French Ambassador to Nepal Yves Carmona and UNESCO country representative Christian Manhart signed and exchanged agreement for grant assistance for organizing conservation workshop amid a function at the French Residence.
The French Ministry of Culture has provided a grant of Euros 10,500.00 to UNESCO/Kathmandu in view of organizing conservation workshop for Nepali art objects.
According to a press release issued by French Embassy Kathmandu, this grant from the French Ministry of Culture will allow UNESCO to invite art conservators from France to provide training to Nepali experts.
This will take place in 2017-18, in close collaboration and under the auspices of the Department of Archaeology (DoA). The workshop is planned to take place at the National Museum (Chhauni, Kathmandu) or at the Patan Museum, depending on objects selected for conservation by the DoA. The outcome will be the conservation of the selected objects and capacity building of national experts.
Objects that will benefit from this workshop are stone sculptures located at Tashi Gomang Stupa in Swyambhu, and stone sculptures and wooden sculptures and paintings located at National Museum. This project also targets the local communities/guthis that often keep precious objects. Selected ones will participate in conserving their communities’ artefacts.
“We are gathered tonight to celebrate the signing of a grant from the French Ministry of Culture to UNESCO/NEPAL for the conservation of Nepali art objects. But I can't enjoy that auspicious event with a light heart, since a very important guest is missing, Madame Dina Bangdel who should have been with us. Her demise is a huge loss for Nepal and France, and overall for all defenders of heritage conservation and promotion. Let us have a thought for her and hope that the funding we celebrate tonight will be fully associated to her memory,” said ambassador Yves Carmona addressing the program.
“The rehabilitation project will rely on the long-lasting experience France has earned from its past conservation projects. The primary beneficiaries of the Art Conservation Workshop will be national professionals from the Department of Archaeology, relevant national institutions, and local community groups.
The main partners/stakeholders for this project are the Department of Archaeology and the National Museum,” said ambassador.
“More than ever, Unesco needs to confirm its mandate and role as a global intellectual and moral watchman. Therefore, France will support the candidacy of Ms Audrey Azoulayfor the position of UNESCO Director-General. As a former French Minister of Culture and Communication, MsAzoulay has already voiced concerns on the conservation of threatened cultural heritage and has shown a strong involvement in favor of global cultural policies. MsAzoulay is determined to carry out the change that UNESCO needs to meet the challenges of our time including access for all to the tools of culture and knowledge, promotion of sustainable development policies and conservation of cultural legacies,” said French Ambassador Yves Carmona.
UNESCO country representative Christian Manhart said that this grant has immense importance in conservation of culture in Nepal.
French Ambassador Yves Carmona hosted a reception at his Residence to celebrate this occasion.