represented by leading Glasgow restaurateur Alan Tomkins and Dominic McVey, General Manager of the Glasgow Moat House. VisitScotland will also be represented on the Board by Lesley Craig – Area Director of the VisitScotland Glasgow office – who will attend meetings as an observer.

Glasgow City Marketing Bureau Chief Executive, Scott Taylor, commented:

“These are tremendously exciting times for Glasgow with major new infrastructure developments providing the city with the materials to attract additional tourism and inward investment.

“Glasgow City Marketing Bureau will ensure that these are communicated nationally and internationally and will work with Glasgow City Council, VisitScotland, VisitBritain and the private sector to deliver a planned and coordinated approach.”

Both Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and the VisitScotland Glasgow network office will operate from 11 George Square.


Further information from:
Moira Dyer, Senior Manager – Public Relations
Glasgow City Marketing Bureau
11 George Square
Glasgow
Tel: +44 (0) 141 566 0831
e-mail: moira.dyer@seeglasgow.com

Πώς μπορείς να κάνεις μια πόλη να δείχνει πιο σέξι;

(Άρθρο της Μαργαρίτας Πουρνάρα απο τον ενημερωτικό κόμβο της "Καθημερινής" & σε έντυπη μόρφη σελ.20, την Παρασκευή 27 Ιουλίου 2007)

Ιδού το ερώτημα που βασανίζει τον τελευταίο καιρό τον σοσιαλδημοκράτη δήμαρχο του Βερολίνου, Κλάους Βόβεραϊτ, που θα ήθελε να ανανεώσει την εικόνα της γερμανικής πρωτεύουσας στα μάτια των τουριστών και των ντόπιων. Το City marketing είναι μια πολύ σοβαρή υπόθεση που δεν πρέπει σε καμιά περίπτωση να αφήνεται στην τύχη, σε αντίθεση με εμάς τους Αθηναίους που δεν μας αφορά καθόλου. Λογικά οι Γερμανοί δεν θα έπρεπε να έχουν παράπονα: το Βερολίνο είναι σύμβολο της Ενωμένης Ευρώπης, πόλος έλξης για τους καλλιτέχνες, μοντέλο για τη συνύπαρξη νέας και παραδοσιακής αρχιτεκτονικής, μια φιλόξενη κυψέλη για ανήσυχες και μποέμ ψυχές. Αυτό όμως δεν αρκεί.
Ο Βόβεραϊτ, έχοντας εξασφαλίσει παχυλή οικονομική υποστήριξη από τη Γερουσία, έχει βάλει μπροστά μια καμπάνια που λέγεται «Η πόλη της Αλλαγής» (καμιά σχέση με τα πολιτικά συνθήματα της ελληνικής πολιτικής σκηνής τη δεκεατία του 1980). Στόχος του είναι να ξαναβρεί η πρωτεύουσα τη λάμψη που είχε τη δεκαετία του 1920. Ναι, το Βερολίνο διαθέτει υπέροχα μουσεία, θέατρα και κλαμπ μαζί με 400 γκαλερί. Εκπέμπει όμως την αίσθηση της ευζωίας, την ακτινοβολία εκείνη που κάνει τους επισκέπτες της να υποκλίνονται αμέσως στο μεγαλείο της; Σε αντίθεση με το Παρίσι ή το Λονδίνο, η πόλη δεν έχει καθόλου πλούσιους κατοίκους, γράφει το περιοδικό Economist.
Μια βόλτα στους άδειους δρόμους, μια ματιά στους περαστικούς και κάποιος ξένος αντιλαμβάνεται γρήγορα ότι ο κόσμος που ζει εκεί δεν έχει ευμάρεια. Ενας στους δύο Βερολινέζους τα βγάζει πέρα με τη σύνταξη ή με επιδόματα ανεργίας. Ακόμα και αυτοί που έχουν εργασία δεν κερδίζουν τόσα πολλά για να τα ξοδεύουν αφειδώς. Oι εύποροι Γερμανοί ζουν κυρίως στο Αμβούργο ή το Μόναχο. Ακόμα και η ίδια η πόλη έχει μεγάλα χρέη.
Ο πολυτάραχος βίος του Βερολίνου διδάσκει την τέχνη της επιβίωσης. Από τις χρυσές ημέρες όπου παλλόταν από τον πλούτο και που τα καμπαρέ του ήταν γεμάτα πέρασε στη σκληρή περίοδο των βομβαρδισμών, της ταπείνωσης και της διχοτόμησης. Από την ξέφρενη βιομηχανική ανάπτυξη των αρχών του 20ού αιώνα στην οικονομική αποδυνάμωσή του. Τον Νοέμβριο του 1989 τα βλέμματα της παγκόσμιας κοινής γνώμης στράφηκαν στην επανενωμένη του καρδιά: Γερμανοί αγκάλιαζαν Γερμανούς. Επιτέλους.
Σήμερα είναι ο τρίτος δημοφιλέστερος ταξιδιωτικός προορισμός στην Ευρώπη με το δικό του ξεχωριστό στίγμα. Ομως ο Βόβεραϊτ, παραδειγματιζόμενος από τη μεταμόρφωση της Νέας Υόρκης το 1970, ετοιμάζεται να αλλάξει το πρόσωπο της πόλης. Ο βασικός άξονας ανάπτυξης είναι ο οικονομικός. Οταν θα αρχίσει να ρέει περισσότερο χρήμα, τότε θα διορθωθούν πολλά. Θα στεριώσει για τα καλά η αυτοπεποίθηση και θα έρθουν ακόμα περισσότεροι τουρίστες. Ηδη μέχρι το 2011 θα έχει ολοκληρωθεί η επέκταση του αεροδρομίου και θα έχουν προστεθεί περισσότεροι επενδυτές όχι μόνο στον τομέα των ακινήτων αλλά και της βιομηχανίας.
Μπορεί το χρήμα να διώξει τις σκιές του Βερολίνου; Ισως όχι. Αλλωστε αυτές είναι που κάνουν την πόλη τόσο γοητευτική. Η αίσθηση της ιστορίας που βαραίνει στις πλάτες του. Δεν υπάρχει ξεγνοιασιά αλλά στοχασμός, δεν υπάρχει ελαφράδα αλλά τα πικρά διδάγματα της ανθρώπινης ματαιοδοξίας. Αυτό δεν πρόκειται να αλλάξει όσοι επενδυτές κι αν εμφανιστούν...

Κέρκυρα, μια Πόλη Μουσείο !!

Το πολύ καλό άρθρο της κας Αρφάρας αποτελεί το τέλειο παράδειγμα για να το ακολουθήσει η Πόλη της Κέρκυρας τώρα που ξεκίνησε η αντίστροφη μέτρηση να τηρήσουμε την δέσμευσή μας στην UNESCO.


Κάθε δέκα χρόνια το Μίνστερ της Γερμανίας μετατρέπεται σε μια τεράστια υπαίθρια γκαλερί

[Της ΚΑΤΙΑΣ ΑΡΦΑΡΑ, από τα ΕΙΚΑΣΤΙΚΑ (σελ.22) της ΚΥΡΙΑΚΑΤΙΚΗΣ ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟΤΥΠΙΑΣ στις 22/07/07 ]


Υπάρχει, άραγε, θέση για την τέχνη στο δημόσιο χώρο; Εχει τη δύναμη η σύγχρονη δημιουργία να ανοίξει ξανά ένα διάλογο με την πόλη, έξω από τα μουσεία;
Υπάρχουν περιθώρια παρέμβασης στα υπερ-δομημένα κέντρα; Το Πρότζεκτ Γλυπτικής που εγκαινιάστηκε τον περασμένο Ιούνιο στο Μίνστερ της Γερμανίας αποτελεί τη μοναδική διοργάνωση στον κόσμο που έχει ως αποκλειστικό στόχο να επαναφέρει την τέχνη στη δημόσια σφαίρα. Κάθε δέκα χρόνια η πόλη μετατρέπεται κυριολεκτικά σε υπαίθριο μουσείο καθώς καλλιτέχνες από όλο τον κόσμο στήνουν τα έργα τους παντού, παρεμβαίνοντας τόσο στο κέντρο της πόλης (σε δρόμους, πλατείες, δημόσια κτίρια αλλά και εσωτερικές αυλές) όσο και στα περίχωρά της φθάνοντας μέχρι την τεχνητή λίμνη της.Πρόκειται για την 4η διεθνή συνάντηση γλυπτικής που διοργανώνουν η πρωτοποριακή πόλη της Γερμανίας και το Μουσείο Τέχνης της, παραγγέλνοντας σε διεθνούς φήμης καλλιτέχνες έργα διαδραστικά που έχουν δημιουργηθεί με άξονα ένα συγκεκριμένο χώρο της πόλης. Η ιδέα για την πρωτότυπη αυτή έκθεση γεννήθηκε στα 1977, όταν ο τότε διευθυντής του μουσείου αποφάσισε να οργανώσει μια μεγάλη έκθεση γλυπτικής προκειμένου να αλλάξει τη νοοτροπία των κατοίκων που αντιδρούσαν στις γλυπτικές εγκαταστάσεις δημόσιων χώρων.
Σήμερα, έπειτα από τέσσερις δεκαετίες, η πόλη και η ευρύτερη περιοχή δέχονται πλήθος επισκεπτών καθ' όλη τη διάρκεια του χρόνου καθώς εκθέτουν σε μόνιμη πλέον βάση σαράντα σχεδόν έργα προηγούμενων διοργανώσεων (μεταξύ αυτών και εγκαταστάσεις μνημειακών διαστάσεων του Ρίτσαρντ Σέρα και του Ντόναλντ Τζαντ), ενώ το μουσείο φυλάσσει στις συλλογές του μακέτες, σχέδια και πολύτιμα ντοκουμέντα από την κατασκευή τους. Στη φετινή διοργάνωση η έμφαση δίνεται στο βίντεο, το φιλμ και την περφόρμανς, υιοθετώντας παράλληλα το Διαδίκτυο ως μέσο διάδοσης και ανταλλαγής πληροφοριών με τους επισκέπτες. *Ο Αμερικανός Μάικ Κέλι παρουσιάζει μια ιδιότυπη βίντεο-εγκατάσταση στην εσωτερική αυλή της von Steuben Strasse με πυρήνα ένα άγαλμα από αλάτι και πηγή έμπνευσης τη βιβλική ιστορία του Λωτ. *Η Σούχα Κινοσίτα από την Κίνα έστησε μια ηχητική εγκατάσταση στην αίθουσα του Εμπορικού Επιμελητηρίου με θέμα το «σπασμένο τηλέφωνο» («αραβικό τηλέφωνο» για τους Γάλλους, «ψίθυροι» για τους Κινέζους) που παίζουν τα παιδιά σε διάφορες γλώσσες, καταδεικνύοντας τις αλλοιώσεις που υφίσταται ο προφορικός λόγος. *Ο βετεράνος Μπρους Νάουμαν υλοποιεί με καθυστέρηση σαράντα ετών το έργο του με τίτλο «Το τετράγωνο της κατάθλιψης» (πρόκειται για μια πρόταση που είχε καταθέσει στην πρώτη διοργάνωση του 1977). Η ανάστροφη πυραμίδα από μπετόν που κατασκεύασε στον προαύλιο χώρο του Πανεπιστημίου Φυσικών Επιστημών παραπέμπει στην κοινωνική απομόνωση και το άγχος των μεγαλουπόλεων, καθώς δημιουργεί, σε όποιον στέκεται στο κέντρο της, την αίσθηση του εγκλεισμού στερώντας του κάθε προοπτική. *Η Μάρθα Ρόσλερ πραγματεύεται τη συλλογική μνήμη της πόλης με έμφαση στο ναζιστικό παρελθόν της παρεμβαίνοντας σε 3 μνημεία της.*Το Πρότζεκτ Γλυπτικής περιλαμβάνει, επίσης, σειρά δράσεων με χαρακτηριστικότερη εκείνη της Μαρία Πασκ με θέμα τη διαφορετικότητα. Στην τέντα που η βρετανίδα καλλιτέχνις έχει στήσει σε ένα πάρκο του Μίνστερ υποδέχεται ανθρώπους διαφορετικών θρησκευτικών πεποιθήσεων προκειμένου να εκθέσουν δημόσια τα πιστεύω τους συζητώντας με κατοίκους και επισκέπτες.

*Περισσότερες πληροφορίες για το Πρότζεκτ Γλυπτικής του Μίνστερ στη διεύθυνση http://www.skulpturprojekte.de/

Piero de la Fransesca

Do you know if Corfu has similar pieces of Art that can affect the implementation of profofesional tourist branding of Corfu.

(The exhibition of works by Piero della Francesca and the Italian courts, running until 22 July 2007 at Arezzo, Sansepolcro and Montecchi, is an enthralling journey that accompanies visitors among the courts of the Renaissance through the eyes and art of the maestro.)

Sites in Madagascar, SKorea and China added to World Heritage list

WELLINGTON, New Zealand: Natural sites including rain forests in Madagascar and volcanoes and volcanic caves in South Korea have been added to UNESCO's World Heritage List of protected sites, the heritage committee announced Wednesday.
South China's Karst region of stone forests also was inscribed on the world conservation list — the three areas joining some 830 other natural, cultural and landmark sites round the globe at a meeting of the U.N. world heritage body in the southern New Zealand city of Christchurch.
The committee said the rain forests of the Atsinanana, six national parks distributed on the eastern part of Madagascar, are "critically important" for the survival of the island's unique biodiversity — evolved in isolation over 60 million years and including many rare species.
It noted that 78 of the 123 non-flying mammals in Madagascar occur in the forests, including 72 that are on the International Conservation Union's Red List of Threatened Species.
South China's Karst region covering 500,000 square kilometers (200,000 square miles) in Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi Provinces "represents one of the world's most spectacular examples of humid tropical to subtropical karst landscapes," the committee said.
The area includes the Naigu stone forest, the Suyishan stone forest arising from a lake, and the stone forests of Shilin.
"The cone and tower karsts of Libo ... form a distinctive and beautiful landscape. Wulong Karst has been inscribed for its giant dolines, natural bridges and caves," said the committee, part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
On South Korea's Jeju Island the two volcanoes and nearby lava tube caves cover 18,800 hectares (46,400 acres) and are an area "of outstanding aesthetic beauty (that) also bears testimony to the history of our planet, to its features and processes."
Among its key features the committee lists Geomunoreum, "the finest lava tube system of caves anywhere," the fortress-like Seongsan Ilchulbong volcanic cone rising out of the ocean and Mount Hallasan with its waterfalls, multi-shaped rock formations, and lake-filled crater.
On Tuesday the committee added the Galapagos Islands and Senegal's Niokolo-Koba National Park to its list of World Heritage sites in danger from environmental threats or overuse.
On Monday, the committee removed four heritage sites — Florida's Everglades, the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve in Honduras, the royal Palaces of Abomey in Benin and Katmandu Valley in Nepal — from its in-danger list, recognizing progress in the sites' conservation.
The committee now lists 29 of the 833 World Heritage Sites as in danger and requiring further protection.
At its 10-day meeting, delegates will also consider applications to add at least 42 other new sites — including the Sydney Opera House — to the World Heritage list.

(from Associated press reproduced in http://www.iht.com/)

DUBAI:Inventive schemes in preserving the cultural heritage

(from gulfnews.com Published: 13/02/2007 12:00 AM (UAE) )

Private investors encouraged to help preserve heritage
By Ashfaq Ahmed, Staff Reporter
Dubai: Private investors have been invited to restore historic buildings in Dubai as part of Dubai Municipality's ambitious plan to preserve 'old Dubai'.
"We are encouraging private sector companies and individuals to invest in projects for the restoration of historic buildings in Dubai on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis," said Engineer Ahmad Mahmoud Ahmad, Head of the Historic Building Section at Dubai Municipality.
He told Gulf News yesterday on the sidelines of the Architectural Conservation Conference being held in Dubai, that the Heritage Section would restore some 330 historic buildings by 2010 as part of the government's architectural conservation plans.
"These buildings were constructed before 1950 and have been identified by the municipality in the old Dubai areas which fall mainly in the commercial business districts of Deira and Bur Dubai along the Creek," he said.
Ahmad said the civic body has so far restored more than 120 buildings in various parts of the emirate. He said that a new survey to identify historic buildings constructed between 1950 and 1965 has already been launched.
"Once identified, they will also be preserved," he said.
He said the heritage section gives three options to the owner of any historic building: restore and conserve it, sell it to the municipality or let the municipality restore and conserve it and recover its cost by renting it out.
"We just don't want to restore and leave these historic buildings deserted, we want activities and life in these buildings," Ahmad said.
The heritage section is seeking to promote old Dubai as a major tourist attraction. "We are discussing issues with the tourism companies to sell heritage tour packages to tourists abroad," he said.

PROJECT: Merging traditional with the modern
The Heritage Section at the Dubai Municipality has launched a project to encourage building consultants and designers to adopt the traditional architecture of Dubai.
"We are encouraging designers and consultants of towers, shopping malls and other residential and commercial projects to amalgamate traditional UAE architectural style with modern styles, while designing their projects," said Engineer Ahmad Mahmoud Ahmad, Head of the Historical Buildings Section at the Municipality.
He said tourists want to see traditional style buildings with modern facilities. "Madinat Al Jumeirah, which was built following a traditional design has become a major tourist attraction in Dubai," Ahmad said.

Everest, five other world heritage sites face climate change risk

London, June 25:

Six World Heritage sites, including Mount Everest, could be at risk from the impact of climate change, feel environement protection experts and groups.Urging the United Nations to act quickly on the matter, groups like Greenpeace and the Climate Justice Programme have petitioned the global body to list the locations as being "in danger".

Nations that have signed the UN World Heritage Convention have a legal duty to cut emissions, the campaigners were quoted by the BBC, as saying. To date, 184 nations are signatories of the convention, which was formed in 1972. The convention's 21-nation governing committee is currently meeting in Christchurch, New Zealand, to review the need for giving more teeth to the global agreement to ensure the long-term protection of important cultural and natural sites. "The committee will discuss a draft policy document on climate change. We are asking the Committee to recognise the need for substantial emission cuts," explained Peter Roderick, co-ordinator of the Climate Justice Programme. The sites the groups want added to the "in danger" list are: Great Barrier Reef, Australia Sagarmatha National Park (which includes Mount Everest), Nepal Belize Barrier Reef, Belize Huascaran National Park, Peru Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, US/Canada border Blue Mountains, AustraliaThe petitions, which began in 2004, have attracted a number of high-profile signatories, including Everest climber Sir Edmund Hillary and BBC film-maker/naturalist Sir David Attenborough. At last year's meeting, the World Heritage Committee rejected a motion calling for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Despite the set back, the campaigners want the governing committee to reconsider its position. The World Heritage Committee's annual meeting runs until July 2.
(Copyright Dailyindia.com/ANI)

Poland’s presence on the UNESCO World Heritage List

Professor Jerzy KŁoczowski Chairman of the Polish Committee for UNESCO

The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage adopted in 1972 was recognition by the international community of mankind’s common heritage. Starting in 1978 to draw up the UNESCO World Heritage List, the World Heritage Committee decided to ensure special protection to sites that should be preserved for future generations intact in view of their unique historic, cultural scientific and aesthetic values.Poland can be proud of the fact that the first entries in 1978 included the Old Town complex in Kraków and the Wieliczka Salt Mine.Poland is currently among 138 countries with World Heritage sites on their territory. The World Heritage List currently covers 830 properties which include 644 cultural, 162 natural and 24 mixed sites. 13 entries on the List cover sites in Poland. Most are old town complexes. Apart from the one in Kraków, listed are the Old Town in Warsaw (1980), the Old City of Zamość (1992) and the Mediaeval Town of Toruń (1997). The other Polish sites on the List consist of the Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork (1997), the Manneristic Architectural and Landscape Complex and Pilgrimage Park in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (1999), the Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica (2001), six wooden churches in southern Małopolska (2003) and the former Nazi Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp (1979) – a unique entry on the List representing all concentration and extermination camps in the world. Two entries have a trans-border character: the Białowieża National Park (1979) which is a Polish-Belarussian site, and the Polish-German site of Muskauer Park (2004). The latest Polish entry on the List is the People’s Hall in Wrocław inscribed in 2006 under its original name of Centennial Hall.

(from http://www.polishmarket.com.pl/index.php?p=/current_issue/&a=14309 )

Iconic Loch Ness to be made a World Heritage Site

Edinburgh (Scotland), May 19 :

Efforts are on to make Loch Ness, the large and deep fresh waterway in the Scottish Highlands into a World Heritage Site.Extending for approximately 37 km southwest of the Inverness, the Loch's surface is 52 feet above sea level. It is the UK's largest body of fresh water and one of the deepest at 754ft, which makes it a vital site for scientists, as well as monster hunters and tourists. Its largely undisturbed mud-beds are a source of important historical, geological and environmental data, giving clues to such phenomena as the formation of the Great Glen.Loch Ness is best known for the alleged sightings of the legendary Loch Ness Monster ("Nessie"). Boat cruises operate from various locations along its shores giving tourists the chance to look for the monster.One organisation, Destination Loch Ness (DLN), is aiming to have it designated a World Heritage Site, reports Times Online. It is hoped an application can be made shortly to UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. If approved, it would join 162 sites across the world on the World Heritage Committee's list of natural heritage sites because of their outstanding universal value. These include the Great Barrier Reef, the Rocky Mountains, the Grand Canyon, the Galapagos Islands and St Kilda. "The monster legend is a huge part of the area's history and appeal but as a short breaks destination we've got a bigger story to tell. DLN has already identified the area within several of VisitScotland's niche markets such as walking, cycling and wildlife, said Graham Ambrose, chairman of DLN."World heritage status would be a significant and exciting accolade for Loch Ness and the Great Glen. The idea has been discussed at length and Destination Loch Ness is currently investigating if the area meets the stringent criteria. As yet, no application has been made and further comment will be made at an appropriate juncture." A spokeswoman for UNESCO said when an application is made to have a site inscribed, the World Heritage Committee's consultative bodies, made up of experts in natural and cultural heritage, study the site and write a recommendation which is then accepted - or not. The Loch attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year and is worth about 25 million pounds annually to the economy, although it is felt there is potential for this to rise to 120 million pounds.

(from http://www.newkerala.com/news5.php?action=fullnews&id=31161 )