CIE Heritage Day Suriname huge success

October 2007 -

Interest was overwhelming during the second CIE Heritage Day in The Hague. Every seat was filled in the auditorium of the National Archives on 27 September 2007. The CIE is a knowledge centre and network organisation in the area of common cultural heritage and culture and development. The day was organised in cooperation with AWAD and ICOMOS the Netherlands to gather together the field of heritage in Suriname.

The main objective was to exchange information and experience, exploring the possibilities for improved cooperation in that field. The plenary morning session hosted lectures and poster presentations to devote broad attention to the projects. Suriname's Director General of Culture, Stanley Sidoel, held an inspiring presentation about common cultural heritage in Suriname and the ties of cooperation established between organisations in Suriname and in the Netherlands.

Other presentations discussed specific heritage projects, e.g. Fort New Amsterdam, Paramaribo's city centre, and the return of archives and the heritage of the Second World War. During the afternoon, participants worked in various groups to take inventory of problem areas and opportunities. Joint recommendations were formulated to establish more cohesion in heritage projects.

The CIE developed and presented a project database that will enable the network to establish and maintain contact and to exchange knowledge and expertise about projects. The database will be a central point where all information can be found about international heritage projects, as well as a discussion platform. The Heritage Day was more than a meeting: hopefully it will bring more cohesion to heritage projects and a field in which people know what others are doing.