Turath Bel Arabi: Preserving Heritage in the Shadow of Conflict and Disaster

What are the challenges of preserving heritage in areas of conflict and disaster? What role does cultural heritage play at times of turmoil, and at times when identities and social narratives are threatened? More practically, what can be done to preserve cultural identity through heritage? How can resources be used most effectively when the challenges are significant and many?

The preservation of heritage in such contexts can take a multitude of forms, from physical interventions to using technology to record as much as possible, to the collection of community narratives.

Join this session for a discussion with three professionals work in the field of heritage in a wide range of contexts in the Arab world and beyond.

This session will be in Arabic.

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About the speakers:
Bachaar Taraby is a Lebanese architect based in Paris who specialises in the field of heritage. He graduated in Architecture and Heritage from the National School of Architecture of Paris Belleville in 2018, and since 2022 has held the position of Scientific Project Manager at ICONEM. In France, his training in photogrammetry at Parrot AirSupport allowed him to discover a new side of heritage and to work with ICONEM on monuments such as the Mont Saint-Michel. In Lebanon, after the 2020 Beirut explosion he collaborated with UNESCO and ICONEM to develop a photogrammetric survey of the affected area. His professional goal is to participate in projects that will allow him to acquire additional skills while deepening his knowledge in fields related to heritage and technology. Some of his recent work focuses on the heritage of Afghanistan between destruction and exploitation.

Amaar Al-Taee is an Iraqi archaeologist at the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage where he has worked since 2012. He holds a Master’s degree from Baghdad University in Archaeology and the Sumerian language and has long worked on Babylon. As part of his interest in this ancient civilisation and its archeological legacy, he has coordinated with the World Monuments Fund on workshops to explore scientific methods for the preparation of Babylonian mud bricks and plaster. Amaar’s current work involves the survey and documentation of major archaeological sites in Babil Province in conjunction with UCL’s Nahrein Network and continues to monitor projects as part of the Future of Babylon Project.

Waseem Albahri is a Project Manager at the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH) based in Switzerland. With many years of experience in heritage protection, he focuses on safeguarding cultural heritage affected by conflict and climate change. He has worked with Edinburgh World Heritage and the British Council’s Cultural Protection Fund across the UK, Middle East and Africa. Waseem is an architect specialised in conservation holding degrees from Syria and the University of Edinburgh in the UK.

The webinar will be held in Arabic and delivered in partnership with Barakat Trust and made possible through the generous support of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture’s Education Programme.