A Catalyst for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage

THE GLOBAL CONSORTIUM FOR THE PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE HELD ITS FIRST MEETING AT BOCCONI

In today’s world, cultural heritage – that Yale University President Peter Salovey referred to as “the essential record of humanity” – is increasingly under attack by threats ranging from climate change, terrorism, theft, mass tourism, and war. Historic buildings, monuments, landscapes, works of art, artifacts, folklore, traditions, and even indigenous languages are disappearing at an increasingly rapid rate.
 
To counter these unprecedented threats, the Global Consortium for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (GCPCH) held its first meeting at Bocconi University in Milan Italy.  Mary Miller, Sterling Professor in the History of Art and senior director of the Yale Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (IPCH) at Yale’s West Campus, and Stefan Simon, Director, Global Cultural Heritage Initiatives, joined as co-organizers 35 international university officials and faculty experts from around the world at the initial meeting. GCPCH was established in 2016 on the recommendation of the eighth Global Colloquium of University Presidents and a workplan and strategy of the Consortium were outlined in the New Haven Declaration.
 
The 2-day meeting hosted by Bocconi University kicked off with an address by UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, who reviewed the recent work of UNESCO and others to preserve cultural heritage. “Knowledge sharing mobilizes all stakeholders at a global level,” said Bokova. “Together we need to reinforce the networks and build more bridges between all actors.”
 
Stefano Baia Curioni, vice-president ASK Research Center of Bocconi University, commented on what an honor it was for Bocconi University to host the meeting. “It is with great pleasure that we convene such a distinguished set of leaders who bring so many valuable points of view on challenges related to the preservation of cultural heritage,” he commented. “We know how important the work of this body is to advancing our collective work, and are honored to support such efforts.”
 
Participants agreed that the primary focus of the GCPCH must be to serve as a catalyst for education, research, and advocacy for the preservation of cultural heritage. The mission of GCPCH is to aggregate and share knowledge and to facilitate relationships between those who seek to protect various forms of cultural heritage worldwide. More specifically, GCPCH will create a map of degree-granting and non-degree education programs, internship and field experiences, research projects, and funding sources.
 
Pictured above, from left: Stefano Baia Curioni, Irina Bokova, Stefan Simon
 
For updates on future activities, including dates for the next GCPCH meeting in 2018, please follow GCPCH on Twitter at @GCPCH, and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GlobalCPCH.

by Adam Gaber