The 9th International Meeting on the Management and Administration of Historical Centers started Tuesday, May 17 and will run until May 20 in the former St Francis of Assisi Convent and the Conde Cañongo building in Old Havana, and it is sponsored by the Integral Renovation of Old Havana Master Plan from the Historian Office of Havana.
The event is supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (COSUDE), the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation to Development (AECID) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), whose representatives in Cuba welcomed participants to the opening session.
Through keynote lectures and theme workshops, specialists from Cuba, Argentina, Ecuador, Uruguay, Brazil, the Basque Country, in Spain, Italy and Senegal analyze the reuse and adaptability of urban landmarks like fortresses, barracks, prisons, monasteries and port and industrial buildings in traditional cities, said director of the Master Plan, Patricia Rodriguez, who also announced that the program of the event includes discussions about: “Symbolic values in architecture faced with new uses,” “Refurbishment and rescue of the Pedro Borras Astorga Children Hospital,” “Recovery of the old section of the Portoviejo Ecuadorean college” and “Sala White,…from literary artistic school to concert hall.”
The influence of certain programs of public interest promoted by community leaders, another major topic for discussion, will be reflected on, among a wide range of presentations: “The partnership of Embroideress and Needlewomen from Belen and their bond with society,” “Culture in our hands: Social Cultural Project for the deaf community,” “Integration of the Arte Corte Project in the Barrio del Angel Community” and “The renovation process of the Historical Center of Havana in the talk and imaginary of the people.”
The highlights for this 9th International Meeting on the Management and Administration of Historical Centers include flashbacks to previous editions of the event through graph exhibitions, the presentation of the Master Plan webpage and the participation for the first time of a delegate from the African continent: the deputy mayor of the Senegalese patrimonial city of Goree, Anna Jouga.
Source: Press release sent by Maria Victoria Pardo
Related Publications
