Blue Shield International, together with our partners, the Romanian Institute for Heritage of the Romanian Ministry of Culture, are delighted to welcome our National Committees, National Committees in formation, and invited partners to our 2024 General Assembly and Training Course in Bucharest, Romania, as we come together to celebrate the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict on its 70th anniversary.
The Blue Shield has its roots in the 1954 Hague Convention, and since our establishment in 1996 we have gone from strength to strength. On this important anniversary, it’s a good opportunity for us to come together as a heritage protection community and reflect. Where have we come from? Where are we going, and how can we better protect heritage in crisis for the next 70 years (and beyond!)
Together with our partners in Romania, in this meeting we are particularly looking at building the Blue Shield across the Eastern European region, encouraging new committees, and offering those creating them the chance to learn from their peers. As well as mentoring, this event will focus on training in the safeguarding and protection of heritage in crisis, with a day devoted to training in risk management and conflict, as well as panels and workshops. We are looking forward to seeing you there!
Shielding the Past: 70 years of the Hague Convention
Dates: 9 – 12th September 2024
Location: Bucharest, Romania.
The conference and some training will be available in hybrid format with livestreaming and virtual participation (10th and 12th). It will not be possible to join the field trip virtually.
Cost: We are not charging for this event. Lunch and light refreshments will be provided as part of the event, as will the conference dinner.
Language: English
Who is invited: This conference and training course is intended for Blue Shield National Committees, National Committees Under Construction, the Founding Four representatives on the international board, and invited guests, including those looking at creating national committees. We welcome representatives from all the national committees (not just Presidents/Chairs). If you have not received an invitation and believe you should have, please use the contact form to let us know.
How do I register? The registration link has been emailed to all National Committee Points of Contact and guests. If the link has not been shared with you (or you need us to send it again!), please contact the Blue Shield Secretariat.
Registration closes on 15 August.
Download the programme: Shielding the Past – Programme 04 September 2024
Monday 9 September
VENUE Art Safari – Dacia Romania Palace, Street Lipscani 18-20
19:00 Evening Welcome Reception
Tuesday 10 September
VENUE Spații ARCUB Gabroveni (Great Hall Arcub), Street Lipscani nr. 84-90
08:30 – 09:30 Gathering / networking
09.30 Streaming begins. Audience participation will be possible.
LINK WILL BE ANNOUNCED
09:30 – 10:30 Welcome Speeches
- Welcome and Moderator – Oana Zaharia, National Institute of Heritage, Bucharest
- Ministry of Culture – Raluca Turcan, Ministry of Culture (TBC)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Janina Sitaru, State Secretary
- Ambassador Simona-Mirela Miculescu (video) – President of UNESCO General Conference and permanent delegate of Romania at UNESCO
- Ministry of National Defence – Eduard Bachide, State Secretary
- Ministry of Justice – Mihai Pașca, State Secretary (TBC)
- Joint Committee for UNESCO – Ana Maria Cătăuță, President (video) – Romanian Parliament Joint Committee for UNESCO
- National Commission of Romania for UNESCO – Madlene Șerban, Secretary General
- ICOM Romania – Virgil Nițulescu, President
- ICOMOS Romania – Irina Iamandescu, Board Member
- The National Network of Romanian Museums – Ciprian Ștefan, President
10:30 – 11:30 The Blue Shield – Where we are and where we’ve come from (Welcome presentation)
President Peter Stone, The Blue Shield
Q&A
11:30 – 12:0 BREAK
12:00 – 13:00 70th anniversary of the Hague Convention (Panel discussion)
Moderator Oana Zaharia, National Institute of Heritage, Bucharest
Q&A
13:00 – 14:00 LUNCH
14:00 – 15:30 Blue Shield General Assembly
15:30 – 16:00 BREAK
16:00 – 16:45 National Committee Presentations – Lightening round (Hybrid presentations)
Q&A
16:45 – 17:30 Iceland – Disaster Response to a Volcano (Presentation)
Heiðar Lind Hansson, Chair Blue Shield Iceland
17:30 FINISH
19:00 Conference dinner – place TBC
Wednesday 11 September
VENUE Palatul Mogoșoaia (see Field Trip tab)
8:00 Training Workshop (field trip)
The bus going to Mogosoaia Palace will wait for you in the parking of the National Theatre
19:00 Estimated arrival back in Bucharest. In the afternoon you will be transferred directly to the city center of Bucharest nearby the leaving point.
Thursday 12 September
VENUE Spații ARCUB Gabroveni (Great Hall Arcub)
08:30 – 09:00 Gathering / networking
09.00 Streaming begins. Audience participation will be possible.
LINK WILL BE ANNOUNCED
09:00 – 10:30 National Committee Presentations – Lightening round (Hybrid presentations)
Q&A
10:30 – 11:00 Disaster Response to the Earthquake: Lessons Learned in Türkiye (Hybrid presentation)
Dr Ömer Dabanli, President Blue Shield Türkiye
11:00 – 11:30 BREAK
11:30 – 13:00 Workshop – The 1954 Hague Convention – Implementing Respect
A workshop exploring how to communicate with armed forces, what Blue Shield can bring, and what resources are available?
13:00 – 14:00 LUNCH
14:00 – 15:30 Mentoring new committees (Panel discussion)
With contributions from
President Stone – What does Blue Shield expect from its committees? (in person)
Secretariat – What is the process? (in person)
Blue Shield Sweden – Perspectives on accreditation from the newest Committee (in person)
Blue Shield USA – Membership structure & ways of working (in person)
Blue Shield Belgium– Membership structure & ways of working (online)
Blue Shield Germany – Membership structure & ways of working (in person)
Blue Shield France – Membership structure & ways of working (online)
Q&A and guided discussion
15:30 – 16:00 BREAK
16:00 – 17:00 Workshop (TBC)
17.00 – 17:30 Closing Speech
President Peter Stone, The Blue Shield
17:30 FINISH
Main Conference Venue (10th Set / 12th Sept)
The main conference is being held in Spații ARCUB Gabroveni (Great Hall Arcub), a cultural centre. A mix of modern and old, the cultural center is built on the ruins of the 19th century inn, providing multifunctional spaces.
Venue website: https://arcub.ro/spatiile-noastre/#spatiile-arcub-gabroveni
Venue address: Str. Lipscani no. 84-90, Bucharest
secretariat@arcub.ro
T: 021 307 30 30
Visit the map of the venue on the venue website.
Venue details:
Lipscani street is a pedestrian street, access by car is not allowed; it is recommended to use public transport or other alternative means of transport.
To reach Great Hall Arcub, you can use all types of public transport that go to Unirii Square:
Metro: Piata Unirii Station
Buses: 104, 116, 117, 123, 124, 312, 313, 232, 361, 783
Parking: The venue does not have parking spaces. The nearest parking lot is located near the Kulturhaus club, Strada Elias Jacques; the parking lot is located in Zone 0 .
Accessibility
Blue Shield International are committed to supporting accessible events. When you complete your registration form, please let us know how we can assist you.
Monday 9th September – Evening Welcome Reception
The evening Welcome Reception will be held at Art Safari
Address: Dacia Romania Palace, Street Lipscani 18-20
Website: https://www.artsafari.ro/en/home/
Recommended hotels are within walking distance of the conference / training venue.
We recommend either
Wednesday 11 September will be a field trip to Palatul Mogoșoaia, a 1700s palace featuring parklike public grounds with picnic areas, a restaurant & an art museum.
The field trip will involve walking and (some) time outdoors.
Coach transfer to and from the venue will be provided.
08.00 AM – The bus going to Mogosoaia Palace will wait for you in the parking of the National Theatre – meet https://maps.app.goo.gl/PwNUqHAsoHPTwAy28
19.00 – Estimated arrival back in Bucharest. In the afternoon you will be transferred directly to the city center of Bucharest nearby the leaving point.
AIM: The workshop will assist attendees to assess risk and consider measures to protect different types of moveable and immovable cultural property in light of conflict and disaster. How do the two situations differ? What measures are needed for these different scenarios, and which support both? Outcomes will enable attendees to better implement the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict in their home countries, as well as supporting wider disaster and crisis preparedness.
Website: https://palatebrancovenesti.ro/
For examples of some of our other training courses, see our workshop on Conflict Risk and the Museum, and Centres Containing Monuments.
The Blue Shield General Assembly will be held on Tuesday 10th September 14.00 – 15.30 (Romanian time).
The Agenda includes approval of the Annual Report and Financial Report, and an update from the Illicit Trafficking Working Group.
Blue Shield members are welcome to submit items for the agenda by contacting the Blue Shield Secretariat.
Papers will be circulated one month before.
It is our intention to stream the General Assembly to our members who cannot intend in person. Voting will be conducted electronically for all members using Election Runner (as normal), and will open at least 24 hours early for votes to be submitted (given time differences). Further information will be released neared the time.
Visas: If you need an invitation in order to receive a visa, please indicate this when you register, and you will contacted in order to send an invitation letter. For more information on visas, see: https://www.mae.ro/en/node/2035
Travel from airport to city center of Bucharest
- Bus 100 (every 15 minutes) from Otopeni Airport to Universitate station or Piata Unirii station
- By train (every 40 minutes) from Otopeni Airport – Gara de Nord – 25 minutes; from Gara de Nord to city center by metro to Universitate station or Piata Unirii station.
- By taxi, Bold or Uber (outside the terminal)
Romanian currency – leu (RON)
Approximately 1 Euro = 4,98 RON / 1 USD = 4,49 RON / 1GPB = 5,92 RON
Money may be changed from any exchange office or bank, but at the same time very often you may use your credit card for payment – recommended.
