About
Ethiopian heritage conservation methods utilizes antique and traditional techniques for millennia, yet still effective to restore and conserve local heritages. The methods and the wisdom are still existing through generations, what lagged is the development and support for the government and international organizations. Most of the cultural heritages in Ethiopia are endanger of demolishing due to poor conservation practice and management. Therefore, a profound work has to be done to produce an apt Art and culture conservators in the country.
The presence of diversified cultural resources in the country, most importantly the availability of local artists, pottery, craftsman and parchment writers are keys for projects like art, culture preservation and conversation. Numerous writers and tourism experts have assured that Ethiopia has lots of cultural treasures, books, scrolls, parchment, pictures, and artefacts’, which simply kept inside its churches, not presented for tourists due to their vulnerability of being lost and theft. However, those treasures could easily be available to tourists if there is a mechanism to do (paint) their blue prints, symbols and resemblances by the local indigenous artisans and present them in one well organized Art gallery museum. This not only preserves the local art and culture, but will also help to extend the limited tourist length of stay in the country. Several artistic objects, treasures, relics, are in need of preservation.
Moreover, the project organizers have tried to make a pilot survey on the practice, challenges and opportunities of artists and craftsmanship in Lalibela and the nearby communities by employing semi-structured interviews and personal observations as methods of data gathering. Accordingly, they have been experiencing with several bottlenecks like; absence of advanced crafting and painting equipments, comfy gallery rooms, online art gallery presentations and shops to present their masterpieces. Especially those young contemporary artists were keenly eager if they could get professional trainings and supports for their future better performances.
Consequently this has discouraged others from pursuing the profession. This is what we got from our interviews to some of the artists and craftsmen in Ethiopia. In filling this gap, this project would play a great deal of capacity building, professional training, and scientific technical assistance to Ethiopian artisans, aiming to transform the antique art and cultural conservation methods.
Students will have to be available to come to Lalibela. A written application form will be provided and our aim is to work with university professionals to select suitable applicants. However, we support and welcome also local artists, craftsman, and artisans to our program. Therefore, we will open the application process to the Lalibela community in order to have a great collaboration with the cultural heritage sites.
instructors
Belay
Haileselassie
Ethiopia
Naomi
Meulemans
Belgium
Students and admission
The students that can participate in to the program are highly selected on their previous experience. We are looking to admit an overall selection of maximum 15 students and a minimum of 10 participants. In order to provide the best educational program and to learn from the pilot year, we would like to work with the same students consistently over a time framing of 1 year. The workshops will be assessed together with the students so that we can provide in 2022 a well operated program that answers the needs of the scholars.
Students will have to be available to come to Lalibela. A written application form will be provided and our aim is to work with university professionals to select suitable applicants. However, we support and welcome also local artists, craftsman, and artisans to our program. Therefore, we will open the application process to the Lalibela community in order to have a great collaboration with the cultural heritage sites.