Dates: 3 - 14 January 2010

Place: Sharjah,  United Arab Emirates

Partners

• ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property)

• The Government of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates:

  • Sharjah Department of Information and Culture
  • Sharjah Museums Department
  • American University of Sharjah
  • University of Sharjah

• DGCS Directorate General of Development Co-operation, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Background and aims
This ATHAR Programme course will focus on integrating documentation in heritage management of sites. It aims at enhancing applied knowledge of architectural records, inventories and information systems for conservation in the Arab region. It also provides the basic understanding of how to make and manage documentation, and to take informed decisions that ensure the protection of cultural heritage sites.

This is a specialized course that follows ICCROM’s ATHAR Programme Core Regional Courses that have taken place over the last years. Attendance on these foundation courses is a prerequisite for attendance on the specialized course. Endorsing institutions should note that applicants are expected to complete the full cycle of all three courses.

Topics and objectives
The course consists of interactive, participatory sessions, both theoretical and practical. Study visits and applied work on sites will complement the work carried out in the classroom. The course aims at introducing the following topics:

• concepts of documentation and information gathering, recording and heritage information management;

• activities, methodologies and tools for recording, documentation, inventories and information management;

• integrating documentation in the site management process;

• addressing recording practice based on specific case studies;

• topographic, GPS, photogrammetric, and 3D laser scanning techniques, and archival research (historic, archaeological, structural, condition);

• notions of ‘inventory’ as the core element of information systems to be able to establish links between the various aspects and fields relating to architectural documentation processes;

• principles, design and management of records in data base systems (GIS) and methods to process;

• architectural records and related information;

• promoting discussion among specialists in these fields.

Participants 
The course is intended for 20 participants with varied profiles (site managers, conservators, archaeologists, architects, planners, tourism development experts, etc.) from the Arab countries who have participated in the previous ICCROM Core Regional Courses (or equivalent). Their admission to the course will be subject to selection criteria including:

• Professional background: at least a BA in a relevant field of study.

• Employment: priority is given to government employees or government-affiliated professionals.

• Work experience: those who have already gained at least 3 years of practical and research experience in the field will have priority.

• Letter of intent: candidates are requested to provide a letter stating clearly the reasons for applying to the course, what they hope to learn from it, and how it will benefit them and their institution, country, or future employer.

• Financial resources/support: a request for financial support, or the availability of other sources, should be indicated in the application form. The organizing institutions will provide financial support only upon request (subject to evaluation), to cover accommodation, meals and travel to Sharjah during the course.

• Insurance: all participants should also have health and accident insurance. Upon selection, they should return to ICCROM a signed medical and accident participant's release form.

• Working languages: the working languages will be both Arabic and English. Proficiency in English will be required particularly for research work and reading of reference materials.

• Applications: please use the application form available on this web site. Applications should be endorsed by the relevant ministry (Ministry of Culture or Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities) in the candidate’s home country. The completed forms should be sent to the following address:

ATH?R Programme 
ICCROM 
Via di San Michele, 13 
00153 Rome 
Italy 
Email: athar (at) iccrom . org

Application deadline: 5 October 2009     
Please note that any applications received after this deadline will not be considered in the selection process of candidates for this course.