pr/conf: Revive Chettinad Campaign [UNESCO]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Press release and Invitation letter
Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2008 09:39:14 +0530
From: ndllibrary <nd.library@xxxxxxxxxx>


Please find attached Press Release 01/08, concerning forthcoming UNESCO 
Sponsored seminar on conservation and Management of Built heritage of 
Chettinad.

Also we would appreciate if you could forward the attached invitation 
letter for the inaugural and valedictory session.

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Conservation and management of the framed architectural main theme of 
the special seminar being organized under the “Revive Chettinad Campaign”

The conservation and management of the famed architectural heritage of 
the Chettinad region will be the core concern in a special seminar 
initiated by the “Revive Chettinad Campaign” under the aegis of the 
United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization 
(UNESCO), Anna University Chennai and the French School for 
Conservation, Ecole de Chaillot, Paris.  The seminar will be held at 
Anna University in Chennai from 21 to 23 January.

The seminar, entitled “Planning and Management of Built Heritage in 
Chettinad”, will bring together administrators and technical staff, 
planners, architects and other professionals active in the field of 
planning, protection, conservation and management of built heritage in 
India.

Nicole Bolomey, Programme Specialist for Culture at the UNESCO New Delhi 
office, explained, “Chettinad’s architectural heritage is unique, with 
beautiful homes built in the 19th century which are now under threat of 
being destroyed for ever. The UNESCO-led ‘Revive Chettinad Campaign’ 
with the support of the Chettiar Community, the Government of Tamil Nadu 
and the Government of France, as well as the active involvement of 
French NGO Architectural Heritage-Safeguard (ArcHe-S) and Anna 
University, has initiated many activities to put into practice the 
safeguard of this important heritage.”

The seminar represents a new step in international collaboration for the 
preservation of cultural heritage in India. Since September 2006, 
UNESCO’s “Network of Indian Cities of Living Heritage” has been bringing 
together national and international experts to support the cities of 
India in their planning and management efforts for the conservation and 
heritage-based development of their urban and rural centres.

The seminar in Chennai is organized jointly by Anna University and the 
Ecole de Chaillot with the support of UNESCO, the Government of Tamil 
Nadu, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France and ArcHe-S.

The seminar will gather experts on Tamil Nadu’s vernacular architecture, 
the heritage and culture of the Chettinad region, and planners and 
conservationists from India and France to share research, ideas and good 
practice.  It will be followed by a 10-day international student 
workshop in Chettinad to survey and develop planning ideas for two 
central, well preserved villages.  The seminar is open to any other 
people interested in the safeguarding of the Chettinad region and its 
valuable heritage.  For further information on registering for the 
seminar, contact Ms. Ranee Vedamuthu (rannev@xxxxxxxxxxxx), Head of the 
Department of Architecture at Anna University.