• Address:

    Institute of Restoration and Conservation Techniques, Litomyšl

  • Client:

    Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

  • Description of the works:

    Training courses in heritage conservation

  • Realization:

    2004 and 2005

Within the framework of the Czech Republic's government assistance program, GEMA ART organized two training courses in monument conservation in the Czech Republic in 2004 and 2005 for staff of the Iraqi National Library and Archive and the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage.

During the ceremonial opening of the government assistance program, the Iraqi restorers were received by Cyril Svoboda, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. The first training cycle in the Czech Republic took place at the Institute of Restoration and Conservation Techniques in Litomyšl from October to December 2004. The curriculum of the first cycle included an introduction to general theory and basic theoretical knowledge in the fields of paper and bookbinding, painting and sculpture. The next part of the cycle was devoted to acquiring basic practical skills in the aforementioned areas. The training programs were specifically focused on problems that the Iraqi side had to solve, such as drying frozen archival materials. The second course, attended by monument care workers from the Iraqi Kurdistan region, took place in the Czech Republic from October to November 2005. In the mirror chapel of the National Library in Prague, all participants ceremoniously received certificates of completion of the courses.