Europa Nostra and EIB Institute on mission to David Gareji complex, Georgia

Experts from Europa Nostra, the leading heritage organisation in Europe, and the European Investment Bank Institute have arrived today in Georgia for a four-day mission to the David Gareji Monasteries and Hermitage. The site was listed among the 7 Most Endangered heritage sites in Europe in 2018, during the European Year of Cultural Heritage, following a nomination made by the Georgian Arts and Culture Centre.

The European delegation of heritage and financial specialists will meet with local, national and transnational authorities and stakeholders – including the Mayor of Sagarejo, the Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, the Deputy Head of the EU Delegation in Georgia and representatives from the World Bank – with the aim of mobilising efforts towards saving this masterpiece of Georgian culture. The key findings and recommendations of the mission will be published in a report at the beginning of 2019.

Media professionals are invited to join the Press Conference and concluding session of the mission on 9 November between 16:00 and 17:00 at Ministry of Culture.

The European experts, who will undertake the mission to the David Gareji Monasteries and Hermitage, are Mr. Piet Jaspaert, Vice-President of Europa Nostra; Mr. Campbell Thomson, Technical and Economic Adviser contracted by the Investment Bank Institute; and Mrs. Gaianè Casnati, Conservator Architect, Council Member of Europa Nostra and Member of the advisory panel of the 7 Most Endangered programme.

The delegation will be led by Ms. Maka Dvalishvili, Head of the Georgian Arts and Culture Centre, in cooperation with the National Agency for Preservation of Cultural Heritage of Georgia.

The mission’s programme includes the following meetings and visits:

6 November

Meeting with Nikoloz Antidze, Head of the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia

Meetings with experts, scientists and academics working on the David Gareji monastery complex

Meeting with Mr. Carlo Natale, Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation in Georgia

Meeting Mr. Karlo Tskhitishvili, Head of the State Department of border representation

7 November

Visits of the David Gareji Monasteries: Joan Baptist (Natlismcemeli), The Lavra, Udabno

8 November

Visits of the David Gareji Monasteries: The Monks’ place (“Sabereebi”), “Dodos’ Rqa”

Meeting with the Mayor of Sagarejo and representatives from the Tourism and Cultural Heritage Departments at the Sagarejo Municipality

9 November

Meeting at the World Bank, with Ms. Mercy Tembon, Regional Director for the South Caucasus, Europe and Central Asia, and Mr. Tengo Gogotishvili, Head of the Regional Development Projects

Concluding meeting with all stakeholders at the National Agency for Preservation of Georgian Cultural heritage

Press conference and concluding session of the mission at Ministry of Culture, with Michael Giorgadze, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports.

For more information about the programme of the mission, please contact Ms. Maka Dvalishvili.

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