CONSERVATION SUMMER ACADEMY

Our history, our cultural heritage, is crumbling in many parts of the world! Restorers and other specialists have always tried to preserve our history for posterity. In doing so, they bear a great responsibility towards our cultural heritage because in their hands are irreplaceable originals. A good education is essential to preserve the original substance of the monuments for our descendants.

In the year 2000 the unique idea of the "Summer Academy" was born in Pompeii. Here young restorers learn about the complex restoration methods for the conservation of antique buildings directly on the object - always accompanied by experts and together with other students.

The Summer Academy not only supports the training and qualification of young restorers from all over the world, but also makes a sustainable contribution to the preservation of cultural heritage. In addition to this, we also promote intercultural exchange and international cooperation.

For a total of eight weeks, students from different countries of origin will have the opportunity to work and learn in various workshops directly on the walls of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Pompeii.
External influences (e.g. climate-related changes) and the associated accelerated decay of ancient buildings force us to act. Currently our financial resources are limited to eight students. With our crowdfunding campaign we want to offer up to 16 students the opportunity to become part of the Summer Academy. Our mission: The more people that are educated at Pompeii, the more the topic of restoration and its enormous importance will be carried out by the graduates and thus contribute to the preservation of our cultural heritage.

Now it's up to you! Become a part of our journey, secure one of our unique rewards through your support and make an important contribution to the preservation of cultural heritage and to the preservation of our history. Support us in our mission to keep places like Pompeii as a vivid place for our children and grandchildren to experience and preserve!

Be part of it and save your heritage!

The aim of the project is to bring together and train young people who are committed to the sustainable restoration and conservation of cultural heritage. The teaching of the relevant techniques will take place in an international context, which will also facilitate an intensive exchange of expertise.

After completing the Summer Academy, the graduates can apply their knowledge that they have acquired in their home countries and teach it themselves. This makes it possible to protect ancient buildings all over the world from decay. In this way, a great contribution is made to the preservation of historically significant sites.

In addition to financing, we would like to use the crowdfunding campaign to make the exciting profession of restoration better known to the general public and to counteract the noticeable decline in the number of young professionals.
With our campaign we address young restorers, archaeologists, architects, monument conservators and especially all those for whom the preservation of cultural heritage is important and who would like to broaden their horizon of knowledge.

Our cultural heritage is increasingly exposed to numerous threats. In order to preserve it, we and future generations will have to overcome enormous challenges caused, for example, by wars or climate change and its consequences.

The emergence of an international network that promotes intercultural and interdisciplinary discourse will facilitate this process. Pompeii, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is an example of this. It highlights all of the challenges that must be overcome in order to preserve it.

The accelerated disintegration that is occurring forces us to act and we must not allow time to pass by with no action. In order to protect ancient buildings effectively, it takes more than helping hands - it needs the attention of the broad masses on this topic as well as the promotion of young talent. We want to achieve all of this with our crowdfunding campaign. With your help we will succeed!

We are optimistic that by putting our plans into practice we can also contribute to a major social goal: the preservation of cultural heritage for our children and grandchildren.

After we have jointly achieved our goal and thus a successful financing, the Summer Academy will take place in Pompeii for a total of eight weeks from August to October 2020. Currently, thanks to the support of the Katrinzky Foundation, we are able to offer 8 students a place in the Summer Academy.

With your support we will be able to double this number and take up to 16 students to Pompeii. This will increase the contribution to the preservation of the archaeological site.

What do students receive from us on site?

We want to give all students the opportunity to participate in our program - regardless of their country of origin and their financial means. Therefore, the program includes travel costs, accommodation, excursions, a course offer including materials, certification and a participant shirt, as well as a daily allowance of approximately 28 Euro. This is necessary in order to live up to our claim to prevent indirect preferential treatment or discrimination.

If the 1st funding target of € 16,000 is reached, it will be possible for a total of 12 students to participate in the training programme of the Summer Academy in Pompeii.

If the 2nd funding target of € 32,000 is reached, it will be possible to allow a total of 16 students to participate in the training programme of the Summer Academy in Pompeii.

Everything you provide us with through the crowdfunding campaign will be used to expand the Summer Academy, i.e. more excursions and further training will be offered on site.

Join us and support young people to learn, restore and preserve our cultural heritage.