EU-ALIPH Participate At The International Restoration Week

The European Union Delegation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the International alliance for the protection of heritage (ALIPH) will be present at the International Restoration Week taking place in Riyadh from 1 to 5 October at the JAX District in Riyadh with a photo exhibition named“Women and Heritage”.

The exhibition features women who are implementing ALIPH-supported projects to protect cultural heritage in some of the most complicated contexts in the world, alongside Saudi heritage professionals. It showcases 14 protagonists from 12 countries: Afghanistan, Georgia, Iraq, Italy, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestine, Sudan, Ukraine, Yemen, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Variations from this exhibition have already been displayed in Luxembourg (February 2025), Bahrain (April & September 2025), and Geneva, Switzerland (May 2025), where it received wide recognition.

In the words of H.E. Christophe Farnaud, European Union Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:“This vibrant partnership between the EU, the Heritage Commission, the ALIPH Foundation, and the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia underscores our shared commitment to preserving cultural heritage as a cornerstone of identity and unity. The 'Women and Heritage' exhibition celebrates the essential contributions of women in nurturing and preserving our collective legacy while exemplifying the deepening EU-Saudi collaboration. Through cooperative efforts to protect and promote cultural heritage, we strengthen cultural dialogue, honor women's vital role in sustaining tradition, and foster mutual respect and understanding that unite our societies”.

In a similar line, Mr. Valéry Freland, ALIPH Executive Director, states:“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the European Union provide ALIPH with vital support to safeguard endangered cultural heritage in regions affected by conflict and climate change. We are honored to bring this exhibition to Riyadh and to recognize some of the extraordinary women in Saudi Arabia, along with all those working on the front lines to protect cultural heritage – treasures that belong to all humanity and must be preserved for future generations.”

The objective of the photo exhibition is to highlight the vital role of women in the preservation of cultural heritage, particularly in areas affected by conflict, post-conflict recovery, and climate change. It features portraits of women artisans, conservators, architects, and archaeologists actively engaged in safeguarding tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Each portrait captures not only their professional expertise but also their personal commitment and resilience, reflecting the essential contribution of women to cultural preservation.

International Restoration Week aims to raise awareness about the importance of preserving architectural heritage. The exhibition will feature the participation of leading international and local companies specializing in the restoration of heritage buildings.

ON THE PROGRAMME

On 30th September | 16h30. EU Ambassador His Excellency Mr. Christophe Farnaud, Director General of the European Commission Directorate General for MENA Mr. Stefano Sannino, and ALIPH Executive Director Mr. Valéry Freland will do a pre-opening tour of the exhibition.

On 2nd October, an inauguration panel debate will take place from 18h30 to 19h30 at the Al-Ahsa Oasis Hall. Titled“Cultural Heritage Protection Through Innovation: Insights from Saudi Arabia and Beyond” it will be welcoming:

. Deputy Head of Mission for the European Union Delegation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ms. Irina Gusačenko
. Dr. Noura Ghabra, Assistant Professor of Architecture at King AbdulAziz University
. Ms. Rut Ballesteros, Cultural Heritage Conservation Manager at the Royal Commission for AlUla
. Ms. Roseann (Razan) Tariq Sijeeni, World Heritage Nomination Senior Specialist, UNESCO
. Dr. Nadine Panayot, Curator of the American University of Beirut's Archaeological Museum, and Associate Professor of Practice at the Department of History and Archaeology
. Dr. Anahi Alviso-Marino, Researcher and scholar working at the intersection of social sciences, artistic practices and protocols/games focused on monuments of the Arabian Peninsula
. Moderated by Dr Sandra Bialystok, Director of Communications and Partnerships at ALIPH.

More information & tickets can be found here:

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