Intl symposium on Kathmandu Valley heritage in November

UNESCO and Nepal National Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS Nepal) are organising an international symposium entitled “Revisiting Kathmandu. Safeguarding living urban heritage” from 25 to 29 November 25-29 in the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage property.

The symposium will discuss how to maintain the delicate balance between conserving what provides the historic city its intrinsic character and value and simultaneoulsy allowing for the change that is required for a city to sustain its social and economic vibrancy, according to the orgnaisers.

Kathmandu Valley boasts seven world heritage sites.

“The symposium takes place in a context where the understanding of heritage is changing to include not only monuments, but entire cities where people live, work,worship and celebrate festivals” says Axel Plathe, UNESCO Representative to Nepal.

“As values and aspirations of the society change, the urban spaces must adapt and respond to this change” says Kai Weise, President of ICOMOS Nepal.

During each of the four main days of the symposium, the participants will discuss the conservation of living urban heritage based on four themes and each day the venue will shift to a different monument zone of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage property.

In Lalitpur, the theme will be “Authenticity”, in Pashupati “Heritage Management”, in Bhaktapur “Community involvement” and in Kathmandu “Disaster Risk Reduction”.

Organisers believe that the symposium will contribute to the international discussion on how best to safeguarding living urban heritage taking into account theoretical understanding as well as practical approaches.

The organisers have called for papers with August 25 as deadline.

source: the himalayan times,26 June 2013