Italia and Africa join forces to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural property; training for professionals gets underway

In areas affected by conflict and political instability, the illicit trafficking of cultural property is a real threat. To tackle these risks, specific expertise and institutions capable of working together are required; hence the initiative for the programme ‘Cultural Heritage, Provenance and Protection: Training and Strengthening Professional Skills between Italia and Africa to Combat the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Heritage’. Launched on 5 October by the National School of Heritage and Cultural Activities and the École du Patrimoine Africain (EPA), this is the first course to emerge from the three-year agreement signed by the two institutions for training, research and innovation in the management of cultural heritage and museums. A crucial role will be played by the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, which is participating in the training activities by making available its expertise and experience gained in the international context of this issue.

The course involves cultural heritage professionals from French-speaking African countries, in particular from Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Morocco, Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal and Tunisia. The aim is to strengthen the technical and operational capacities required for the safeguarding of cultural heritage and to foster cooperation between institutions, administrations and practitioners in the various countries. The course explores the fundamental tools and methodologies for heritage protection: from the documentation of collections to provenance research, from digitisation to the traceability of cultural heritage, right through to international cooperation and the use of digital tools.

“The fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural property is a shared responsibility, which requires specialist expertise and collaboration between institutions. With this agreement, the National School of Heritage and Cultural Activities consolidates its role in training and international cooperation, bringing together Italian and African professionals,” said the Minister for Culture Alessandro Giuli. “As part of the Mattei Plan, we are promoting a partnership based on reciprocity, the exchange of knowledge and respect for cultural identities. Protecting the artefacts of history means safeguarding communities’ memories and their right to pass them on to future generations. The contribution of the Carabinieri TPC brings Italy’s expertise in preventing and combating illicit trafficking to this endeavour.”

“With this agreement, we are continuing a process of cooperation that the School has been pursuing for years with international institutions committed to the protection and enhancement of cultural heritage. By promoting exchange between Africa and Italia, we are helping to consolidate the skills needed to conserve, safeguard and promote heritage for present and future generations. Through this initiative, we are responding to the guidelines set out by the Ministry of Culture as part of the Mattei Plan and renewing our commitment to the African continent by fostering communities of practice amongst professionals in Africa and Italia,” explains Gerardo Villanacci, President of the National School of Heritage and Cultural Activities. For Franck Ogou, Director of the École du Patrimoine Africain, ‘this is proof that Italia and the École du Patrimoine Africain are rekindling their long-standing friendship, which has been consolidated since the very beginning of the EPA’s venture in Africa. Italia is thus demonstrating its commitment to collaborating with Africa, and the École du Patrimoine Africain serves as the conduit for this. All that remains is for us to look forward to a long and fruitful collaboration.”

The initiative is supported by the Directorate-General for European and International Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and forms part of the wider framework of international cooperation activities developed as part of the fourth edition of the International School of Cultural Heritage, promoted by the same Directorate-General and the National School of Heritage and Cultural Activities. ‘We are delighted to be able to deliver, in collaboration with the National School of Heritage and Cultural Activities and the EPA, a programme that forms part of the wider framework of initiatives under the Mattei Plan aimed at promoting equal and lasting partnerships between Italia and African countries in the fields of culture and heritage enhancement. The initiative strengthens cooperation between Italia and Africa in the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural property, through training, mentoring and the exchange of experiences amongst heritage professionals, law enforcement agencies and institutions, aimed at consolidating expertise in the areas of inventorying, the digitisation of collections and provenance research,” notes Mariassunta Peci, Director-General for European and International Affairs at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities (MiC). ‘Agreements such as this not only ensure the necessary exchange of knowledge and expertise gained in the field of cultural heritage management, but above all represent opportunities for that “soft diplomacy” which forms the cross-cutting pillar upon which a joint project is built – one that, starting from a cultural basis, soon becomes economic and social as well, and is therefore perfectly in line with the operational objectives of the Task Force operating within the Ministry of Culture,” states Angelo Piero Cappello, Director-General of the Task Force for Cultural Cooperation with Africa and the Wider Mediterranean at the Ministry of Culture.