Sixteen participants from Saudi Arabia came together for the two-week course, held from 12 to 23 June 2022, to broaden their understanding of basic concepts and methodologies of Industrial Heritage, along with mechanisms and frameworks related to its cataloging and documentation.

The workshop hosted several international experts including Moulshri Joshi, Julian Sobrino Simal, Ona Vileikis Tamayo, Kai Weise, Rusudan Mirzikashvili, Mizuko Ugo, Massimo Preite, Mirhan Damir, and Adnan Al-Jaber.

The training is part of a series of specialized workshops organized by the ministry, in cooperation with the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), under the umbrella of the Experts Program. The capacity-building sessions qualify specialists in UNESCO Conventions and Programs with the aim of boosting expertise in the international cultural arena and enhancing their capability to manage and prepare nominations and gain skills in UNESCO methodologies.

The Experts Program targets specialists and those interested in preserving heritage from various disciplines and educational backgrounds related to culture and science, experts in cultural diplomacy and international relations, and those passionate about heritage conservation.

The program’s goal is to provide specialized training workshops to gain the knowledge and skills that are essential to join the network of accredited experts in International Cultural Conventions and Programs, such as The World Heritage Convention, The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage and The Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, amongst others.