Workshops
1. A Practical Guide to Cultural Property Training and Coordination for the Military
Ms. Barbara Roberts (American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works)
Ms. Cori Wegener (President, BS-USA)
The 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict requires each States Party to train military personnel to deal with cultural property issues during an armed conflict. Blue Shield national committees can play an important role by providing training and expertise on protection cultural property both during peacetime and during a conflict. Barbara Roberts and Cori Wegener provided a case study of how the U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield had developed a successful training program with the U.S. Army Civil Affairs Command, including helpful advice on how the process may be adapted to other situations. [Location: Peace Palace]
[Summary & Photos]
2. Teambuilding - the critical success factor
Ms. Aparna Tandon (ICCROM)
Mr. Gerrit de Bruin (National Archive)
Planning and implementing an effective relief and recovery operation in the event of a region-wide disaster is a big challenge. Emergency response teams are often faced with decision making in stressful conditions and have to effectively cope with work overload, lack of resources and information ambiguity. An important aspect of emergency management is teamwork and building a team of teams i.e., multiple groups of people that come together from different organizations with different goals and different work cultures to reduce the impact of an emergency. Often in the event of a disaster, the top priority is to save lives, which is how it should be, yet this greatly reduces the resources and time for recovering cultural heritage. How can we include cultural heritage in overall relief and rescue agenda? How can heritage professionals in a country or a region be involved and engaged into national or regional relief networks? Building effective teams and their coordination therefore is a key focus for training in emergency management for cultural heritage. Based on the experience of Teamwork for Integrated Emergency Management (TIEM), a regional training offered by ICOM, GCI and ICCROM within the framework of ICOM's MEP (Museums Emergency Programme), this workshop discussed the fundamentals of team building and group dynamics within emergency management teams. It provided practical tips for effective communication and coordination among teams for cultural heritage emergency management. [Location: National Archive Auditorium]
Lieutenant Colonel (R) drs René Teijgeler, chairman 1CIMIC Bat (NLD A)
The relationship between civil society and the military is not always a happy one. Over the last 20 years the nature of the conflicts changed dramatically, causing the military to enter the field of development aid and diplomacy. What is the new role of the military forces, what can a National Committee of Blue Shield or the ANCBS expect from them in times of a disaster. What are the rules, are there any?
In general we would like to answer two questions.
(1) What can the military do in times of disaster on a national level?
The Austrian example: The military and the Oesterreichische Gesellschaft fuer Kulturgueterschutz  (Introduction by Col Dr Franz Schuller and Capt Dr Holger Eichberger)
The Dutch example: The slumbering and revival of the national heritage protection officers in the Dutch army (Introduction by Drs. Edwin Maes, Section Cultural Affairs & Information (Sie CAI), Army Command Support Group, Royal Netherlands Army)
(2) What can the military do in times of disaster on an international level?
Preparing for Dutch Civil-Military Cooperation in practice (Introduction by Capt Jan Bouwmeester)
The rules of the game. How civil society cooperates with international military forces(Introduction by Lcol (R) drs Rene Teijgeler)
The introductions were followed by a table-top exercise prepared by Capt Jan Bouwmeester and Lcol Rene Teijgeler. After the first introduction of the scenario the different roles were assigned to all the participants. Each played their part as the scenario unfolds. In between there were short evaluations and discussions. In the end an overall evaluation was given and conclusions drawn by the participants. [Location: Prinses Juliana Barracks, The Hague]
[Presentation files: Austrian example; Dutch example]
4. Preparing your cultural institution for emergencies
Ms. Marja Peek (The Netherlands Institute for Cultural Heritage)
Mr. Michiel Leijenaar (Mauritshuis)
This training was focused on emergency preparedness for cultural heritage collections. The development and implementation of emergency plans were discussed within the broader framework of integrated risk management. The Dutch approach of building emergency plans for cultural institutions by creating regional emergency networks was explained as an example of best practice. The cultural emergency network in The Hague consists of almost 20 cultural institutions and exists since 2002. This network, including The Mauritshuis, The Netherlands Institute for Cultural Heritage (ICN) and the local Fire Brigade, is very active in sharing experience, knowledge and helping hands in case of emergencies. November 2008, it took the initiative for a simulation of fire (smoke) in an exhibition room to learn about the possibilities of evacuation of the collection. This exercise, which had been filmed by infrared camera, was discussed among other experiences. The training contained both theory and practical exercises (pen and paper) and included a visit of the exhibition at The Mauritshuis. [Location: Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis] [Presentation file]
5. Blue Shield, aims & objectives of the ANCBS organization
Mr. Leif Pareli (chair of the international ANCBS working group)
This workshop was especially interesting for participants who had not attended the program on the 8th of December or who were unfamiliar with the Blue Shield organization. Blue Shield is a young organization that is still growing and tries to strengthen its network and improve its efficiency. Leif Pareli explained the reasons for the founding of a new association within the Blue Shield organization and the aims of the new coordination centre. He resented the ANCBS plans for the coming years. Together with the participants some of the main issues that ANCBS wants to address were discussed. Participants were invited to share their thoughts on the possibilities of the new coordination centre and to contribute to the new course of the Blue Shield organization. The discussion focused on the way Blue Shield could become more effective in meeting requests for help with adequate responses. Participants were invited to visit the new office. [Location: The ANCBS office]
6. Recent developments in cultural legislation
Mr. Dick Jackson (Special Assistant for Law of War Matters U.S. Army)
Ms. Marja van Heese (Inspector of the Dutch State Inspectorate for Cultural Heritage)
Dick Jackson gave a presentation on the legal aspects of Cultural Property protection focusing on the US perspective and Marja van Heese gave a presentation on the implementation of The Hague Convention and its Protocols in The Netherlands.
This was the starting point for a discussion with the participants of the workshop, in which the situation in the USA and The Netherlands was compared to other countries. The workshop concluded by summarizing best practices and tips regarding maintenance and awareness raising in the heritage field.
[Location: The State Inspectorate for Cultural Heritage in the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Bologna room]
[Presentation file & Article by Dick Jackson: Presentation file by Marja van Heese]
