The Nantucket Historical Association is hosting a four-week international program on climate action for heritage conservation. The initiative features professionals from around the world focusing on restoration projects like the Whaling Museum’s Candle Factory North Wall. This collaborative effort seeks to address climate risks while fostering a global network of conservationists.
The Nantucket Historical Association (NHA) is delighted to announce the commencement of a four-week international program, titled “Climate Action for Sustainable Built Heritage Conservation and Management,” which brings together professionals from across the globe. This initiative aims to enhance conservation efforts, specifically focusing on the restoration of the Whaling Museum’s Candle Factory North Wall, essential for advancing Nantucket’s flood mitigation and resilience strategies. Niles Parker, the NHA Gosnell Executive Director, expressed enthusiasm for the launch of this program, which builds upon two years of collaborative efforts ignited by their inaugural symposium on climate change conservation held with the National Park Service in 2022. The recent eight-week evaluation program undertaken by students and professionals during the summer of 2023 has laid the groundwork for this subsequent initiative. Parker emphasized the importance of engaging expert partners such as ICCROM and ICR, as they actively pursue restoration projects designed to protect Nantucket’s historical structures from climate-related disasters. Out of nearly 200 applicants, 11 professionals from diverse countries—including Japan, Iraq, and Australia—were selected to participate in this course that runs from October 28 to November 22. Participants will evaluate climate risks to built heritage, develop adaptation strategies, and cultivate an international network of conservationists through lectures, practical workshops, and site visits. Glenn Boornazian from Integrated Conservation Resources, Inc. highlighted the need for site-specific data to effectively address climate threats to cultural heritage. This pressing need has driven the subsequent establishment of this program and the earlier initiative in 2023. In a noteworthy development, the NHA signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding with the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) in January 2024. This agreement formalizes their commitment to collaborative research and training projects aimed at improving global strategies for climate action in heritage conservation—an endeavor crucial for protecting Nantucket’s historical sites and disseminating knowledge through ICCROM’s extensive networks. Rohit Jigyasu, Ph.D., Programme Manager at ICCROM, expressed eagerness to collaborate with NHA and ICR on this innovative training course, which aims to bolster the capabilities of professionals worldwide in safeguarding built heritage against climate change implications. ICCROM, an intergovernmental organization based in Rome, serves a pivotal role in promoting cultural heritage conservation globally, with a mission to restore and protect cultural sites impacted by conflict and climate change. In summary, the NHA is embarking on a significant initiative that not only addresses the urgent need to conserve Nantucket’s heritage but also seeks to establish a framework for global cooperation in addressing ongoing climate challenges. The partnership with ICCROM and international participants reflects a unified effort to enhance resilience strategies while ensuring the preservation of invaluable cultural assets.
The Nantucket Historical Association (NHA) has undertaken a transformative initiative aimed at addressing the juxtaposition of climate change and cultural heritage conservation. In light of increasing climate-related risks, the NHA is hosting an international program that seeks to equip professionals with the necessary expertise to protect built heritage from these threats. The initiative also builds on previous collaborations, such as the symposium with the National Park Service and recent evaluations of NHA properties’ conditions, providing a comprehensive approach to sustainability and conservation.
The NHA’s international program represents a strategic response to the pressing challenges posed by climate change on cultural heritage. By convening professionals from various countries, the initiative aims to generate vital site-specific data and foster a collaborative network dedicated to heritage conservation. The partnership with ICCROM further strengthens this mission, assuring a comprehensive approach to safeguarding Nantucket’s historical sites and influencing global conservation strategies.
Original Source: nantucketcurrent.com
