The ten-day workshop on ‘Conservation of Material Heritage of Sikkim’ hosted by Sikkim State Archives and Museum, Culture Department, Government of Sikkim in collaboration with Kolkata Institute of Art Conservation supported under the AKST- Tata Trusts Art Conservation Initiative was inaugurated at Manan Bhawan in Gangtok on Wednesday, February 1.
The Conservation workshop is designed to impart awareness and conservation-related training to custodians of heritage collections in Sikkim, as well as stakeholders in the field of cultural heritage and conservation, supported under the Anamika Kala Sangam Trust (AKST)- Tata Trusts Art Conservation Initiative, to be held from February 1-10 here in the capital.
The inaugural event was chaired by Secretary Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Pema Wangyal Rinzing as the chief guest and Secretary Ecclesiastical Department Dr. Passang Dorjee Phempu as the guest of honour.
The workshop also had the presence of the Head, Arts and Culture portfolio, Tata Trusts, Deepika Sorabjee, Senior Art Conservator and Academic consultant to the Tata Trusts Art Conservation Initiative, Anupam Sah, Art Conservator at Himalayan Society for Heritage and Art Conservation( HIMSHACO), Nainital, Siddharth Chandra, Art Conservator at Kolkata Institute of Art Conservation, Kolkata, Shreyan Banarjee, Programme Officer, Arts and Culture portfolio, Tata Trusts, Paroma Sadhana along with monks from different monasteries and esteemed dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, the Head of Arts and Culture, Tata Trusts, Deepika Sorabjee, gave a brief overview of the Art Conservation Initiative. The workshop at Gangtok intends to reach out and set up the system for future reference and the maintenance of artefacts. She also discussed about the long-term vision of the programme.
Senior Art Conservator and Academic Consultant to the Tata Trusts, Anupam Sah, in his special address, mentioned the importance and the need for the conservation of cultural heritage and different tools that have been used over the past years to achieve the materials for future reference. Furthermore, he mentioned about the conservation infrastructure, its processes, and the long-term protection of the cultural heritage of Sikkim. He added that the training programme is crucial for trainees working to enhance archive materials.
Anamika Kala Sangam Trust (AKST) Tata Trusts Art Conservation Initiative was established in 1986. The multi-disciplinary exchange in this initiative encourages participation in cultural activities, creativity, and the arts. AKST has recently established the Kolkata Institute of Art Conservation at Kolkata centre for creativity.
Secretary Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Pema Wangyal Rinzing, in his address, appreciated the initiative for organising the workshop to help preserve the cultural heritage of Sikkim. He mentioned the challenges of conserving the tangible and the intangible heritage. Further, he informed that the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology was established in the 1960s, and their art collection is still intact.
Earlier, the Archives Officer Sikkim State Archives and Museum, Cultural Department, Deepshika Gurung, delivered the welcome address.
The vote of thanks was proposed by Research Officer Yangchen Donkar Bhutia.
