Cross-sectoral challenges: specialist for the protection of cultural heritage in case of crisis and war - development of a postgraduate study programme dedicated to employees working in interdisciplinary environment

Project facts

Project promoter:
Villa Decius Association(PL)
Project Number:
PL-EDUCATION-0077
Status:
Completed
Final project cost:
€142,119
Other Project Partners
Akademia Marynarki Wojennej im. Bohaterów Westerplatte(PL)
Instytut Kultury Willa Decjusza(PL)
Programme:

Description

Within the project will be developed a post-graduate program in the field of cultural property protection in the event of a crisis and war, together with set of teaching materials.The goal is to develop the educational product and supplementing it as a new one addressed to a wide audience such as: uniformed services, administration at all levels, employees of historic buildings, architects, conservators, academics, members of the clergy, students of related fields, employees of cultural institutions, specialists in the area (direct participants 170os). The interdisciplinary team of experts formed as part of the partnership will elaborate on each of the courses included in the program in detail. During 10 workshops, the courses will be implemented for the first group of recipients. Part of the project will be meetings in Poland, an open summary session. The established Training Center will disseminate and continue activities after the end of the project.

Summary of project results

The protection of cultural goods, understood as caring for them during peace and securing them in times of crisis or armed conflict, obliges those involved in it and witnesses to take specific actions adapted to the time and circumstances. Experience shows that the effectiveness of protective operations depends on the preparation and training of owners, managers and users of historic buildings as well as staff of institutions collecting cultural goods. It is crucial to properly prepare facilities, collections and the personnel to cope with the threats and challenges posed by various and unpredictable crises and armed conflicts. A comprehensive approach to the subject required taking into account both the civilian and uniformed perspectives, exchange of experiences and cooperation of many experts in order to take into account the multi-sectoral issues. Under the project, the intended goals were achieved: a postgraduate study program, a set of publications and a training offer available outside the studies.
The interdisciplinary study program, planned for 200 hours, is the result of the work of a team of experts in various fields, the set of publications includes very extensive source material: two volumes of a monograph-textbook, two volumes of national and international legal acts and case studies book. The intended workshops, additional online dissemination meetings and consultations with representatives of various institutions were carried out. The implementation of the project brought very tangible benefits: networking the sector and educating people in the field of open attitudes to new knowledge and science, also in the context of non-formal education.
The end of the project coincided with important geopolitical circumstances: the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and the deliberate acts of destroying historic buildings by the Russians. At the same time, context caused a surge in interest in the project itself and its fruits in the period from the end of February until now. Representatives of target groups, in particular people who have a statutory or professional obligation to prepare, for example, monument protection plans in the event of a crisis or war, contacted on an ongoing basis to obtain educational materials, registration for workshops, summary conference, but also to consult their daily activities. The current context influences and increases the range of the positive impact and longevity of the educational products developed in the project.

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