Project Objectives
The Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) is working with the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) in the organizing of their World Symposia. The objectives of the collaboration are:

• to better understand some of the current important conservation and management issues related to historic cities and to identify specific areas where the GCI can work collaboratively with cities and other institutions to address these important issues;
• to develop a methodology for creating a forum where all participants of the OWHC World Symposium have an opportunity to discuss the salient issues raised during these international gatherings;
• to develop and test a prototype course to introduce new mayors and decision makers to their role as persons responsible for World Heritage Cities.

Project Overview
The membership of the Organization of World Heritage Cities is composed of cities on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Currently, there are 208 such cities. There are important common issues associated with the conservation and management of historic towns of all sizes and origin, which the OWHC attempts to address in its activities.

	Plaza de Armas, Cusco, Peru. Cusco was the host city of the OWHC 8th World Symposium—Heritage of Humanity, Heritage with Humanity. Photo: F. LeBlanc.

In 2003, the GCI agreed to assist the OWHC to develop and organize the scientific track of the OWHC's 8^th World Symposium in Cusco, Peru (Component One), in September 2005. Following the success of this first venture, the GCI agreed to perform the same service for the 9^th World Symposium (Component Two) to be held in Kazan, Russia, June 19–23, 2007.

One of the important issues raised early on in the collaborative project involved newly elected mayors, who are generally elected to four-year terms. Each newly elected mayor needs to be introduced to the responsibilities associated with running a World Heritage City. To address that need, the GCI—in addition to the scientific track—developed and tested an introductory course to conservation specifically tailored for newly elected mayors or officials. The first course was delivered as a one day, pre-symposium workshop in Cusco during the 8^th World Symposium.

Opening speeches of the scientific symposium in Cusco. 1,150 delegates participated to the symposium, 650 of which were Peruvian students. The Symposium's sub-themes focused on citizen participation, intangible heritage and cultural tourism. Photo: F. LeBlanc.

Last updated: August, 2006