Creative Industries & Craft Development
Georgian Arts in the context of European and Asian Cultures
June 21-29, 2008, Tbilisi, Batumi, Sighnaghi, Georgia
About
Georgia, located on the southern bend of the Caucasian mountain range, is an ancient land with a deep cultural legacy. For more than 5,000 years, the cultural values created on this continuously inhabited territory have had an important impact on mainstream world history. Georgia’s unique geographic position—located on the cusp of Eastern Europe and Western Asia—has helped it to foster a rich and diverse artistic tradition. Its impressive artistic achievements, which span ancient, Medieval and modern times, reflect those of Eastern and Western civilizations while, at the same time, remain true to the nation’s own identity and provenance. Artifacts made by Georgians throughout recorded history serve as emblems of the intellectual and spiritual development of the nation’s culture. As a result, Georgian arts and culture has been the subject of the inquiry for an impressive range of academics and scholars over the last century.
The Symposium, “Georgian Arts in the Context of European and Asian Cultures,” took place from June 21 to June 29, 2008 in variouse locations throughout Georgia. Its aim was to familiarize international audiences with the broad spectrum of studies and investigations that exist in the expanding field of Georgian art history. By doing so, the organizing committee intends to raise the level of academic interest regarding the wide range of topics on Georgian arts and culture, introduce Georgian and international specialists to other colleagues in their fields and provide them with an unprecedented forum for scientific exchange.
The 2008 International Symposium on Georgian Art was an initiative stemming from a one-day symposium on Georgian art entitled, “Georgian Culture: Past and Present,” sponsored by the Harriman Institute at Columbia University, Tbilisi State Academy of Arts, Georgian Arts and Culture Center, and the Fulbright Scholar Program.. Held in April 2007, Georgian and American scholars gathered on Columbia’s New York City campus to present their work to leading members of their respective fields as well as discuss the direction of future scholarship in Georgian cultural studies.
Organizers: Ministry of Culture, Monuments Protection and Sport of Georgia & Georgian Arts and Culture Center
Co-organizers: Department of Tourism and Resorts of Georgia; G. Chubinashvili National Center of Georgian Art History and Monuments Protection; Georgian National Academy of Sciences; I. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University; Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports of Adjara Autonomic Republic; Tbilisi State Academy of ArtsProgramme
Scientific Council:
Head of the Scientific Council
Dimitry Tumanishvili,PhD. Professor of Art History
Coordinator of Section "Medieval Georgia" Anna Kldiashvili Art Historian, PhD., Associated Professor
Coordinator of Section "Georgian Modernism"
Nino Gaganidze
Art Historian, PhD., Associated Professor
Coordinator of Section "Biological Deterioration in Cultural Heritage"
Giulia Caneva,Professor, University "Roma TRE", Department of Biology
Coordinator of Section "Georgian Antiquities"
Michael Abramishvili,Archaeologist, Head of the Tbilisi Museum of Archaeology
Coordinator of Section "Georgian Modernism" Nino Gaganidze Art Historian, PhD., Associated Professor
Coordinator of Section "Conservation/Restoration"
Nana Kuprashvili,Art Historian, PhD., ProfessorAdvisory Council: Nikoloz Vacheishvili, Chairman, Minister of Culture, Monument Protection and Sport of Georgia; George Bugadze, Rector of Tbilisi State Academi of Arts; Roin Takidze, Minister of Education, Culture and Sports Adjara Autonomic Rep.; Thomas V. Gamkrelidze, President of Georgian National Academy of Sciences; Dimitri Tumanishvili, G. Chubinashvili National Center of Georgian Art History and Monuments Protection, Tbilisi State Academy of Art; Otar Bubashvili, Chairman of the Department of Tourism and Resorts of Georgia; Tamar Beruchashvili, Deputy State Minister for Euro-Atlantic Integration; Tamar Mikadze, Press and Inform. Officer of the Delegation of the European Commission to Georgia
Hosting, Promotion & Informational Coverage: Georgian Palace Hotel; Georgian Public Broadcasting; Magi Style; "Mercury Classic " Ltd; Marco Polo
Sponsors: Administration of Governor in Kakheti Region; Department of Tourism and Resorts of Georgia; Georgian Historical Monuments Defence and Survival Center; I. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University; Merab Berdzenishvili International Culture Center «Muza»; Ministry of Culture, Monument Protection and Sport of Georgia; Ministry of Education, Tourism and Sports of Achara Autonomic Republic; Ministry of Culture, Monument Protection and Sport of Georgia; Tbilisi State Academy of Arts; Alexander Dumas Centre of French Culture; Delegation of the European Commission to Georgia; Eurasia Partnership Foundation; European Foundation Stepbeyond Mobility Fund / Open Society Institute Budapest
Goethe Institute; GTZ; Harriman Institute at Columbia University, Georgian Studies Center; Italian Embassy in Georgia; Trust for Mutual Understanding; World Monuments Fund® Kress Program; United States Embassy in Georgia