www.thecourieronline.co.uk Monday 2 November 2015 Issue 1318 Free
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Head of Arts and Cultures assigned top UNESCO role UNESCO establishes Chair in Cultural Property Protection and Peace Newcastle Professor Peter Stone officially appointed as Chairholder Role includes protecting cultural sites across the world
He also made the point that conflict takes not only a tragic loss of human life, but also “robs the world of its Newcastle University has been invited past” through the destruction and sale by UNESCO to establish the inaugural of historical artefacts. Cultural destrucChair in Cultural Property Protection tion disrupts the physical wellbeing and and Peace. The Chair will see the Uni- economic potential of affected commuversity leading the training and devel- nities. The post has been created in the face opment of new links and partnerships worldwide to help prevent the destruc- of “an almost unprecedented urgency tion of cultural property during conflict. to mitigate the destruction of cultural Professor Peter Stone, Head of the property,” Professor Stone said. Of the School of Arts and Cultures, will be ap- 1031 UNESCO World Heritage Sites pointed as Chairholder in January. As around the world, forty-eight are curpart of his work as UNESCO Chair- rently considered to be in danger. Sites holder, Professor Stone will work with at risk are not only in the Middle East governments and militaries interna- and Africa - Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City is curtionally, as well as the !"#$%&''$#()*$+&( rently considered to heritage sector and the be at risk owing to the public in order to “fosLiverpool ter a better understand- ,-'(,-.(&/*&+'01&( proposed Waters Project to renoing of the value of cul&/2&#0&+3&(0+( vate the docks of the tural property.” Professor Stone has 345*4#-5(2#$*&3*0$+( World Heritage Site into a new waterfront stressed that while con6$#5.60.&7 quarter. All projects, flict requires cultural regardless of location, property protection environmental disasters are also an on- are covered by the new Chair, Professor going problem. The Church of the Na- Stone. The role of the UNESCO Chair is tivity, the traditional location above the cave that marks the birthplace of Jesus, very relevant to peace. Professor Stone is under threat from water leaks, and the noted that while “we hope conflict Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan is under does not impact on Newcastle and the the continued perils of erosion, water UK,” the work of the Chair in promotinfiltration, floods and earthquakes, ing peace could involve working with such as the disaster that hit the Hindu World Heritage sites across the United Kush last week. The Chair’s work will Kingdom, notably the Frontiers of the continue the successes of projects such Roman Empire: Antonine and Hadas that at the Kyomizu Dera Temple of rian’s Wall. Part of the role of the Chair Kyoto in Japan, which has promoted is to promote the use of heritage sites to the transfer of traditional knowledge promote peace, and these sites are funof complex conservation procedures to damental to achieving this. Although it is unlikely that students protect the site.
By Francis Williams
Professor Peter Stone at Hadrian’s wall Image: Professor Peter Stone
will be able to get involved with the Chair’s activities this semester, as the project is still in development, it is anticipated that opportunities for interaction will increase in the New Year. For now, the establishment of the Chair will involve the development of training materials for the military. Professor Stone told The Courier that he “certainly hopes to be giving a Public Lecture, possibly in Semester 2 of this academic year.” University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chris Brink, was keen to stress the “world-leading expertise” that Newcastle University has to offer in cultural property protection. He stated: “With the benefit of Professor Stone’s knowl-
edge and expert guidance, this UNESCO Chair will play a critical role in protecting the world’s cultural heritage for future generations.” Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Ed Vaizey, emphasised the need to protect cultural property as being hugely important. “I welcome Professor Stone and Newcastle University to the role of the first UNESCO Chair to protect cultural heritage at risk of destruction,” Vaizey said. Launched in 1992, the UNESCO Chairs Programme promotes international inter-university cooperation and collaboration, combining human and material tools with the abilities of uni-
versities and research institutions. Current Chairs, in over 700 institutions in 126 countries, have forged strong links between academia, civil societies and local communities. The new Chair at Newcastle adds to this with a primary focus on cultural protection in times of conflict and environmental disaster. Professor Stone has had extensive experience in cultural protection worldwide, working as a specialist advisor to the government over protecting heritage in Iraq, in addition to Chairing the UK Committee for the Blue Shield, an organisation that promotes the protection of cultural property against threats of all kinds.