Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Today kicks off the 2023 edition of CollAsia, a 20-year strong regional initiative of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM). This year’s edition of the collections-focused programme is focused on scientific principles of collections care and takes place from 18 September to 6 October in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

CollAsia 2023 is implemented in collaboration with the National Museum of Tajikistan and the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Korea (NRICH), with continued generous support from the Cultural Heritage Administration of the Republic of Korea (CHA).

This year’s CollAsia course is a momentous occasion for ICCROM, as it marks the organization’s inaugural initiative in Tajikistan, its newest Member State (2022), and the first-ever course in Central Asia, a region where ICCROM is striving to make a lasting impact by championing the preservation of its rich and diverse cultural heritage.

CollAsia was conceived in 2003 as a capacity-building programme to empower practitioners and collections-based organizations in Southeast Asia and beyond. It focuses on continuous professional development activities that enhance the conservation conditions for collections. Through CollAsia, ICCROM has conducted numerous courses across Asia tailored to address specific needs in collections care.

This year, 15 heritage practitioners from around the world will gather in the capital of Tajikistan to learn the essential knowledge needed to understand the underlying principles of key deterioration phenomena that threaten heritage collections. Effective conservation decisions are contingent upon this understanding. Collections caretakers will learn to devise meaningful preventive and reactive measures to manage risks while optimizing the use of limited resources. This includes research into locally available materials and solutions, fostering innovation and sustainability. The advanced training includes interactive lectures, engaging practical sessions including group work, hands-on exercises, and study visits. The host institution for this course, the National Museum of Tajikistan, provides an ideal setting for this three-week professional training. Established in 1934, the National Museum of Tajikistan houses the largest collection in the country, featuring a remarkable assemblage of more than 50,000 items that showcase the nation’s diverse cultural heritage and a fascinating array of natural artefacts.

Webber Ndoro, Director-General of ICCROM, expressed his optimism for the course: "We hope that this course will mark the beginning of ICCROM’s enduring journey in Central Asia, in partnership with the custodians of this region’s heritage. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partners and the National Museum of Tajikistan for hosting this milestone course. We are delighted to once again welcome Tajikistan’s heritage practitioners into our ICCROM family."