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The 2nd KOBED Heritage Security Congress

by Kraków Heritage team
07.06.2024
The 2nd KOBED Heritage Security Congress The 2nd KOBED Heritage Security Congress
Last Wednesday morning, passers-by passing the Wawel Royal Castle saw smoke enveloping one of the towers and an overhang. The exercises accompanying the 2nd KOBED Heritage Security Congress were, of course, just a practical test of the security procedures in place. However, in view of the ongoing armed conflict in our part of Europe, the readiness to react quickly in the event of a threat to priceless heritage assets is becoming essential for all guardians of monuments and responsible organisational units – and even us as possible bystanders.

The KOBED Heritage Security Congress at Wawel Castle took place on 2-5 June 2024. The event attracted to Krakow a wide range of specialists representing the most diverse national institutions involved in the protection of monuments, as well as representatives of relevant services. The topics of the meetings and discussions were the possibilities of protecting cultural property in the face of contemporary crisis threats, including armed conflicts. Its participants undertook multifaceted deliberations on the need to update existing national and international regulations in the field of heritage protection. The discussions broadened the reflection on issues related to planning and organising heritage protection.

The starting point for the discussions were the provisions of the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in Time of Armed Conflict and contemporary interpretations of their interpretation. The conference addressed issues such as:

  1. The law of the protection of cultural heritage in armed conflict
  2. Intangible heritage in armed conflict – aspects of protection
  3. New weapons – new threats to cultural heritage
  4. UNESCO historic cities facing the challenge of protecting world heritage in the event of armed conflict
  5. Interdisciplinarity of protection as a guarantee of its implementation
  6. Underwater heritage in the face of armed conflict – the context of protection
  7. Space heritage as a new space for conservation?
  8. Owners of heritage sites in armed conflict
  9. Security of cultural heritage during armed conflict
  10. Armed conflict and heritage conservation authorities: challenges and tasks
  11. Emergency conservation during armed conflict
  12. Contemporary challenges for the protection and care of cultural heritage
  13. Protection of cultural heritage during armed conflict in the light of past experience
  14. Non-governmental organisations in planning and organising cultural heritage protection in extreme situations
  15. Local community – possibilities of action for the security of local cultural heritage
  16. Protection of large-scale objects during armed conflict
  17. Museums, archives and libraries in armed conflict – preparation and organisation of protection

The congress was organised by the Heritage Safety Institute, the Westerplatte Heroes Naval Academy, Wawel Royal Castle, the Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow and the City of Gdynia, together with partners representing the most important institutions in the country.

The event was held under the honorary patronage of the Mayor of the City of Krakow.

The importance of efficient procedures for the protection of historical monuments was demonstrated two years ago during the first phase of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As part of an initiative by the Organisation of World Heritage Cities (OWHC), in which Krakow actively participated, convoys with, among other things, foam extinguishers, fire blankets, mineral wool to protect stained glass and museum windows, firefighters’ helmets and flame-retardant clothing travelled across our eastern border. The materials helped to protect key monuments in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa, among others, from destruction.

More on Congress’ official website (in Polish).

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No, this is not all there is to say about Krakow. Heritage is an open-ended collection – it’s up to us to fill it with meaning!

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