Cultural Heritage & Management Venture Lab

Transcription

1 Cultural Heritage & Management Venture Lab Ahmedabad, India This project is funded by the European Union We are happy to introduce the first newsletter of the EU funded project, Cultural Heritage & Management Venture Lab in Ahmedabad, India. Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India, has been known for its drive for conserving, restoring and sustaining its heritage. Through various individual as well as institutional initiatives, the city has been trying to bring about the change in attitudes and even restore the past glory of the tangible and intangible heritage traditions where possible. To boost these initiatives, a few Indian and European institutions have collaborated on an innovative project called the Cultural Heritage & Management Venture Lab, Ahmedabad, which has been approved by the European Union for financing under its Europe-Aid grant. EU Project Newsletter, First Issue, March 2015 This project seeks to convert cultural heritage as a vector for democracy and economic growth to benefit the people and encourage them to live with, for and off their cultural heritage. To initiate the transformation process, this project aims to set up an organised programme for, the creation of public private cooperation networks in heritage management and architecture between local and regional institutions of Gujarat and Ahmedabad, covering restoration professionals, crafts people, architects, and leaders from the various sectors to drive the cause forward. This International Project has five partners and four associate partners from Spain and India: Casa de la India, Valladolid (CDLI), Spain, Ahmedabad University (AHU), India Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AHMC), India Universidad de Valladolid (UVA), Spain Ayuntamiento de Valladolid (AVA), (City Council of Valladolid), Spain Urban Management Centre (UMC), Ahmedabad, India City Heritage Centre (CHC), Ahmedabad, India EVoCH Platform and AR&PA Biennale- Fair, Valladolid, Spain CEARCAL- Regional Handscraft Center, Valladolid, Spain 1

2 The overall objective of this action is to, strengthen the capacities of cultural agents and facilitate an environment for creativity, innovation, professionalization and entrepreneurship in cultural heritage and management in order to allow the people of Ahmedabad and the people of Gujarat at large to fully benefit from the potential of cultural heritage as an economic value. The specific objectives are: Develop innovative strategies and permanent public-private cooperation networks in cultural heritage and management through the setting up of a legal cluster structure on cultural & heritage management Promote technical support to young people and potential entrepreneurs and create awareness amongst local communities about business initiatives in cultural heritage, through the setting up of a mentoring and incubation program on cultural business activities Encourage access to the professional market and to regional, national and international public-private networks promoting the sustainable development and economic value of cultural heritage These objectives can effectively and sustainably be achieved with the setting up of new innovative strategies, bringing together public and private stakeholders at national and regional/local levels, public administration, Research Centres & Universities, local artisans and entrepreneurs to join collaborative efforts, knowledge wisdom and experience, to move forward in the preservation of heritage and the use of cultural assets as an economical value. As a collaborative and innovative approach to address many of these problems, it is proposed that a Cultural Heritage and Management Venture Lab be set up in Ahmedabad. The Lab will not only address these problematic issues, but, based on previous actions and recommendations, create a permanent private-public cluster to promote new policies, create new cultural industries in the heritage sector and thus contribute to economic growth, preserve heritage, and improve social awareness and livelihood in the inner cities of the State at large. The Project was formally launched at a grand ceremony held at Usmanpura Zonal Office of the AMC on February 10, In his Opening remarks, Dr. Amarlal H. Kalro, Provost, Ahmedabad University explained the aims and objectives of the University s Centre for Heritage Management (CHM) and hoped that the Project and the proposed Heritage Cluster and Venture Lab would not only help in sustaining the heritage of the city but would also strengthen CHM to fulfil its mandate. 2

3 Dr. Guruprasad Mohapatra IAS, Municipal Commissioner, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), stressed the importance of heritage and the need to preserve cultural heritage and recalled the collaborative efforts of the cities of Valladolid and Ahmedabad in this regard. He highlighted the efforts of AMC in the task of preserving the priceless heritage of the 600 year old city. The Vice Chancellor of University of Valladolid, Mr Marcos Sacristan, as well as Director of Casa de la India, Mr. Guillermo Rodriguez and Mr. Juan Manuel Guimerans, Director General, Culture, Commerce and Tourism also spoke at the inaugural ceremony representing the Spanish counterparts of the project. The Technical session that followed the inauguration was chaired by Mr. Guillermo Rodriguez and Mr. Debashish Nayak, Director, Centre for Heritage Management, AU. This session witnessed project related presentations by Shri. Rajiv Patel, Founder of City Heritage Centre, Ahmedabad, Ms. Manvita Baradi, Founder, Urban Management Centre and Mr. PKV Nair, Deputy GM of Heritage Cell, AMC. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Michel Sabatier, Director General, Euro-India Centre underlined the importance of such projects and the role played by the Centre in bringing India and European cities closer to collaborate on a wide range of issues. In order to carry out the long term objectives of the project, formation of a legal management structure is envisaged as an important special purposes vehicle. This organization would be formed of various cultural heritage linked stakeholders including artisans, entrepreneurs, activists, academicians, young professionals, academicians, supporting research, academic and allied Institutions, policy making bodies, local bodies, banks and concerned organisations of the State and Central Governments. After much deliberation and legal consultation, it was decided to form a Trust cum Society called the, Ahmedabad Cultural Heritage Cluster (ACHC), with the representatives of seven Institutions, all based in Ahmedabad, as the founding members. The Institutions represented in the first Managing Committee are: Centre for Heritage Management (CHM), Ahmedabad University Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) Urban Management Centre(UMC) City Heritage Centre(CHC) Centre for Environment Education (CEE) Venture Capital (House of MG) SEWA Federation The members met several times during the year and approved the MOA of the organization. The Ahmedabad Cultural Heritage Cluster (ACHC) was formally launched at a public function on December 7th 2014, where the Mayor of Ahmedabad, Smt. Minaxi Patel presided and Her Excellency, Ms. Magadalena Cruz Yabar, Dy. Head of Mission, Spanish Embassy, New Delhi was the Chief Guest. (Photo on Page 1) The process of registration of the legal entity is underway. Once this Cultural Heritage cluster is registered, all heritage-linked stakeholders will be invited to enroll as members of the Cluster, the one of its kind in India. 3

4 The 30 month project has completed year I (2014) of its implementation period. During the year the main activities undertaken were: Public Launching (Kick-off) event Identification and mapping of potential cluster members (linked to cultural heritage) Diagnostic studies of seven selected heritage-linked sub clusters, namely Tourism, Kite - Making, Media, Wood carving, Restoration and renovation of built up heritage, Performing Arts and Ashavali Saree. Socio economic analysis of cultural sector Four Major Awareness and visibility Events including validation exercises of DSRs. Public Cluster and Venture Lab Launch Event Creation of graphic Identity of the Project Setting up of the Web-site (In progress) Issue of first Project Brochures both in English and Gujarati In order to disseminate project activities as widely as possible and create awareness about issues of cultural heritage preservation, renovation, and promotion of both tangible and intangible aspects, various awareness and visibility efforts were made. These activities were undertaken also with a view to identify potential members for the envisaged Heritage cluster and providing a common platform for interlinking of stakeholders. One such event was a Round Table Conference on, Heritage, Crafts and Tourism: Promoting Collaborations, Creating New Business Opportunities held in Ahmedabad on Sept. 9, 2014 with Mr. Sanjay Kaul, IAS, MD, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd. as the Chief Guest. The highlights were: Ignition of a dialogue of cooperation between various stakeholders in the Heritage Sector. Furtherance of the nurturing of Heritage linked new business opportunities and ventures. Initiation of Public Private Partnerships and exploring strategies to make Heritage ventures sustainable Promotion of a dynamic hub and network of heritage linked entities/player. Mr. C.K. Koshy, IAS (R),CEO, CHM-AU highlighted the uniqueness of the project which combines the public bodies, private stakeholders and the general public participation in the promotion of heritage based businesses. (To be continued in our next issue) 4

5 Many important International and National Personalities visited the Project during the year, including, 1. Her Excellency, Ms. Magadalena Cruz Yabar, Dy. Head of Mission, Embassy of Spain, New Delhi 2. Ms. Anasuya Gupta, Sr. Project Manager of the European Union Delegation to India, New Delhi 3. Mr. Jose Manual Medina, EU Project Consultant, Spain 4. Mr. Guillermo Rodriguez, Director, Casa de la India, Spain 5. Mr. Juan Manuel Guimerans, City Council of Valladolid, Spain 6. Mr. Alberto Grijalba, Professor & Architect, University of Valladolid, Spain 7. Mr. Marcos Sacristan, Vice Chancellor, University Of Valladolid, Spain 8. Mr. Jose Ramon, Pro VC, University of Valladolid, India 9. Mr. Michel Sabatier, Director General, EUROINDIA Centre, Spain 10. Mr. Sanjay Kaul, IAS, MD, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat, Ltd. India Mr. Vijay Ramchandani of Centre for Heritage Management, Ahmedabad University who is presently working as a Project Technical Assistant for the EU-funded Project recently attended the seminar on Cultural and Creative Industries and Youth: A Chance for Each Other at Johannesburg, South Africa in September The seminar was organized by the Delegation of the European Union in Pretoria, and its main objective was to have thought-provoking exchanges and sharing of innovative approaches and best practices in the field of cultural and creative industries. Showcasing the Ahmedabad-based and EU funded Cultural Heritage and Management Venture Lab Project to an International group of more than 70 participants from all around the world, Mr. Ramchandani & Mr. Tomas Garabito, Project Manager at Casa de la India, Valladolid, Spain highlighted the project which targets Indo- European public-private networks, cultural and creative industries clusters as well as a venture lab and capacity building initiatives of institutions, organizations and artisans in these sectors. This innovative concept of setting up a Cultural Cluster and a Venture Lab was well appreciated by the participants of the seminar. To know more about the Project and the Centre for Heritage Management, please visit us or write to: Ahmedabad Cultural Heritage ahmedabadheritagecluster@gmail.com Centre for Heritage Management Asmita Bhavan Principal S.V. Desai Marg, Opposite H.L. Commerce College, Nr. Commerce Six Roads, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad , Gujarat, India. Ph.: