ICOM International Committe for Science and TechologyCIMUSET

september 2009, Belgrade, Serbia

The new conservation institution in the region of South East Europe

Central Institute for Conservation in Belgrade

Dr Mila Popović-ŽivančevićCouncilor - Conservator i.director of the Central Institute for Conservation in BelgradeCherman of ICOM SEE

CENTRAL INSTITUTE FOR CONSERVATION IN BELGRADE

• Strategic project of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Italy

• On January 22nd 2009, after the proposal of Serbian Ministry of Culture, the Government of Republic of Serbia made the decision on establishment of new protection institution -CIK

Reasons for Establishing of the Central Institute for Conservation

• Lack of modern educative programs in theory and practice, lack of academic education, there is no developed methodology for systematical modernization and constant improvement of experts.

• Lack of research makes theory and practice; there are no mechanisms of research into simultaneous processes that caused by the nature of cultural heritage, causes of its degradation, environmental conditions – preventive conservation and conservation treatments.

• Standards of appropriate managing and handling in storage, exhibitions, transport and general protection of heritage are not set so far;

There are neither plans of preventive conservation, nor plans for emergencies and etc….

Inadequate menagmenty of archeological sites - Compulsory parallel activities on research, conservation and presentation of archeological sites are not performed properly

The condition of museums buildings is on the edge of optimal solutions for preservation and exhibiting of museum materials. National Museum in Belgrad, fotograf 2003.

Condition of storiges is on the edge of optimal solutions for keeping

In a huge number of storages - massive contamination of museum objects with microorganisms, fungi, insects.. ets

Inadequate microclimate conditions cause rapid degradation of a large number of objects in museum depots and on permanent exhibitions

There are no standards for conservationtreatments • that causes additional damage and destabilization of materials

of heritage • working conditions in conservation studios do not follow minimal

health and safety criteria

• There is no standardized and centralized documentation system in the field of protection heritage.

• Libraries in protection institutions are poorly developed.

• There is no enough stimulation for publishing in protection cultural heritage

Institutional network for protectionheritage

• Obsolete and inefficient institutional network with traditional organization which has been established since 1947 is divided at :

movable and immovable cultural goods • This rigid division does not fit into contemporary

protection system, as different contents of cultural heritage and their environment intertwine.

• Institutional network is slow and resistant to all changes that happen in theory and practice of protection and within the profession.

• Conservation policy inside the network is undefined and unclear in terms of decision-making, conservation plans, setting the priorities and etc.

• There is lack of coordination and poor communication among heritage institutions, which hinder protection of heritage.

• Protection institutions are not capable to respond to new demands of community and to redefine their new role and purpose in compliance with it, so they can assure place of inheritance in sustainable development of community

• Endangered condition of heritage demands necessary turn in conservation focused on systematic development of all areas of protection for all kinds of heritage.

• Development of general concept of integrative protection, leads inevitably to unifying of protection services in the unique system of heritage care .

• Unorganized and dilapidated situation in protection services influenced rapid development of the idea of a unique institution for heritage conservation at national level but with regional character.

Central Institute for Conservation in Belgrade - CIK

What makes the new protection institution different from the existing ones?

The main character and organizational structure ofnew institution includes into one organized system :• all heritage contents• all interdisciplinary protection activities.

CIK is established as an interdisciplinary institution with complex approach to modern conservation asscientific and professional discipline.

CIK should fulfill the missing part in protection system.

Goals: • Integrative organization of unique and efficient system

of protection which unifies, coordinates and synchronizes all heritage contents in all activities of heritage care and conservation.

• Such institutionally unique system of protection, systematically gathers knowledge, experience, scientific achievements, conservation, documentation, equipment, staff and finances. – this is the most rational solution and strategic question

of healthy cultural politics. • Directing activities of CIK towards Serbia, the region of

Western Balkans and South East Europe as well.

CIK will unite all contents of tangible and intangible heritage into a solid and effective system in their natural environment:

1. architectural and monumental heritage,2. archeological sites3. museum objects4. archive and library material5. audioviseul, film material 6. intangible heritage.

CIC will link all interdisciplinary activities on protection of heritage: 1. interdisciplinary university, academyc and

profesional education 2. scientific research work3. preventive conservation 4. conservation treatments 5. united documentation sistem 6. marketing and public relations

Preparation for the establishment of CIK

The project of establishment appeared 2002. as a result of analysis of EU experts who concluded that :• Serbian services for heritage protection have the

longest tradition in the region, • a very significant place and reputation in the region, • retained institutional and professional resources, • all these mentioned represent qualitative base for a

regional centre for protection for the West Balkans .

By the end of 2002 representatives of the Government of Republic of Italy contacted the Ministry of Culture and offered their assistance in revitalization of protection service in the Serbia through establishing of new protection institution.

Work on the new institution was intensified in 2005 and directed towards activities determining this new institution, as well as towards preparation of appropriate documents and conducting of the procedure of foundation

2005. Ministry of Culture formed the Expert team, composed of experts and representatives from the Government of Serbia and Italy,

so they can make a Feasibility study, adequacy elaborate.The active part which has finalized all the work were:

• Miladin Lukić, an architect, conservator-councilor for the Republic Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments;

• Dr Mila Popović- Živančević, an archeologist, conservator-councilor from the National Museum in Belgrade;

• Radmila Petrović, a chemist, conservator-councilor from the Archive of Serbia;

• Branka Sekarić, art historian, conservator-councilor from the Republic Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments;

• Mikele Morana, an architect from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy;

• Donatela Kavacali, an architect from the High Institute for Conservation In Rome

Feasibility Study was published and presented inOctober 2007 • All necessary preparatory activities under the

jurisdiction of Expert team have been completed by the end of 2007.

• Due to frequent political changes that caused constant change of human resources in the Ministry of Culture, final phase of the establishing procedure have been reached at the end 2008.

• The Government brought the decision on January 22nd 2009 so the new institution can now begin with organizational and administrative activities that concern official founding, registration and etc.

Activities and responsibilities of CIK:• organizing of integral system of protection which

encompasses all kinds of cultural heritage in their environment;

• unifying and linking all the activities in conservation and protection of heritage;

• organizing of interdisciplinary education on academic and expert level, linked to universities;

• forming of suitable multidisciplinary scientific and expert base for the area of protection of heritage;

• creating and implementing clearly determined strategy of protection;

• systematic, long term planning of activities in the area of preventive conservation, curative conservation and restoration;

• diminishing, alleviating and eliminating of risks on value, condition, and preservation of heritage;

• implementation appropriate curative conservation treatments and restoration;

• organizing of unique documentation system for the area of protection, on regional and international level; establishing of unique terminology;

• development of central library and publishing in domain of protection and heritage care;

• raising the level of professionalism in protection of cultural heritage;

• strengthening of communication between all participants in the system of protection;

• suitable presentation of heritage and its protection in wider public;

• development of various partnerships, marketing;• establishing of conservation as economic category in

the sustainable development; • quality and positive introducing of protection of

heritage in contemporary life within sustainable development;

• developing of strong regional and international cooperation in unifying and exchanging of knowledge, experience, scientific results and constant expert training;

• institutional organizing of a unique system of protection which systematically unifies knowledge, experience, science, conservation, equipment, human resources and finances.

Organizational structure of CIK

1. Center for education2. Center for multidisciplinary research3. Center for preventative conservation

Diana 4. Center for conservation and

restoration 5. Center for documentation 6. Center for communication

Expert and social public in Serbia and the region of South East Europe havealready recognized the significance of CIK as• interdisciplinary, educational and scientific-

research center with classrooms, specialized offices, laboratories, studios, workshops for conservation of all types of cultural heritage;

• institution of protection that establishes conservation as scientific and expert discipline;

• interdisciplinary institution with regional orientation;

Process of Founding

The foundation of CIK will develop throughthree phases:

I. The first phase from January to December 2009;

II. In the second phase, from January to December 2010;

III. In the third phase, from January to December 2011 (2012);

Financing • Budget of the Sebian Government; • Italian Government , for the period of founding; • Through large number of different partner projects,

educational programs and provision of logistic, expert and technical support : French Cultural Centre in Belgrade (C2RMF, INP,

Sorbona,….), ICCROM, UNESCO, UNESCO BRESCE, ICOM.... Italian cooperation in Belgrade (Superior Institute for

conservation and restoration in Rome ....)

Regional and national projects have been done Regional project Revitalisation of Cultural and Naturalheritage in the South East Europe region, 2006-2012

The project consists of three different phases:I. Condition assessment and defining of the problemse-

The Condition of cultural and Natural Heritage in the South East Europe region, 2006-2008;

II. Risk assessment, identifying priorities and programs of rebuilding - Evaluation of risk to cultural and natural heritage in the South East Europe region, 2010-2012;

III. Risk Control, prevention of occurrence of potential risks - Managing risks to cultural and natural heritage South East Europe region, 2010-2012.

Subprojects have been done • Archaeological conservation;• Preventive conservation –Introductionery, Risk assessment

and control risk, SEE TIEM MEP;• Experimental archaeology –Traditional production of ceramics; • Traditional technology of glass in the region of Balkans; • Academic programs of education;• Protection of antique mosaics; • Methods of protection of archaeological glass;• New materials in conservation of archaeological ceramics,

majolica, faience and porcelain; • Protection of natural heritage as model of protection of human

environment; • Joint database for the domain of protection of heritage;• Creating positive social environment in the domain of

protection of heritage; • Ets.

Archaeological conservation, with ICCROMICCROMом,ом, UNESCOUNESCO BRESCEBRESCE

TIEM MEP SEE, са ICCROMICCROM, , UNESCOUNESCOо,о, UNESCOUNESCO BRESCEBRESCE, , ICOMICOMом, ом, Getty Getty Conservtion Instiutete Conservtion Instiutete

TIEM MEP SEE

Academyc master program for Prevenition Conservatiom in Belgrade University with University Paris I - Sorbona

Academyc master program for Prevenition Conservatiom in Belgrade University with University Paris I - Sorbona

Academyc master program for Prevenition Conservatiom in Belgrade University with University Paris I - Sorbona

The new projects in CIK which will stating from 2009

• Education programmes and projects in preventive conservation;

• Education programmes and projects in curative conservation and restauration;

• Education programmes in archaeological conservation;

• Education programmes in menagment heritage;

• Programmes protection integible heritage• Academic programs of education in

protection heritage• Projects of integrative protection heritage• Research projects• Projects developement documentation

sistem in heritage protection• Programmes of publisching • Programmes of exibitions in heritage

protection

The new institution of protection in Serbiacomes from the tendency:• to define the protection of heritage as applied and

developing science;• to apply such definition in practice of preventive

conservation and conservation treatments through development of education and research in theoretical concepts and approaches;

• to apply such definition through system of documentation, presentation and marketing.

CIK is completely opened for strategic engagementand partnership of all professionals from the regionof South East Europe, Europe and beyond.