Worldwide the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the cultural heritage sector. A cross section of professionals came together to raise important questions which need to be considered for exploring way forward in a webinar titled "Heritage at Cross Roads: Shared Responsibilities". The program was live streamed in the facebook page of the event partner Alliance francaise du Bengale (https://www.facebook.com/bengale.afindia/videos/3741446789260590/) and reached out to 3000+ people.
Anjan Mitra, Architect and Urban Designer champions Responsible Design and Planning Practices which revitalise social connects of built environment. His search for responsible architecture and urban design in the Indian context began through “The Appropriate Alternative”. In his presentation 'Retrofitting heritage : Responsible Development', he shared examples from Bishnupur and called for adopting more responsible, integrated and inclusive ways for conservation of tangible and intangible heritage.
Dr. Arjun Mukerji is an architect and urban planner, and currently works as Assistant Professor at the Department of Architecture and Regional Regional Planning, IIT Kharagpur. Sukrit Sen is an architect by profession, musician by passion and a Masters student at Centre for Heritage Management, Ahmedabad University. Arjun and Sukrit shared on how digital technology can be an enabler and at the same time pose new challenges in terms of community rights in a presentation titled 'Virtual Heritage'. Examples were shared on how musicians are using technology for presenting music. Challenges in terms of IP rights were discussed. The importance of using digital technology for dissemination as well as capacity building was discussed.
Claudio Secci teaches at ENSAPLV, École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris La Villette. He led a group of students in the IndoFrench workshop in Kolkata which is currently being carried forward as an ongoing design studio in Paris. Kamalika Bose is an urban conservationist, researcher and educator based in Mumbai. She is the founder of Heritage Synergies India and is the local expert for the IndoFrench workshop at Chitpur Road. Claudio joined from Paris and along with Kamalika shared on ': Chitpore at Crossroads: Post pandemic design challenges in old city core areas' where they highlighted challenges like loss of livelihood and possibility of less access to fund for conservation.
Dr. Rohit Jigyasu, Vice President of ICOMOS International , works at ICCROM in Rome as Project Manager on Urban Heritage, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management. He joined from Rome and gave his comments as an observer and called for innovative solutions like use of technology for capacity building and importance of adapting to the situation and helping out the marginalized. In the ensuing discussion the need for support to tradition bearers for maintaining basic needs and dignity of life was also pointed out.
Media Coverage
https://epaper.thestatesman.com/…/Kolkata-…/19TH-APRIL-2020…
Link: (https://www.facebook.com/bengale.afindia/videos/3741446789260590/)
The recorded session is now available to watch on our YouTube channel via:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws-otiKvcOM&list=PLppgBFc3QTOhXLuu36bbiQqHpMDLoUaqP&index=6
