Conservation of manuscripts and capacity building in Gaza

This project was initiated an international collaboration, with team members from Palestine, Italy, and India, who all believed that the conservation of cultural heritage needs to take into consideration and highlight endangered cultures and communities. Documentary heritage is a pillar of cultural continuity – and it is often the most fragile. When Muneer Elbaz (UCAS Gaza) approached Recanati e Restauro to start a manuscript conservation project in Gaza, we were aware that there was no such facility on-ground. We knew, given the pandemic, political conflict, limited supply chains, and difficulty getting travel permissions, that this was a long shot – the dream of getting a document conservation lab in Gaza was something shared by all parties, and with the invaluable support of the Prince Claus Fund, we made it happen.

Reportage

As of May 2022, there was a fully functioning conservation laboratory in Gaza, with a team beingtrained and mentored by Giovanni Pagani, Director of Recanati e Restauro, and supported by Mr. Muneer Elbaz. The lab was also supported by the University College of Applied Sciences Gaza, The Ministry of Religious Affairs, and received support in different ways from the Barakat Trust andCooperazione Internazionale Sud-Sud (CISS). The collective acknowledgement that the Manuscript Collection of the Great Omari Mosque must be protected, and the collaborative work done topreserve this collection, laid the foundation for the protection of other collections in the region, withthe potential to raise awareness about the importance of protecting documentary heritage in all its forms.

The lab was fully equipped, by acquiring and designing tools and materials. Additionally, wefabricated much of the furniture and larger equipment, presses, and sewing frames on-ground. TheMinistry of Religious Affairs took interest in the project, investing in infrastructure and supportingtechnologies. The space was designed and optimized taking into consideration electric and watersupply, and lighting.

The focus of our project was the identification of supply chains to provide conservation equipment and materials, thereby supporting local livelihood, and making conservation a sustainable process. We faced challenges from strict customs, and could source less internationally than we had initially hoped for. Much of the equipment was therefore manufactured on site, adapting the possible manufacturing protocols to the availability of materials. Mr. Muneer Elbaz had used his on-ground experience as a project coordinator to identify the various skilled craftspeople and labour to fabricate the equipment. Sewing frames, presses, backlit tables, and much of the furnishings were designed and produced in Gaza itself. A team of four conservators, and one translator, were brought on to receive training in conservation methods, generating income and livelihood locally, as well as ensuring a sustainable system for ongoing conservation on-ground.

We were able to manufacture more equipment than we had originally planned, increasing the capacity of the workshop from 1-2 people to 3-4 people. A team of four conservators, and one translator, were brought on to receive training in conservation methods, generating income and livelihood locally, as well as ensuring a sustainable system for ongoing conservation on-ground. It was very important for us to ensure the executing team on-ground was from the community itself, generating livelihood, and ensuring the conservation initiative was sustainable. During the first lessons we understood the needs in terms of translation, speed of teaching and how to make distance learning effective.Though we did not think it possible in the initial stage of the project, with the financial support of The Barakat Trust, and the logistical support from CISS, in may 2022 it was possible for us to carry out practical lessons in person for two weeks. The intensive lessons greatly increased the skill-sets of the conservators now working in the facility.

These challenges have led to a replicable model that we hope can guide similar initiatives in the future and we hoped the lab space could be used to teach more complex methods of conservation, with the ultimate goal of historically accurate reconstruction, good preventive systems in place, and building awareness in the community about the importance of documentary heritage. We had discussions throughout the duration of this project, on how best to create a blueprint for similar projects moving forward. This includes a participatory approach to the conservation of heritage, involving educational institutions (University College of Applied Sciences), governmental bodies (Ministry of Religious Affairs), and in the future – non-profits, schools, local institutions, and other collections.
Preserving the collection of the Great Omari Mosque, stressed the importance of preserving written heritage beyond the process of digitization, so that it can be accessed by the community.

This experience showed us that the community that the capacity to fulfil several of the requirements for a functioning conservation laboratory, and could optimize the use of local resources. We know that conservation projects on an international scale often involve people from developed regions coming in brief contact with local communities and collections, and then leaving before local, sustainable systems are in place. We very clearly didn’t want this as part of our project, and wanted it to be sustained as far as possible independently. Building capacity by training local staff was critical to this process, as was locating fabricators and labour from the local community.

Culture of Conservation: We often consider digitisation of documentary heritage enough to protect the histories of communities, and less consideration is given to the physical conservation of documents, books, archives, and manuscripts, for which fewer resources are allocated. There is a global push to begin to recognise and prioritise documents as integral to the identity of a community. Much of the heritage of the Great Omari Mosque has been lost in the past, and the conservation of these manuscripts in the present is a step towards protecting Palestinian history – not only to be able to access it online, but also to have access to the restored and preserved artefacts.

We wanted to establish a conservation lab in Gaza, not just to preserve a single collection, but to create the opportunity to preserve the documentary history of the region – whether it be other libraries, educational institutions, or personal family histories – recipes, photographs, narratives and stories. This step proves two things: that the capacity for the conservation of documents exists in Gaza itself, by the community for the community, seeking ownership in the preservation of one’s own heritage, and that international collaborators can take part and support such initiatives without having a top-down, hierarchical approach, thereby decentralising resources and skills, and encouraging independence in conservation.

We had intended to take the foundational steps towards a conservation project that extends itself not only to the preservation of documentary heritage in an internationally endangered community, but also to represent local needs and be inclusive of different identities. In the initial stages we had a small team, because this kind of work and decision-making requires intensive time commitments and specialisation.

This project challenged us in the delivery of professional development across borders, with political and global challenges, in the form of hybrid training. It is often considered very difficult to train conservation without being physically present, but we have evolved to balance online practical training with in-person lessons. The importance of working with developing regions is integral to the way we envision our mandate now, and we hope to facilitate similar interventions in the future. Understanding the local context is fundamental. Heritage belongs to the communities in which it exists, and no external intervention can take a top-down or colonialistic approach to conservation. We are not in favour of propagating the ideas of expertise as much as we are invested in forming collaborative bonds with local communities, and letting their needs lead the project. We have been honored by the support from funders, and the unwavering support and encouragement from local communities and institutions. It is clear that all parties involved wanted this project to succeed, and even in times of great frustration, we took strength and hope from the people on-ground who were dedicated to the conservation of their heritage. An organisation is only part of the overall mechanism that pushes a project forward, and it is truly a gift to have been part of this process, as opposed to viewing ourselves as being a leading authority or experts. The community is the real expert from experience, and we are just a factor that contributed to the realisation of that expertise in praxis.