The program of the conference “From Persepolis to Isfahan; Safeguarding Cultural Heritage” was held January 16-18, 2015 and was held in Asia House, London.
“The focus is on protecting the cultural heritage of Iran.”
The participants and lecturers discussed the threats and issues facing the world’s cultural heritage, and potential solutions. “As is well known, cultural heritage worldwide is under threat, and from many countries there are stories of damage to monuments and archaeological sites allied to ongoing deterioration of cultural resources. The problem is particularly acute in Iraq and Syria, due to wars and vandalism. Fortunately these problems do not exist in Iran, but nevertheless there is damage to monuments and archaeological sites caused for example by acid rain, sandstorms, earthquakes, floods, neglect, looting and development,” the organizers said, CHN Reported.
The conference reviewed the extent of the damage, to raise awareness of the problem, to look at the framework within which protection is currently provided, to chart best practice worldwide, and suggest some practical measures to help and support Iranian colleagues.”
A number of world class experts on Iranian studies and cultural heritage lectured including Prof. Robert Hillenbrand of University of St Andrews, who is the keynote speaker; Dr Chahryar Adle, who is president of the International Scientific Committee, UNESCO, based in Paris and Tehran; Dr Alireza Anisi and Dr Hassan Fazeli from ICAR, Tehran; Dr John Curtis, Iran Heritage Foundation CEO; and Dr Sussan Babaie of Courtauld Institute of Art.
There was a panel discussion involving Neil Macgregor, director of the British Museum, Prof. Martin Roth, director of Victoria & Albert Museum, and Jon Snow, journalist and newscaster.
The conference was organized by Iran Heritage Foundation in parternship with the Soudavar Memorial Foundation, and support from the British Institute of Persian Studies and the Flora Family Foundation.
Iran Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism (RICHT) along with Parseh-Pasargad Research Foundation also contributed to the program.
