AECID Promotes Heritage with Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

AECID Partners with Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to Promote the Dissemination of Archaeological Heritage

Committed to the development of the Egyptian cultural sector, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) organized a two-day training workshop with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities last November. Within the framework of ACERCA program, the aim of the workshop was to develop the capacities of public administration personnel in the field of archaeological heritage dissemination, based on presentations by Spanish experts.

On the first day, Dr. Hisham El-Leithy, Undersecretary of State for the Documentation of Egyptian Antiquities at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, opened the workshop with welcoming remarks.

Professor Miriam Seco, director of the Temple of Thutmose III project and professor at the University of Seville, then presented her work and stressed the importance of documenting and disseminating the different phases of the process.

The first day also saw a presentation and hands-on activity from Professor Asunción Jodar, professor at the University of Granada, who introduced participants to drawing as a mode of research. She used examples from her work at the temple of Edfu to illustrate how artistic methods can be used both to conserve archaeological heritage and to disseminate knowledge. She asked the participants to draw figures from the temple of Edfu. To close the first day, Professor Ricardo Marín, professor at the University of Granada, presented the work of his colleague Renato Chávez on the application of contemporary artistic technologies for the restoration and conservation of pharaonic temples.

On the second day, the workshop resumed with a presentation by Professor Eduardo Ferrer, professor at the University of Seville, on the scientific methods of producing and publishing academic knowledge. He stressed the need to maintain the accessibility of language and content to ensure wider dissemination. Professor Miñarro then returned to the case study begun the previous day. In this session, the participants reinforced their knowledge of the methods of graphic reconstitution and interpretation of heritage. Finally, after a few words from Ms. Eva Suarez, General Coordinator of

AECID in Egypt, and Dr. El-Leithy, the speakers and participants reflected on the results of the workshop.

This workshop was made possible by the ACERCA Program for development in the cultural sector.

ACERCA is committed to developing the professional and artistic capacities of cultural actors from both public and private institutions, and fostering environments for cooperation and cultural exchange.

Created by the Spanish Cooperation in 2005 to implement the first line of the Culture and Development Strategy: the Formation of Human Capital in the Field of Culture, ACERCA works to strengthen institutions and consolidate cultural public policies through the development of specific training programs and workshops that respond to partner needs without losing sight of the creative process which is at the foundation of cultural development.

Watch the video to learn more about the workshop: https://www.facebook.com/watch/? v=366597972508591