Under the patronage and in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Ruler of Sharjah, the “Protecting the Past 2018” conference entitled “From Digital Documentation to Heritage Management in the MENA region” is taking place at the Regional Conservation Centre in Sharjah (ICCROM- Sharjah) from 4 – 6 December 2018.

An important part of ICCROM’s work is to monitor and share new scientific findings, and identify knowledge gaps. By tracking developments and highlighting key issues in research, ICCROM looks to stimulate analysis and debate with the goal of improving the sector’s ability to address current needs and future challenges.

The 18th edition of RE-ORG began on 25 November in Kuwait, after the successful experiences of RE-ORG Chile in September, RE-ORG International Portugal in October, and RE-ORG Albania in November. Twenty participants from Kuwait and Oman are receiving training through this course, which will continue until 7 December.

Dr Webber Ndoro, ICCROM’s Director-General, presided over the opening of the International Forum on Cities and Heritage in Arab Countries, just launched in Essaouira, Morocco. This international conference aims to highlight the most effective factors that contribute to the preservation of urban heritage in Arab cities, to encourage social diversity, and to exchange proposals for solutions on common challenges.

On 22 November, H.E. Gloria Isabel Ramírez Ríos, Ambassador of Colombia, visited ICCROM.

Last month ICCROM organized the 17th RE-ORG workshop at the Museum of Lisbon in Portugal. The two-week event (from 15-26 October) took place thanks to the generous support of the Empresa de Gestão de Equipamentos e Animação Cultural, E.M. Lisboa (EGEAC), the Museum of Lisbon and the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa.

A new volume available for free download for those working on the protection, conservation, and management of archaeological heritage. One of few publications to address the issue of protective shelters, this book records the results of a week-long symposium in 2013 that used the archaeological site of Herculaneum as an “open classroom”.

The 2018 edition of Green Lab will show “Green” methods and solutions, both innovative and ready to use, for cultural heritage restoration. The aim of the course is to give insight into use of these materials and methods by professionals, especially restorers, in order to: observe the applicability, efficiency and effectiveness of the solutions presented; discuss the advantages and limitations together with the developers.

This short video offers a glimpse inside the ICCROM Mora Sample Collection, to share with you the findings of a new project launched in early 2018, and see the project team at work. The Mora Sample Collection is an important archive of historic wall paintings samples and fragments collected from heritage sites from around the world.

On 25 October, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, also known as the Farnesina, held a conference on the cooperation between Italy and Africa. This was the second in a series of conferences on this topic organized by the Farnesina, the first of which was held in 2016.