Everything is Forever Until It Is No More

Brian Eno, the British rock musician and avant-garde artist, once remarked, “we are convinced by things that show internal complexity, that show the traces of an interesting evolution. That is what makes old buildings interesting. Humans have a taste for things that not only show that they have been through a process of evolution, but which also show they are still part of one. They are not dead yet.”

This is why we treasure our heritage and why we feel disconnected when the opportunity to involve ourselves with it, even from a distance, is taken away. This lecture is about how we can preserve some of that involvement even if the original heritage cannot be saved or does not survive and how our pragmatic responses and sometimes difficult decisions about what to save can increase our participation in cultural heritage.

With limited resources, only a small sample of all heritage at risk will ever be conserved in situ and no amount of conservation can guarantee preservation of an historic building, artifact or site. Politics and fashion will dictate where funding will go and what might be fit for current agendas.

Come experience compelling examples of how and why conservation through documentation is a critical strategy for protecting Egypt’s unparalleled history. ARCE has provided access to previously obscure material and through documentation, recording and publication these places are now accessible to the scholarly community and a wide public who might never be able to see the sites themselves

Seating is limited, registration required to info@arceny.com

About the Speaker

Michael Jones first came to Egypt as a student in the 1970s to work on archaeological surveys and excavations at Luxor and Amarna and has since worked at numerous sites throughout the country.

In the mid 1980s he moved permanently to Egypt to build a career in field archaeology and cultural heritage management. His work for ARCE began in 1996 as project manager with the team directing USAID-funded conservation projects. Since then he has directed ARCE heritage conservation projects including at the Ottoman Fort at Quseir, and St. Anthony’s and St. Paul’s Monasteries, (Red Sea Region), The ‘Red Monastery’ (Sohag), the Tomb of Sety I (Valley of the Kings), Archaeological Monitoring of the Groundwater Lowering Project in Old Cairo, and the Roman Paintings Conservation Project in the Luxor Temple (with Chicago House).

He is especially interested in the role of historic preservation in social and economic development and the sustainability of living heritage. His recent publications reflect the need for and implementation of comprehensive and integrated projects that combine theoretical knowledge with the collective experiences of specialists, owners and residents for effective conservation and heritage preservation.

To RSVP, please email info@arceny.com.