annihilated HERITAGE - ZABLUDOW  PROJECT

International Workshops for Preservation of Historic Wood Building Tradition

24.09. - 4.10. 2003, Białystok, Poland

The  Project has been recognized and is promoted by   UNESCO’s International Fund for the Promotion of Culture          

The Report

In the 1st International Workshops participated numerous individuals as well as representatives of professional organizations and institutions, from Poland (Association of Historic Monuments Conservators, Muzeum Podlaskie in Bialystok, Muzeum of  Farming in Ciechanowiec), USA (Timber Framers Guild, Preservation Trade Network), Germany (Gewerbe Akademie, Forderkreis Alte Kirche), Canada (International Log Builders Association), Great Britain, Lithuania ( Museum in Rumsiskes ), Belarus ( National Museum of Belarus Architecture in Minsk), Israel and  Czech Republic.

Participants were able to be acquainted with the multicultural heritage and numerous wooden landmarks, farm buildings, Catholic, Orthodox churches, as well Muslim mosques present in the Podlasie Region. Workshop’s program included lectures presentations of historic carpentry, discussions on Zabludow Reconstruction Project, and numerous site visits and research of wooden buildings. Participants adopted the Bialystok Resolution.

Bialystok Resolution, October 3, 2003, Bialystok, Poland

We participants in the first international workshop for protection of wooden building traditions resolve to develop an international learning network with local and regional partners for the research, documentation, conservation and restoration of heritage, cultural landscapes and historic wooden buildings using traditional processes.    

We are convinced that reconstruction of the 17th Century wooden synagogue of Zabludow, Poland, destroyed in World War II, is vital for recovery of annihilated elements of European cultural heritage. 

International participants proposed future activity (in 2004 - education workshop and historic carpentry training workshop) and formulated forms of mutual cooperation. This included establishment of the Steering Committee (Rudy Christian, Marek Barański, Petr Ruzicka, Laura Brown, Audrone Kasperaviciene, Magda Prosińska, Michael Pfeffer, Lisa Sasser, Andrzej Lechowski, Ken Follett, Witek Karwowski, Robert Savignac) as well as 4 Forums – Documentation & Research; Standards & Education; Business Plan, Marketing & Funding; Project Scheduling & Workshops Organization.  

The workshop was organized by the Association of Historic Monuments Conservators (SKZ)- Poland, and sponsored by Ministry of Culture, Education for Democracy Foundation, Polish – German Cooperation Fund. The Zabludow Reconstruction Project was granted by The Headley Trust and private persons.

We invite you to join!                                     Coordinator: m_baranski@wp.pl