The Italian Trade Agency - ICE/ITA, in collaboration with Assorestauro - The Italian Association for Architecture, Art and Urban Restoration and with the support of the Italian Embassy in Beirut is organizing a workshop on restoration techniques destined to Lebanese architects, restorers and archaeologists. The workshop will be an opportunity to discover restoration practices and techniques aimed at the preservation of the cultural heritage. 


Live on-site demonstrations will be held at the archaeological sites of Baalbek and Tyr. All materials and instruments are brought from Italy to this end. It will be possible to meet the Italian companies in b2b meetings on the last day. 


The Italian companies that are participating in the workshop are specialized in the restoration sector and cover a wide range of activities related to restoration, with a focus on structural conservation, strengthening procedures, surface conservation approaches, archaeological documentation methods (sites and objects for study / presentation purposes). 


July 25th Seminar and Companies Presentations - Hotel Riviera, Beirut
The seminar was inaugurated by Ms Counsellor Simona De Martino, Deputy head of Mission of Italy, and Ms Francesca Zadro, Director of the Italian Trade Agency- ITA Office in Beirut. Mr Sarkis Khoury, Director General, Directorate General of Antiquities of the Ministry of Culture and Ms Wafa Charafeddine, Head of Funding Division at the Council for Development and Reconstruction, presented the state of the art of the restoration and rehabilitation of the Lebanese archaeological sites. 


The seminar offered to an audience of architects, restorers and archeologists two working sessions: 


- Processing & Integrating the gap/hole in the architectural site, led by Arch. Antonella Ranaldi, from the Archeology Superintendence, fine arts and landscape of the Metropolitan City of Milan. 


- Rehabilitation of Cultural Heritage, environmental and structural improving, led by Prof. Davide del Curto, Professor at the Politecnico of Milano. 


Both sessions were followed by presentations on the materials and instruments produced by the Italian companies. 


July 26th, On-site demonstration at the archaeological site of Baalbek
Italian companies will show the use of materials and instruments through live demonstrations on site. All demonstrations are non-invasive and are coordinated with the DGA. 


Participants will have the possibility to learn about the use of the instruments, machineries and materials with the latest innovations and technologies. 


July 27th, On-site demonstration at the archaeological site of Tyr
The demonstration in Tyr will follow the same approach. 


July 28th, Presentation of existing and future projects in the field of restoration - B2B Meetings 


The last day will be dedicated to the presentation of the existing and future projects in Lebanon by the D.G. Antiquities of the Ministry of Culture and by the Council of Development and Reconstruction. Presentations by representatives of UNESCO and by representatives of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) will follow. The second part of the day will be reserved to companies for b2b meetings. 


The whole workshop is organised with the collaboration of the Director General and the Directorate General of Antiquities of the Ministry of Culture, the site managers of the DGA of Baalbek and Tyr, with the contribution of the Council of Development and Reconstruction, with the collaboration of UNESCO and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. 


The restoration sector is a major reference for the Italian industry: thanks to the number of companies active in the field, their size and the workforce they employ, restoration is a vital resource for Italy's economy. 


Only the two sub-sectors of architecture and building rehabilitation account for the largest share of the Italian cultural economy (which includes cultural and educational activities, handicraft, food and wine, building renovation), representing about 35% of the aggregate turnover of this industry. 


There are about 2,900 companies falling in the category of conservation and restoration of works of art in Italy. Most of them, about 700 companies, belong to the sub-category of conservation and restoration of listed real property; about 600 companies work in the field of conservation and restoration of non-listed property. The sector includes also the restoration of personal property (artworks, finds, furniture) and of paper and fabric objects; the production of special technology and materials related to restoration; specialized services, e.g. planning, analysis, diagnostics, etc. 


The added value of the restoration sector is 167 billion euro, which correspond to 12.7% of the total for the Italian economy. The sector employs 3,840 thousand people which represent 15.4% of the total workforce

Source: NNA