In Astana (capital of Kazakhstan), a new agreement marks an important step in cultural cooperation between Italy and Kazakhstan. TheCentral Institute for Restoration (ICR) of the Ministry of Culture of the Italian Republicandthe National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the country’s main museum institution, signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at the preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage. The signing of the agreement took place in the presence of prominent institutional figures. The Memorandum was signed by ICR Director Architect Luigi Oliva and Ibraeva Aқmaral Ғosmanқyzy, delegated by the Director of the National Museum, Berik Abdygaliuly. Among those present were Kazakhstan’s Minister of Culture and Information, Aida Balaeva, and the Ambassador of Italy to Kazakhstan, H.E. Antonello De Riu.
The agreement is a concrete extension of the Cultural Memorandum signed between the Italian Ministry of Culture and the Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Information on January 18, 2024. The aim is to build a network of technical and scientific cooperation that fosters the protection, study and promotion of cultural heritage, consolidating relations between the two countries through exchanges and shared initiatives. The Memorandum of Understanding provides for the development of joint advanced training and applied research projects. Planned activities include exchanges of experts and students, seminars, conferences and professional development paths. Following the signing, the first advanced training seminars dedicated to materials restoration and conservation methodologies have already been held.
“We are ready to share the most advanced restoration techniques,” stressed Director Luigi Oliva, “to actively participate in the training of Kazakh professionals. The project will be developed in two activities organized in several stages: the implementation of laboratories for diagnostics and restoration of various materials; and ICR’s support for the development of in-house expertise in the Museum that can form the basis of the future Kazakh training system on restoration.”
“Culture is the bridge that unites our peoples,” said Minister Aida Balaeva, “We would like to actively contribute to the development of a pool of professionals who will deal with the restoration of artistic and cultural-historical treasures made of metal, stone, fabric, wood and other materials.”
The meetings were led by a multidisciplinary ICR team of restoration officers and a biologist and involved professionals from Kazakhstan’s museum sector. The workshops represent the first concrete example of international scientific expertise transfer and collaboration, with the goal of promoting advanced conservation standards in the Kazakh museum context. The partnership also aims at the implementation of dedicated diagnostic and restoration laboratories at the National Museum, as well as the creation of a permanent training core for the conservation of Kazakhstan’s artistic heritage.
The cooperation between the ICR and the National Museum confirms Italy’s role as an international point of reference in the field of conservation and restoration. At the same time, the agreement consolidates cultural ties between Italy and Kazakhstan, fostering a scientific and educational dialogue that can support future projects in the museum and cultural fields. In this sense, the signing of the Memorandum represents a concrete example of cultural diplomacy and technical-scientific exchange between institutions, with significant spillover effects on the training of Kazakh cultural heritage professionals. Through collaboration, the two institutions aim to strengthen local expertise, ensure the preservation of collections and promote applied restoration research. ICR experts, already involved in initial training, will continue to provide technical and scientific support, enabling the development of shared methodologies and the adoption of innovative practices in cultural heritage management.
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| Italy and Kazakhstan sign agreement to preserve cultural heritage |
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