Almaty hosted an exhibition on Underwater Cultural Heritage from September 13 to 27, 2024, in partnership with UNESCO. Led by Amir Piric, the event aimed to engage youth in cultural preservation and awareness of the 2001 Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage. The exhibition featured informative lectures and highlighted significant threats to underwater sites, promoting a collaborative conservation effort among nations.
From September 13 to 27, 2024, Almaty hosted a captivating exhibition on Underwater Cultural Heritage, brought to life in partnership with the UNESCO Chair for Conservation of Historical and Cultural Heritage at KazGASA and the Central State Museum. This traveling exhibition engaged students and teachers from UNESCO Associated Schools, inspiring a new generation to cherish underwater treasures. Amir Piric, director of the UNESCO Almaty Regional Office, opened the event with a resonant call to action: “Today we want to draw the attention of the population, museum visitors and especially young people to the issues of protecting cultural heritage in general.” Attendees, including students and schoolchildren, were invited to explore the depths of underwater heritage and grasp the significance of conservation efforts initiated by UNESCO. The exhibition aimed to raise awareness and enhance understanding of the 2001 Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage. In addition, an engaging lecture provided students with insights and opportunities to ask questions, promoting curiosity about history and cultural preservation. Underwater Cultural Heritage is a silent witness to human history, hidden beneath the waves of seas, lakes, and rivers. It is threatened by looting, industrial exploitation, and the harsh consequences of climate change. As the esteemed Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau once said, “We love what we admire, and we protect what we love.” In response to these challenges, eight Mediterranean nations united in 2018 to safeguard Underwater Cultural Heritage. This commitment culminated in 2022, with a major international mission involving researchers from multiple countries, who collaborated on an ambitious project aimed at studying and preserving these submerged treasures.
This exhibition aligns with UNESCO’s ongoing efforts to protect and study underwater cultural heritage, an often overlooked aspect of our shared human history. UCH encompasses submerged sites, artifacts, and heritage, which are key to understanding past civilizations. The threats to this cultural legacy have garnered international attention, leading to collaborative missions and conventions aimed at conservation and education.
In closing, the exhibition in Almaty not only highlighted the rich tapestry of underwater cultural heritage but also underscored the urgent need to protect it from various threats. Through education and collaboration, especially among the youth, we can inspire a collective commitment to preserving these invaluable pieces of our history for future generations.
Original Source: www.unesco.org
