Centro Conservazione e Restauro “La Venaria Reale” (CCR), an Italian conservation institute, has partnered with the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), the authority driving the comprehensive regeneration of AlUla, to further develop expertise in the restoration and conservation of northwest Saudi Arabia’s incredible cultural heritage.

 

As part of the partnership, a group of 12 young Saudi professionals and new university graduates selected by RCU have travelled from AlUla to Italy for a knowledge exchange programme. 

 

The group of six women and six men will participate in workshops in both Venaria near Turin in northern Italy and AlUla. The multi-modal course will see CCR share best practices for the application of an interdisciplinary approach to heritage conservation science, said a statement. 

 

Between July 2023 and February 2024, the group – six chemistry and biology graduates and six conservation officers from different parts of Saudi Arabia – will take part in integrated and highly interactive modules designed to provide insights into the most relevant technical, scientific, historical, and conservation management issues, including tutoring on functional themes such as the planning, management, and conservation of archaeological sites.

 

Sara Abram, Secretary General at CCR, said: “Partnering with RCU is a unique opportunity to explore the characteristics of our different cultural, social, and organisational contexts. In this programme, the CCR provides its technical, scientific, and humanistic expertise, through its professionals and with the involvement of lecturers from some of the most important Italian universities and conservation institutes.”

 

Aimed at deepening knowledge of artefacts and their historical context, the programme reflects CCR’s methodological approach to conservation. Starting with preliminary observations, the course focuses on data collection and processing, and proceeds toward analysis of techniques and assessment, ending with the definition of the most suitable conservation strategies on a case-by-case basis. 

 

Designed in collaboration with conservation experts, including conservators, conservation scientists, and historians, the two main aims of the programme are to enhance technical and scientific knowledge of different works of art and their materials that relate to archaeological contexts; and to raise awareness of the values of cultural heritage, considered as tangible and intangible evidence of history and societies. 

 

During their stay in Venaria, the participants will not only engage with the great Italian tradition of conservation but will also be immersed in the Italian way of life: through awareness workshops and cultural exchange, discovering the UNESCO Royal Palace “Reggia di Venaria,” the city of Turin, and talking with students from the University of Turin.

 

The collaboration between CCR and RCU reflects the memorandum of understanding signed in Venice in May by Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan AlSaud, Minister of Culture of Saudi Arabia, and Italy’s Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, to expand cooperation in the fields of archaeology, conservation, restoration and protection of cultural heritage, the film industry, and literature.

 

Dr Abdulrahman Alsuhaibani, Executive Director of Archaeology, Collections and Conservation at the Royal Commission for AlUla, said: “Our partnership with CCR aligns with our ambitions to place our community at the heart of RCU’s conservation and sustainable regeneration efforts. Through this initial programme, we will provide the next generation of conservation experts with the knowledge and foundational skills they need to confidently pursue a career in conservation science, supporting our future ambitions.”

 

Located 1,100km from Riyadh, AlUla is a place of extraordinary natural and human heritage. The vast area, covering 22,561 sq km, includes a lush oasis valley, towering sandstone mountains and ancient cultural heritage sites dating back thousands of years. – TradeArabia News Service