The 'Heritage Now' will continue from October 20 to 22 at the Alhamra Arts Council, Lahore. The festival will bring together professionals from Pakistan and various other countries to discuss pressing issues facing the museums and heritage sector in Pakistan through conversation, performances and art.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, Country Director British Council Rosemary Hilhorst, Director General WCLA Kamran Lashari, Country Director UNESCO Vibeke Jensen, EU ambassador Jean Francois and Dr Sophie Makariou, President of the National Museum of Asian Arts - Guimet in Paris (France).
Heritage now includes panel discussions, exhibitions, crafts and performances, and art-based activities for children - providing an opportunity for people of all ages and interests to interact with our tangible and intangible heritage. The festival also includes academic paper presentations from Pakistani and international experts as part of the International Conference on Archaeological Heritage of Pakistan organized by HEC.
Heritage Now is supported by U.S. Embassy Pakistan, European Union, University of the Punjab, Alhamra Arts Council Lahore, Luxus Grand Hotel, Alliance française Lahore and AFD. Its curating partners include ASSITEJ Pakistan, Morango, SAMAAJ, Social Innovation Lab and The Little Art.
"Heritage is an important part of any nation's identity. Celebrating what we have, and thinking about what we want it to mean in the future is central to this event," said Rosemary Hilhorst. "The British Council is celebrating 70 years of working with the people and institutions of Pakistan and Heritage. Now is a perfect manifestation of this. As a sign of our commitment to the country's rich cultural heritage, we have worked closely and ambitiously with our local and international partners, to bring you this wonderful festival.
The driving idea is to engage local audiences in a discourse on heritage with all its manifestations, and celebrate the rich cultural and historical identity of Pakistan. With several heritage sites under threat due to violent spates in Pakistan and insufficient conservation knowledge, there is increased interest in digitizing heritage. Pakistan also has a great opportunity to harness its rich history and diversity to increase heritage tourism in the country, boosting the economy as a result. "It is important to recognize that culture and education are intricately linked- an appreciation for cultural diversity is essential to providing high-quality education and to promote lifelong learning. The sustainable development agenda requires an interdisciplinary approach; and it is only through developing partnerships among a variety of stakeholders that will make the delivery of this agenda possible" -Vibeke Jensen, Representative/Director, UNESCO."Pakistan is blessed to have a rich heritage of archaeological sites like Harappa, Moen jo Daro, Taxila Ranigat, and a great history of diverse cultures. I hope that this conference will be beneficial for national and international archaeologists, historians, researchers, students as well as the public in general. The event will generate need to further explore the hidden archaeological treasures through individual and institutional efforts," said Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman, HEC Pakistan.
"The French contribution to archaeology and heritage in Pakistan started in the 19th century with the documentation of Takht-e-Bahi by the French general August Court," said Dr Sophie Makariou, President of the National Museum of Asian Arts - Guimet in Paris (France). "A long succession of French archaeologists followed, from Alfred Foucher who conceptualized Gandhara, to Jean-Marie Casal, Jean-François and Catherine Jarrige and Rolland Besenval, who excavated for more than 60 years in Balochistan. Even today, a French team of archaeologist is excavating in Chanu Darho, Sindh." She added.
Last year, British Council and Walled City Lahore Authority hosted the first International Heritage and Museums Conference (IHMC) which brought together museum and Heritage professionals from UK and Pakistan to discuss examples of best practices in the sector.
Kamran Lashari, Director General, WCLA said, "This is an interesting activity and will bring together professionals in heritage and culture from all over the world and Pakistan. This is a great source of information for the students and heritage lovers and experts.
It has strategically evolved this year to "Heritage Now", a platform that includes tangible and intangible heritage, and the programme consists of components such as panel discussions, presentations, exhibitions and performances. This is aimed at engaging a larger audience from museum professionals to art enthusiast to young children.
Discussion topics during the two days include heritage and education, audience development, sustainable tourism, digitizing heritage and sector collaborations among others. See our Facebook event page (http://bit.ly/2xUntcJ) for more details.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017