albania project portfolio table of contents about chwb
3 Who we are / How we work 4 Where we work 5 Project results at a glance 6 Financial profile projects in albania category key 8 Antigonea Mosaic, Gjirokastra
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project Inclusive conservation
Created by Dolly Vu 9 Babameto House I, Gjirokastra from the Noun Project
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project 10 Babameto House II, Gjirokastra
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project Civic engagement 11 Building Design Guidelines
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project 12 Community Heritage Engagement Interpretation and Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project education 13 Dialogues for Spaç Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project 14 E Ka Kush E Ka children’s activity series Cross-border professional Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project learning and exchange
Created by Joe Harrison 15 From the Shepherd to the Artisan from the Noun Project Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project Gjirokastra: Where the Change Begins Created by Dolly Vu 16 from the Noun Project
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project
Created by Dolly Vu 17 Hammam (Turkish Bath), Kruja from the Noun Project
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project
Created by Dolly Vu Heritage Risk Assessment, Gjirokastra from the Noun Project 18
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project 19 Monument Owners Survey, Gjirokastra
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project 20 St. Nicholas Church, Voskopoja
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project 21 Tell the Story of Gjirokastra
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project 22 Textile Conservation, Gjirokastra
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project 23 Vocational Training
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project regional projects
24 7 Site Management Plans
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project 25 100 Roofs
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project 26 Balkan Museum Network Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project 27 Bridges to the Future (Stolac, BiH) Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project
Created by Dolly Vu 28 Make it Yours! from the Noun Project
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project 29 Regional Heritage Seminars
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project 30 Regional Restoration Camps
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project 31 Southeast European Heritage Network
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project 2 who we are
The foundation Cultural Heritage without Borders (CHwB) is an independent non-governmental organization dedicated to rescuing and preserving tangible and intangible cultural heritage affected by conflict, neglect or natural disasters. CHwB is neutral when it comes to conflicting parties because everyone has the right to enjoy cultural heritage. We consider heritage to be a testimony of our humanity, history and cultural identity – now and for the future.
CHwB promotes and is committed to equality, social justice, non-discrimination, participation, inclusion, intercultural dialogue, accountability and transparency. our vision is that everyone is able to exercise the right to enjoy, have access to and participate in cultural heritage. our mission is to promote cultural heritage as both a right in itself and a resource. how we work
CHwB relies on the competence of experienced, passionate and energetic national and international professionals educated in different fields, such as Anthropology, History, Architecture, Conservation, Urban Management and Planning, Economics, Finance, Sustainable Development, Law and Political Science, who form a multidisciplinary team determined to make a difference in the Balkans, and beyond.
CHwB works with heritage conservation and interpretation, community empowerment, education and museum development. We design and implement innovative strategies and manage various interventions on the ground, by using cultural heritage as an active force in peace building, promoting human rights and developing a sustainable socio-economic environment. This is achieved with a bottom-up approach, promoting both our partners’ and beneficiaries’ sense of ownership, as we believe development is sustainable only if it comes from within communities themselves.
Our partners are civil society organizations, cultural and education institutions, international development agencies, private sector organizations and governmental agencies on all levels. We work with all members of society without discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, political affiliation or physical, mental, emotional or learning ability.
3 where we work
CHwB Albania has offices in Tirana and Gjirokastra. Most of our projects are centered on or originate in Albania. However, we also have a regional component to our work, which integrates all of the Western Balkans.
croatia
serbia bosnia & Herzegovina
albania macedonia
4 our collaboration by the numbers project results at a glance
CULTURAL HERITAGE…
…AS A PLATFORM FOR EDUCATION
REGIONAL RESTORATION CAMPS 20 Regional Restoration Camps held in 4 different countries 566 participants from 25 countries, ~37,720 hours of hand on restoration 77+ small interventions conducted on historic monuments 20+ museum objects conserved
E KA KUSH E KA 6 Heritage Ateliers held 170 children and 30 staff participated in Heritage Ateliers 6 highly engaging games and booklets added to the collection
…AS A PLATFORM FOR STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT
RISK ASSESSMENT FOR LISTED MONUMENTS IN GJIROKASTRA 648 monuments surveyed
MONUMENT OWNERS SURVEY 253 owners surveyed in 8 historic neighborhoods of Gjirokastra
SITE MANAGEMENT PLANS IN THE WESTERN BALKANS 7 site management plans in 7 countries of the WB region 21 workshops held 150 stakeholders from across the region
…FOR DIALOGUE
DIALOGUES FOR SPAÇ 3 workshops held 29 participants 28 concrete steps developed in action plan
5 TELL THE STORY OF GJIROKASTRA 23 students from 4 high schools participated in poster competition 11 high school teachers trained on Culture Heritage topics 3 cultural Heritage Experts 4 local professionals involved
…FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CONSERVATION WORKS 1 complete restoration to be finalized within 2015 3 monuments saved through pioneering emergency interventions 2 full restorations completed in Gjirokastra 1 archaeological mosaic conserved
LOCAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP 2 business plans and 8 informative sessions with monument owners 3 out of 8 monument owners co-financed repairs on their monuments
€700,000 FROM SHEPHERD TO THE ARTISAN Other donors €600,000 20+ local craftswomen involved Swedish Government 2 communes involved €500,000 €400,000 €300,000 Turn-over (€) Turn-over growth / diversification of our financial€200,000 profile, 2012-15 €100,000 €0 The primary donor for CHwB has been the Swedish Government, through2012 the 2013Swedish2014 International2015 Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). For the past several years, however, CHwBYear Albania has been diversifying its funding sources, as indicated by the charts below. €700,000 Other donors €600,000 Swedish Government Year Turn-over €500,000From Swedish From other €700,000 €400,000 Other donors (in EUR) Government (%) donors (%) €300,000 €600,000 Swedish Government Turn-over (€) Turn-over 2010 121,492.23 €200,000 100 0 €500,000 €100,000 €400,000 2011 197,120.74 €0 100 0 2012 2013 2014 2015 €300,000
Year (€) Turn-over €200,000 2012 331,427.78 91 9 €100,000 2013 307,422.13 92 8 €0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2014 610,627.40 67 33 Year €700,000 2015 417,305.49 69 31 Other donors €600,000 Swedish Government €500,000 €400,000 6 €300,000
Turn-over (€) Turn-over €200,000 €100,000 €0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Year albania / regional project summaries category key
Interpretation and Inclusive conservation
Created by Dolly Vu education from the Noun Project
Cross-border professional Civic engagement learning and exchange
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project antigonea mosaic, gjirokastra Emergency archaeological conservation
June - December 2012
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project In partnership with: Institute for Monuments of Culture
Donor: Germany Embassy in Albania
Total funding: gjirokastra € 25.000
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project conservation and discovery in an ancient city
Discovered during archaeological excavations in 1974, the mosaic of Antigonea (5th – 6th Century AD) is one of the most important archaeological pieces of art in the Drino Valley – touted for its unique iconography. Today the mosaic stands as a central piece of the Prior to conservation, the mosaic floor had become Antigonea Archaeological Park, attracting tourists unstable, the underpinning mortar had disintegrated, from all over the world. and the loss of the entire mosaic was imminent. To save the mosaic, a team of national and international Works conducted: Removal of all panels; removal of the experts worked in close collaboration to stabilize degraded cement on the backside of the panels; creation and partly reconstruct the surrounding walls, level of a new foundation; elimination of living vegetation; the foundation of the mosaic floor, and replace repositioning the panels over a new layer of mortar. the component mosaic elements in their original positions. During the conservation, the original staircase to the ancient church was uncovered and reinstated as the main entrance to the site.
The interventions undertaken have once again made the mosaic accessible for researchers and visitors alike. What was formerly an overgrown cluster of stones has been turned into a coherent and recognizable site. While the mosaic is covered during the off-season to prevent weather damage, it may now remain open during the summer months.
8 babameto house i, gjirokastra Full restoration of a first category monument
April 2012 - March 2013
Created by Dolly Vu In partnership with: from the Noun Project Gjirokastra Conservation and Development Organization (GCDO)
Donors: Swedish Government Packard Humanities Institute gjirokastra Total funding: € 172.000
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project restoration & revitalization Gjirokastra’s old town – complementing other for the future important community buildings such as the mosque, amphitheatre and cinema. The building now operates Completely abandoned following the 1997 national as a tourist hostel and temporary residence for camp financial crisis, the grand Babameto house quickly participants during CHwB’s Regional Restoration fell into disrepair, eventually becoming a priority Camps (see page 27). Additionally, the surrounding for restoration. In 2004, the state invested in walls of the building are being reconstructed by the reconstruction of the roof and other ruined camp participants, providing practical, hands-on elements; however, the house remained in poor experience for architecture students and young condition until interventions were made by CHwB. professionals in traditional restoration practices in The primary aim of this project was the complete stonework. Today, the Babameto house stands as restoration of the monument and the eventual a model of sustainable practice in cultural heritage conversion of the space into a hostel and public management. facility (used for seminars and exhibitions). Works conducted: Restoration and conservation of As a main element of the central bazaar, the remaining elements, training of young specialists in restoration of the Babameto house has brought traditional materials and techniques, using heritage to renewed vitality to the commercial area of generate income for community.
9 babameto house ii, gjirokastra Full restoration of a second category monument
April 2011 - April 2012
Created by Dolly Vu In partnership with: from the Noun Project Gjirokastra Conservation and Development Organization (GCDO)
Donors: Swedish Government (€ 74.000) Packard Humanities Institute
Total funding: gjirokastra € 84.000
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project restoration & revitalization The dual aims of this restoration project were the for the future preservation of Gjirokastra’s built cultural heritage and the stimulation of the local economy. For many years, the category II Babameto house, once an iconic feature of the local bazaar, was left Today the building has been reincorporated as a public in complete ruins. By 2011, the roof had collapsed, space. For a period of nine months Babameto II was and most interior and exterior elements, such as used as a storefront and training centre – employing stairways, floors, and windows, were damaged. local women who made and sold handcrafted purses In addition, the ground floor had become a dump and other textiles using recycled and repurposed site for garbage, as well as a refuge for small materials such as plastic grocery bags. Future projects saplings and encroaching vines. To prevent the under the direction of the Gjirokastra Conservation complete destruction of the building, CHwB began and Development Organization (GCDO) (now interventions to restore this important monument. Gjirokastra Foundation) will focus on capacity building and providing employment opportunities for local residents. Babameto II continues to stand as a model for using cultural heritage as a social, economic, cultural and environmental resource.
Works conducted: Restoration and conservation of remaining elements, training of young specialists in traditional materials and techniques, using heritage to generate income for the community. 10 building design guidelines For Gjirokastra’s historic bazaar
May 2014 – present
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project In partnership with: Regional Dir. of National Culture – Gjirokastra Prefecture of Gjirokastra Municipality of Gjirokastra Institute for Monuments of Culture
Donors: Swedish Government gjirokastra German World Heritage Foundation
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project Many interventions, not only in buildings, but also in criteria and standards such interventions should follow signage and advertisements, technical installations and in order for the city to maintain – and indeed regain – public spaces, have contributed to a gradual loss of the its historic character. The purpose of this project is to historical integrity of the city of Gjirokastra. Gjirokastra elaborate such a legal document that will help to bring clearly needs a legal document, which regulates which back the lost integrity of the bazaar area and make sure that interventions will be done in accordance with the principles and standards of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.
The bazaar and its surrounding area stand out for their special architectural and functional characteristics. As the centre of the historical town and of the commercial area, the bazaar is one of the most visited areas in the city.
The Building Design Guidelines project began with detailed documentation of the bazaar, conducted through the collection of all graphic and technical materials from archives; it is continuing with the technical work of a group of specialists assigned by all the relevant institutions.
The project will engage all stakeholders, through informative sessions and workshops, and trainings will be organized for the staff of institutions that are going to use this document.
11 community heritage engagement Engaging locally with interpretation
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project April 2014 – present
Donor: Headley Trust
Total funding: £ 25.000 (GBP) gjirokastra
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project This project builds on the existing CHwB framework 1. Facilitating/encouraging active engagement from the of heritage interpretation and community engagement community in locations where the RRC are held through the Regional Restoration Camps (RRC, see page 2. Developing an interpretation resource base for local 27) to facilitate deeper engagement with and from the communities, to include both human resources and local community when it comes to sharing, preserving interpretation ideas and ‘toolkits’ and interpreting their heritage. Specifically, the project 3. Turning this local engagement into heritage has three main objectives: interpretation resources (story-led tour routes, children’s educational materials, etc.), whose production and delivery, is supported and led by members of the local community.
This project supports CHwB’s work with heritage interpretation on several levels. It supports the interpretation modules conducted during the RRC, where participants are introduced to both the theory and practice of interpretation. It has also supported the work of local CHwB staff on such projects in Gjirokastra as the survey of monument owners and several activities with high school students, including ‘Tell the Story of Gjirokastra’ and the high-school-led production of ‘The House of the Mad,’ a black comedy that highlights the plight of GJirokastra’s historic houses. The Headley project also works with interpretation in Kosovo through the Regional Restoration Camp in Mitrovica.
Finally, this project partially funds the “E Ka Kush E Ka” children’s activity collection, which aims to bring heritage education to young children in an exciting and accessible way.
12 dialogues for spaç Addressing communist-era heritage
April 2014 - present
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project In partnership with: Komuna Orosh Albanian Human Rights Project spaç
Donors: International Coalition of Sites of Conscience Swedish Government
Total funding: $ 10.000 (US)
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project sharing stories prison at Spaç. A series of three workshops focused on shaping the future (1) understanding the site, its history and its place in the popular conception today; (2) envisioning a mission Spaç prison is one of the most symbolic sites of and set of objectives for a future institution of memory persecution under the Communist regime, as well as (museum or otherwise) at Spaç; and (3) charting out a perhaps the site that is most present in the collective concrete set of actions to reach those goals. memory of Albanians. As such, the primary value of Spaç today is as a much-needed place of memory for The rising interest of tourists in Communist-era the crimes of the Communist regime —a physical heritage also has the potential to create much-needed space to ‘locate’ and address the traumas of that past, economic opportunity for the local community, which both for the former political prisoners who suffered is suffering from chronic poverty and steady emigration. there and for the rest of the Albanian people. Main results: functional, intergenerational, multidisciplinary Designed as a platform for mutual information, working group established, site documentation and coordination and co-decision, the Dialogues brought analysis conducted, priority actions for the restoration and together stakeholders from local government, national museification of the site identified. institutions, local residents, former prisoners and non- profit organizations to chart out a future for the former
13 e ka kush e ka E KA KUSH E KA cultural heritage for the grown-ups of Interactive learning about heritage tomorrow and the children of yesterday
E KA KUSH E KA Për fëmijë nga 3 deri në 5 vjeç Për fëmijë nga 6 deri në 11 vjeç trashëgimia kulturore për të rriturit e së E KA KUSH E KA nesërmes dhe fëmijët e së djeshmes No. 1 trashëgimia kulturore për të rriturit e së No. 2 nesërmes dhe fëmijët e së djeshmes Ky projekt financohet nga Bashkimi Europian 2013 - present
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project HAMAMI në Gjirokastër In partnership with: Një monument pranë ujit
gjirokastra_children_book_shqip_04122013.indd 1 12/14/13 7:24 PM gjirokastra_children_book_3yearsold_shqip_cover.indd 1 12/14/13 7:26 PM Xhubleta Anthropological Center
E KA KUSH E KA Për fëmijë nga 7 deri në 9 vjeç trashëgimia kulturore për të rriturit e së No. 4 nesërmes dhe fëmijët e së djeshmes Co-Plan Inst. for Habitat Development Mozaik Foundation kruja Veshja e lashtë e Të Bukurës së Maleve Tirana Donors: Swedish Govt.; European Union;
Për fëmijë nga 3 deri në 6 vjeç Headley Trust Nr. 5 gjirokastra XHUBLETA Veshja e Lashtë e Alpeve Shqiptare Total funding:
E KA KUSH E KA € 6.400 trashëgimia kulturore për të rriturit e së nesërmes dhe fëmijët e së djeshmes
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project cultural heritage for the The collection is also being used for the Heritage grown-ups of tomorrow and Ateliers. These activities are aimed at children in the children of yesterday kindergarten and primary schools. They combine classroom exercises with visits, hands-on and other fun The collection “E Ka Kush e Ka” seeks to include and engaging practical activities both for the children as children and adults in a series of books and games for their teachers and parents. through which they discover and rediscover cultural heritage as a bridge, linking us to the complexities of Main results: the world around us. Cultural heritage is not only about 6 highly engaging activities developed (activity booklets, learning facts; it is an ideal educational and entertaining puzzles and 3D models) support for learning about and exploring new things, > 2000 items produced other people and our society. It is an instrument that 6 Heritage Ateliers organized in 2014 in several cities in helps with self-reflection, skills and mental vivacity… a Albania path toward citizenship and mutual respect, where the 170 children attending search for meaning is foremost. 30 teachers/ educators/ parents involved
14 from the shepherd to the artisan Revitalizing wool processing in southern Albania
May – September 2014 + ongoing
Created by Dolly Vu In partnership with: from the Noun Project Centre for Int’l Migration & Development (CIM) Municipality of Lunxhëri Municipality of Antigone
Donors: Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation Australian Direct Aid Program gjirokastra Total funding: € 38.383
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project setting new standards with artisans used during the training and the production of traditional textiles felt and woven products.
This was the first project to revitalize wool processing The artisans of Gjirokastra were trained in felt in Albania. Wool has been one of the most important techniques, which they then applied for the creation non-food products in Albania for hundreds of years, of small animal figures. The artisans in Antigone, but it’s processing and use almost ended with the on the other hand, were trained in various weaving breakdown of communism and urban emigration. techniques for producing kilim and other products. Today most of the wool is thrown away while only a The sessions were labor intensive and included lots of limited quantity is saved for household use. experimentation with wool, colors and shapes. GjiroArt During the project, 250 Feltkilograms Makers/ of Shajakwool was punuese The result was a collection of about 200 products acquired from the shepherds of the mountains in the branded under the name of Woolline. At the website communes of Lunxhëri and Antigone. More than 20 www.woolline.com customers can view the product people and artisans were engaged in the collection of catalog and order online. Artisans then produce the Artizanet e Antigonesë Weavers/ Tezgjah punuese the wool, cleaning, carding, hand spinning and dying products on demand. Because of the quality and it with herbs and plants collected in the nearby hills. uniqueness of the product designs, this project has set This material served as the source of raw material that a new standard for the handicrafts industry in Albania.
15 gjirokastra: where the change begins Emergency interventions and awareness-raising
July 2014 - present
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project In partnership with: Regional Directorate for National Culture – Gjirokastra
Donor: Prince Claus Fund
Total funding: gjirokastra € 52.850
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project abandoned monuments wall in June 2013 and another partial collapse in January lost heritage 2014, the government Emergency Committee decided a new approach to destroy another part of the western facade, arguing that it posed a danger to passers by. The story of the Hadëri and Gurgai tower houses is sadly the story of many houses in Gjirokastra. Both “Gjirokastra: Where the Change Begins” is the these houses located in the historical centre were once first project to deal with ruined monuments in the monuments of great importance. Through the course historic centre of the city of Gjirokasra. This project of history many changes occurred, resulting in the last aims to stop the destruction of these monuments by inhabitants abandoning the monuments in recent years. consolidating and reinforcing them, while using them to raise awareness about the many monuments that Houses need to be lived in to be healthy. As they sat need urgent interventions. With this goal, a series unmaintained, the roofs began to leak. The roof damage of workshops involving local stakeholders will be in Gurgai monument resulted in the floors and ceilings organized. being ruined. The many interventions over the years and the ongoing deterioration of the inner structure Works conducted: Cleaning of debris; selecting reusable caused the partial collapse of the western facade wall. materials; reinforcing stone walls; reinforcing wooden floors; The Hadëri monument is facing a full collapse of the building temporary roof; reinforcing roof structure. roof and partial collapse of the walls. Following a fire in April 2012, the partial collapse of the west facade
16 hammam (turkish bath), kruja Full restoration of a category I monument
October 2012 - April 2015
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project In partnership with: Institute for Monuments of Culture The Past for the Future kruja Donor: Swedish Government
Total funding: € 64.000
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project restoration and tourism attraction, is an important step toward revitalization for the future developing a larger network of service-based heritage sites across Albania and the Balkans. FThe public bath has long been an important element of social life in this region. From Roman baths as places CHwB Albania’s objectives in this restoration and for meetings, exercise and exchange to Ottoman-style revitalization project included sustainably developing baths housing a space for chat, intrigue and political cultural heritage for income generation, by restoring discussions, they have both promoted a healthy recipe this monument to its original function. This restoration of cleanliness, relaxation, and socializing. Albania has promises renewed financial incentives for members inherited a number of baths from both the Roman and of the community, revitalization of the surrounding Ottoman Empires, including the 15th-century Ottoman neighborhood, increased tourism, and the beginning hammam found in the castle of Kruja. of a larger initiative focusing on building a national network of functional traditional hammams. In Kruja, the hammam was for many years a forgotten relic. The restoration of this monument of culture, Works conducted: Full restoration, development of a a key vestige of the local community and potential business plan for sustainable development of the hammam
17 heritage risk assessment Detailed survey of monuments in Gjirokastra
Created by Dolly Vu October 2014 from the Noun Project
In partnership with: Regional Directorate of National Culture (DRKK) – Gjirokastra
Donor: Swedish Government gjirokastra
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project Over the past 20 years, Gjirokastra has faced the CHwB saw that there was an urgent need to investigate deterioration of a large number of monuments. the current condition of the listed monuments, so as Working in the city since 2009 and walking daily on to have a full picture of the situation. Information is its cobblestone streets, we could see a lot of ruined, the key to better management. In any situation, policy- abandoned and unmaintained historic buildings. The makers, specialists and developers need to know the preservation of Gjirokastra’s cultural heritage is vital true situation of the town that they are dealing with. to the city’s economy. If the monuments continue to Therefore, CHwB, in collaboration with DRKK, has deteriorate and turn into ruins, the historic urban conducted a risk assessment evaluation for 655 listed landscape of Gjirokastra (one of its ‘outstanding buildings within the historical core of the city. The universal values’) is going to be irreversibly changed, results of this survey will be compiled in a statistical and the hope of eco-tourism as a source of economic report and GIS maps that will illustrate the level of benefits for its residents would be completely lost. risk of the monuments of Gjirokastra. This report will serve to alert the government about the critical situation facing the built heritage of the city and to assist them in defining conservation strategies according to the level of risk and to build an operational plan for interventions.
At the same time, CHwB is running a pilot project on emergency interventions on two monuments in the city. With this project, CHwB is taking a new approach: propping up monuments that are in danger of collapse, in order to prevent their further deterioration until a strategy can be formed and funds for restoration can be found.
18 monument owners survey Understanding Gjirokastra owners’ knowledge and beliefs
Created by Dolly Vu May – June 2014 from the Noun Project
In partnership with: Peace Corps Albania
Donors: Swedish Government Headley Trust gjirokastra
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project understanding owners to historical part of Gjirokastra, with a total of 253 change their approach monument owners surveyed. The questions addressed owners’ knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices in Facing the rapid loss of the authentic values of relation to cultural heritage and restoration. Gjirokastra’s built heritage and knowing that change can be achieved only with inclusive approaches, The survey team was comprised of CHwB staff, a US CHwB decided to start an awareness campaign. The Peace Corps volunteer and several young volunteers multidimensional approach to understanding the from Gjirokastra. Following a brief training, three teams, problem began with a survey focused on monument composed of one supervisor and two volunteers, were owners and their understanding of the values their each assigned to different neighborhoods. buildings have. The results of this survey will help us to conduct The survey covered eight neighborhoods in the community meetings and educational workshops, addressing the problems that the historic zone is facing. The more we understand about the intervention practices of monument owners, the more we will understand about why the authentic value of Gjirokastra’s built heritage is deteriorating so quickly. And, therefore, the quicker we will be able to reverse this trend. 19 st. nicholas church, voskopoja Emergency intervention
July - December 2012
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project In partnership with: The Past for the Future
Donor: Prince Claus Fund
Total funding: Voskopoja € 26.550
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project an ancient community intervention to repair the collapsed roof. The primary a natural disaster objectives of the project were threefold: i) improve a monument restored the structural state of the damaged roof; ii) engage local experts and craftsmen in the works; iii) establish During the winter of 2012, the community of guidelines for further maintenance. Voskopoja experienced record snow fall which caused the partial collapse of the roof of St. Nicholas Church. Today, St. Nicholas Church serves as the primary The church is the best and most complete of the church in Voskopoja – local people celebrate weekly five churches remaining in Voskopoja, and it is one Sunday worship services, weddings, funerals, and of the best examples of the 18th-century Orthodox the high festivals of Christmas and Easter. It stands ecclesiastical architecture in the country as well as the as a beautiful testament to three-hundred years of wider Balkan region. The church’s interior is adorned local history, including the recent period of religious with original frescoes, painted by the famous Albanian oppression and the people and places that survived it. painter David Selenicasi. The damage to the church roof left this important cultural artifact vulnerable to Works conducted: Partial restoration of east narthex wall; concurrent structural impairments including water restoration of narthex internal walls & vaults; installing leakage and ceiling cracks. To address the damage metallic ties for stability; filling cracks on critical parts of to this important site, CHwB made an emergency exterior.
20 tell the story of gjirokastra Involving students in heritage interpretation
September – December 2014
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project In partnership with: Peace Corps Albania Regional Directorate of Education & Youth “Fato Berberi” Cultural Center
Donors: USAID; Swedish Govt; Headley Trust
Total funding: gjirokastra $ 5.500 (US)
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project the young generation tells monuments. the story of the city Winning posters of the 23 high school students were Tell the Story of Gjirokastra (TSG) is a cultural heritage announced and recognized by a panel of judges at a interpretation project designed to increase the level final award ceremony. They then traveled through of awareness of Gjirokastra’s residents about the exhibitions in different Gjirokastra schools, as well as in condition and intrinsic value of their cultural heritage the city of Berat, which is another World Heritage city and to encourage their participation in its preservation that faces many of the same problems as Gjirokastra. and conservation. The project aimed to address the worsening problem of the wide and rapid deterioration of Gjirokastra’s heritage through greater public awareness and active participation in public dialogue.
The keystone of this project was a poster competition for high school students which would engage participants in the process of researching and interpreting their cultural heritage through the medium of art. Student submissions were well researched and supported by regular information sessions, meetings with cultural heritage experts, and key community members including teachers and owners of historic
21 textile conservation Regional training held in Gjirokastra
Created by Dolly Vu April 2014 from the Noun Project
Heritage Without Borders (UK) In partnership with CHwB
Donor: The Clothworkers Foundation
Total funding: £ 14.000 (UK) gjirokastra
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project training conservators conserve and interpret a unique collection of textiles saving a neglected collection currently housed in the Gjirokastra Ethnographic Museum. During the training, they also provided Heritage Without Borders (UK) collaborated with support for the museum’s collection needs. CHwB to run a 10-day textile conservation training course for regional museum professionals in Gjirokastra, There were 12 regional participants from Albania, southern Albania, in April 2014. Serbia, Kosovo and Macedonia.
Since the fall of the communist regime in Albania in The following primary aims were achieved: the early 1990s, museums were almost completely - Identified/improved traditional regional textile skills; abandoned, and many of the collections were lost, - Enhanced regional skills in preventative textile damaged or in a poor state of conservation. The same conservation and display; fate followed with the development of professional - Identified the main risks and approaches for improving skills for the people working in museums. This course storage and display of costume and textiles in the helped local heritage professionals from the region to Ethnographic Museum; - Engaged local craftswomen; - Explored possible ways of displaying and interpreting historic costumes and textiles.
22 vocational training A certified training and job program for craftspeople
Seeking funding Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project
In partnership with: Regional Directorate of Public Vocational Training Min. of Social Welfare & Youth Min. of Culture gjirokastra (pending)
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project Traditional crafts are vanishing day after day. need for them in historic cities across Albania, there Experienced craftspeople find it impossible to enter is no formalized means of recognizing them and the restoration market, which is monopolized by the incorporating them into the market, which results in licensed construction companies, while legislation is lack of employment opportunities. missing that would acknowledge their skills and permit them to work privately. Young people do not see any This projects aims to develop vocational trainings for future of employment in this field. Furthermore, the traditional crafts. Given the current situation, where lack of documentation on these crafts and techniques traditional crafts are vanishing because they have is contributing to the loss of this knowledge. This is not been transferred to the younger generation, happening because the market does not consider the necessity of this type of training becomes clear. craftspeople important. Though there is great Certifying experienced masters and young craftspeople will create a group of people who are physically and legally able to conduct restoration works. The aim of this project is to force by law their integration into the restoration construction firms, as well as to enable their self-employment. The amended law would serve as a guarantee for future employment, which would attract younger trainees. Their involvement in these trainings, and their eventual certification and licensing, will lower the unemployment rate.
Steps to be taken: Identification of the crafts and craftspeople; Documenting and interpreting the historical crafts; Creating the curricula; Licensing the craftspeople for small restoration works; Creating conditions for continuous employment; Changing the law for construction companies licensed in restoration to hire qualified craftsmen – in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth and the Ministry of Culture.
23 7 site management plans Heritage management & cross-border cooperation
July – October 2014 Roman city
Created by Dolly Vu of Siscia from the Noun Project In partnership with: Europa Nostra Serbia Expeditio: Center for Sustainable Spatial Development Caričin Grad National (Iustiniana Co-Plan: Institute for Habitat Library Prima) Development (City Hall), Sarajevo Gazi Mehmed Donor: Besac Fortress, Pasha Virpazar Hammam, European Union Prizren
apollonia, fier Total funding: Heraclea Lyncestis, € 93.500 Bitola
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project management plans for sustainable heritage sites in the western balkans region
The core of the project was to establish and implement a common methodology, while taking into account all the differences in nature, characteristics and conditions of individual sites, as well as the differences in local and national socio-political, legal, cultural and economic contexts in which the sites are situated.
These results are far more important than the completion of the 7 Management Plans for sites in Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. The project also contributed in strengthening the ties among heritage- related practices and professionals, thus bringing long- divided communities closer together, while providing a set of pioneering management tools for heritage sites in the Balkans. framework of the Ljubljana Process II. The project was financed by the European Union through the Regional Cooperation Council Task Force Results: 7 Site management plans in 7 countries of the on Culture and Society (RCCTFCS), Montenegro and Western Balkans developed, 160 Local and national it serves the program “Sustaining the Rehabilitation of stakeholders engaged, 21 Learning workshops implemented, Cultural Heritage in the Western Balkans” within the 17 National experts engaged
24 100 roofs Preventive conservation of vernacular heritage in Serbia
2006 - present serbia
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project In partnership with: Republic Institute for Protection of Monuments of Culture, Belgrade
Donors: Swedish Govt.; Serbian Govt.
Total funding c. € 250.000
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project The 100 Roofs project started as an initiative to preserve the vernacular monuments of Serbia by providing roof covering as a stabilization measure. After the works were finalized on 7 such monuments, the project was enlarged to include training activities for young professionals, using the sites of ongoing conservation for the training initiatives of the Regional Restoration Camps (see page 27). Using this approach, 13 vernacular monuments were either fully or partially restored, all across Serbia.
For the moment the focus of the project is on the wine cellar complexes of Negotin, which are on the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage recognition. These wine cellars and the 100 Roofs project is used as a field for training young professionals and engaging the local community, in conjunction with the Regional Restoration Camps being held in Rogljevo, Negotin. It foresees the restoration of another 3 vernacular monuments in the near future, and the ambitious title indicates the plan to restore many more roofs in the years to come.
25 balkan museum network A regional learning and development platform
2006 - present
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project In partnership with: CHwB Bosnia & Herzegovina CHwB Kosovo
Donors: Swedish Government Stavros Niarchos Foundation Swedish Institute
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project smarter, stronger, better has established a wider platform for collaboration and together exchange available to all museums across the Western Balkans. The Network is now open to all museums The museum network was established in April 2006 by from region and includes more than 30 member museum directors and key staff from eleven museums institutions. in the Western Balkans region, facilitated by CHwB. This project is based on strengthening the contacts and collaboration between museums in the Western Balkans. It aims to enhance cultural understanding, develop staff competence, facilitate exchange of ideas and exhibitions and make the museums more inviting to the public. Several workshops and seminars, including 3 large regional museum conferences called “Meet, See, Do,” have been organized on a wide variety of topics, such as museum management, strategic planning, exhibitions, communication, conservation and education. A series of major projects around access for A bit more about the BMN disabled people has lead to improvements in museum access. 30+ member institutions and growing 6 Balkan countries
At the same time, it was also determined that a special network for female museum directors was required in order to address the specificA bit needs more of aboutthis group. the BMN Therefore, the Women’s International Leadership Development (WILD) programmemember was launched institutions in and growing Balkan countries 30+ 20066 BMN established in Uppsala, Sweden 2012 and professional development workshops for women from six Balkan countries are held several times 2011 11 museums from 6 countries organize a year. Following the success of the ‘1+1:Life & Love’ the joint exhibition ‘1+1, Life & Love’ simultaneous exhibition, the Balkan Museum Network 2013 First regional conference ‘Meet, See, Do’ held in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina 26 2006 BMN established in Uppsala, Sweden 2014 BMN launched as an independent NGO in Tirana, Albania at the second regional conference ‘Meet, See, Do’ 2011 11 museums from 6 countries organize the joint exhibition ‘1+1, Life & Love’ 2015 Third regional conference ‘Meet, See (critically), Do’ to be held in Novi Sad, Serbia 2013 First regional conference ‘Meet, See, Do’ held in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina 9 museum professionals 16 museum projects 2014 BMN launched as an independenton NGO the Steeringin Tirana, BoardAlbania granted and managed at the second regional conference ‘Meet, See, Do’
2015 Third regional conference ‘Meet, See (critically), Do’ to be held in Novi Sad, Serbia
9 museum professionals 16 museum projects on the Steering Board granted and managed bridges to the future Conservation, Science, Technology & Education in Stolac
Nov 2012 - Jan 2014
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project In partnership with: CHwB Bosnia & Herzegovina Foundation Tecnalia – Research & Innovation, Spain Association of Artist Deblokada, Bosnia & Herzegovina Tourist Association Stari Grad, Bosnia & Herzegovina stolac Donors: European Union
Total funding € 199.969
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project community partnership, heritage and new technology for a better future
This project worked with a variety of partners and stakeholders to create a shared vision for heritage in Stolac, Bosnia & Herzegovina, a historic city that was mostly destroyed during by war in the 1990s. Together, project partners developed an innovative, digital model in the form of augmented reality application. The model was developed through educational activities carried out during the project and is serving to rehabilitate the image of the historic town of Stolac. Through the project activities, we aimed to increase the professional capacities in conservation/restoration and create a notion of cultural understanding. Different target groups have engaged in mapping, imaging and viewing similar cultural heritage examples in the wider region of Stolac, encouraging participation in utilizing heritage as a potential source of social-economic development. Through educational workshops, primarily the Regional Restoration Camps (see page 27), a network of young professionals from all parts of BiH and the region has been created. The project connected tour operators and local actors in the area and has encouraged new generations to be promoters and guardians of cultural heritage.
27 Make it yours! make it yours! Public awareness campaign for heritage
Created by Dolly Vu 2012 - present from the Noun Project
In partnership with: CHwB Kosovo sarajevo CHwB BiH junik Donors: Swedish Government; Tirana (pending) European Union; USAID gjirokastra
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project heritage is for everyone As the ‘Make it yours!’ campaign continues to expand and develop, future events will include activities with The main goals of ‘Make it Yours!’ are to increase schoolchildren, opportunities for politicians to take a Albanians’ awareness of and involvement with their hand in the restoration process, continued engagement heritage and to advocate for politicians and public with local and national media and awareness-building interest groups to take heritage into consideration. events to encourage the community to invest in Launched in Albania in March 2012, the campaign has preserving their local heritage. now been adopted by the CHwB offices in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well.
Local heritage is an essential piece of human identity, and a society’s active engagement with heritage is one sign of a dynamic and evolving culture. Therefore, ‘Make it yours!’ encourages everyone, from specialists to media to politicians to everyday people, to take an active role in using, preserving and promoting their heritage. In Albanian, the phrase ‘Bëje tënden!’ (written ‘Bone tanden!’ in Kosovo and ‘Učini svojim!’ in Bosnia and Herzegovina) captures both the idea that people across the spectrum of society should take personal responsibility for their heritage and the idea that they need to do their part to conserve and advocate their heritage, in order to ensure that it remains a source of pride and inspiration for generations to come. 28 regional heritage seminars An exchange platform for Balkan heritage professionals
2012 – 2014
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project In partnership with: Co-Plan – Institute for Habitat Development, Albania jajce Mozaik Foundation, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Donors: Swedish Government prizren European Union
Total funding: gjirokastra € 45.000
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project professional networking conviction that heritage can make a difference. cross-border cooperation inspiring conversation Main results: more than 150 participants and speakers from the Westerns Balkans and other regions of the world, As part of the regional project “Western Balkans 1 set of publications in three languages produced, a soon- – From Historical Integration to Contemporary to-be-structured digital network of the Balkan’s heritage Active Participation”, the Regional Heritage Seminar professionals. series was aimed at using cultural heritage as a platform for professionals, proving conditions for reconciliation as a prerequisite for peace and democracy with respect to human rights, as well as to stimulate local economic growth through cultural heritage.
The seminars were held in Gjirokastra, Prizren and Jajce, cities that managed to maintain through the ages great values of heritage and cultural diversity. They brought together international and regional experts, projects and individuals from a range of backgrounds. They turned out to be creative, positive and inspiring events that helped explore connections between people and heritage. Common ground was found in the way that stories and emotions unite us all – across time and place in the
29 regional restoration camps Training & cultural exchange program
September 2007 - present
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project In partnership with: Min. of Culture in Albania, Kosovo and Serbia rogljevo Multiple cultural directorates and institutes jajce State & private universities in Albania mitrovica Many other civil society organizations stolac
Donors: Swedish Govt; European Union; Adventures in Preservation prizren
Total funding: c. € 20.000 per camp gjirokastra
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project The Regional Restoration Camps represent a simple, Nostra Award in the category of “Education, Training successful, scalable training model, which has grown and Awareness Raising”. since 2007 from a few students in Albania to multiple sessions in four countries, with a diverse array of As of August 2015, CHwB has held 22 Camps in 6 participants. The Camps form part of a region-wide locations across the Western Balkans. A total of 607 push to encourage people to value and care for their participants, representing 25 countries, have completed local heritage. The main objective is to use cultural more than 83 small conservation and restoration heritage as a platform for professionals, both men and interventions for a total of more than 40,020 hours women, to meet and create conditions for building of hands-on work. Three additional Camps will be peace within a democratic society, respecting human conducted in September/October 2015. rights, and stimulating local economic growth through the development of cultural heritage.
Over the course of each Camp, participants follow a rigorous but fulfilling schedule, combining theory – through engaging lectures and presentations – with hands-on restoration work on historic monuments and museum collections in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo or Serbia. Each intervention directly helps local residents – using traditional materials and techniques to conserve their valuable buildings and artefacts and providing a new means of understanding, enjoying and revitalizing them.
Today, CHwB’s Regional Restoration Camps have become a keystone for bridging cultural differences throughout the Balkans and have earned the organization a respected reputation in the fields of restoration and cultural heritage. In 2014, the Camps won an EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa
30 see heritage network An independent heritage NGO network
2006 - present
Created by Dolly Vu from the Noun Project In partnership with: CHwB Kosovo CHwB Bosnia & Herzegovina
Donors: Swedish Government; Headley Trust; Butrint Foundation; Soros Foundation
Total funding c. € 250.000
Created by Joe Harrison from the Noun Project tackling balkan heritage challenges together
Cultural Heritage without Borders has initiated and further supported the creation of a regional platform for nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) dealing with the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage across South East Europe (SEE). Initially, twelve partner NGOs from the region (including Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) expressed their willingness to meet and to exchange views and experiences with their colleagues.
Today, the network numbers 24 NGOs from across SEE (including Romania and Croatia). The SEE Heritage network gathers all those willing to contribute to protecting and promoting South East European heritage as a part of the common heritage of Europe and the world. The vision of the network is: South East Europe (SEE) – a region where people cooperate, understand and respect each other on the basis of their cultural differences, believing that cultural, ethnic and religious diversity is a valuable resource.
31 albania chwb.org/albania Rr. Ismail Qemali P. 34/I, Kt. III, Zr. 15 Tirana
We restore and build relations
Cover photo © Anduena Dragovi Design, texts, project photos © CHwB 2015 “Glove” icon © Dolly Vu; “Light bulb” icon © Joe Harrison from thenounproject.com