Conservation Plan in the Works for David Gareja Monastery

A Conservation Methodology and Management Action Plan will be developed for David Gareja/Davit Gareji by the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Protection, along with experts from Europea Nostra, the European Investment Bank, and the Georgian Arts and Culture Center.

The National Agency for Cultural Heritage Protection of Georgia, along with European arts and financial institutions, will launch a value assessment of the David Gareja monastery complex and develop a strategy for its future survival. In addition to Georgian specialists, Europa Nostra and experts from the European Investment Bank will be involved in the process of developing the Conservation Methodology and Management Action Plan to enhance the cultural heritage monument.

A special group from Europea Nostra and the European Investment Bank visits Georgia is currently visiting Georgia to evaluate the physical condition of the monument and to solve its structural problems. During the four-day mission, the team will be comprised of Piet Jaspaert, Vice-President of Europa Nostra; Campbell Thomson, Technical and Economic Adviser contracted by the Investment Bank Institute; and Gaianè Casnati, Conservator Architect, Council Member of Europa Nostra and Member of the advisory panel of the 7 Most Endangered programme. The team has already carried out practical works on the monastery complex. The European delegation is hosted by the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Protection of Georgia and Europea Nostra Representative in Georgia.

The David Gareja Monastery Complex was listed among the 7 Most Endangered Heritage Sites in Europe in 2018, during the European Year of Cultural Heritage, following a nomination made by the Georgian Arts and Culture Center.

The Europa Nostra website explains, "The European delegation of heritage and financial specialists will meet with local, national and transnational authorities and stakeholders – including the Mayor of Sagarejo, the Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, the Deputy Head of the EU Delegation in Georgia and representatives from the World Bank – with the aim of mobilising efforts towards saving this masterpiece of Georgian culture. The key findings and recommendations of the mission will be published in a report at the beginning of 2019."

By Samantha Guthrie

Photo: Lonely Planet