International Cities Forum Graz (ISG)

The International Urban Forum Graz (ISG) will discuss the opportunities, but also the risks and problems of implementing the World Heritage Convention, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. It will take place from June 23 to 25, 2022 at the Folklore Museum Graz

On November 16, 1972, the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Heritage Convention) was adopted by the member states of UNESCO. Over 190 states have ratified this convention to date. The aim of the World Heritage Convention is to preserve natural and cultural properties of outstanding universal value as part of the common heritage of mankind for future generations.

The International Forum of Cities Graz (ISG) would like to commemorate this historic date with a symposium and at the same time discuss the opportunities, but also the risks and problems of implementing the World Heritage Convention. The ISG was founded in 1976 on the initiative of the Council of Europe. It is committed to the preservation of old towns, the protection of townscape and building culture, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the protection of city and town centers and contemporary building in a historical context. The ISG is an international and non-partisan association that is part of a large network of heritage institutions and building culture associations. From June 23 to 25, 2022, an ISG symposium on the topic of “Holistic approaches to contemporary monument protection” will take place at the Volkskundemuseum Graz. The occasion is the adoption of the World Heritage Convention 50 years ago.

Monument and World Heritage protection as core elements of building culture

Elsa Brunner from the Austrian Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport (BMKÖS) will speak at the opening of the symposium on June 23. She is the head of the Department for Monument Protection, Building Culture and Art Restitution. Her presentation will focus on the topic of “Monument and World Heritage protection as core elements of building culture – a plea for an overall legal plan”. Afterwards, the President of ICOMOS Austria, Caroline Jäger-Klein, will speak on the topic of “Baukultur im Welterbe. Interventions for Eggenberg Palace”. This will be followed by a lecture by architect and art historian Burkhardt Rukschcio on “The restoration of the Looshaus in Vienna”. On Friday, June 24, Judith Schwentner, Deputy Mayor of the City of Graz and ISG President, will welcome the symposium participants, followed by a presentation by Eva Blimlinger on the topic of “World Heritage versus New Architecture? – No contradiction”.

The World Heritage Convention from the perspective of monument protection law

Christoph Bazil, President of the Austrian Federal Monuments Office, will discuss “The World Heritage Convention from the perspective of monument protection law”, and constitutional lawyer Manfred Matzka will address the question of the implementation of the World Heritage Convention by the federal, state and local authorities. Michael Sachs, Vice President of the Federal Administrative Court, will comment on decisions of the Federal Administrative Court on monument protection issues. At the end of the symposium, Frank Altenburg from the Netherlands Agency for Cultural Heritage will turn the spotlight on the Netherlands. “The integration of cultural heritage. Current monument protection policy in the Netherlands” is the title of his presentation.

What is the International Forum of Graz Cities (ISG)?

The International Forum of Towns in Graz (ISG), founded by an initiative of the Council of Europe in 1976 and based in Graz, is committed to the preservation of old towns, the protection of townscape and building culture, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the protection of city and town centers and contemporary building in a historical context. The ISG is an international and non-partisan association that is part of a large network of heritage institutions and building culture associations. In the German/English ISG magazine, which is published four times a year, we present “best-practice projects” with specialist authors from all over Europe and want to show that you can’t talk and write enough about good ideas, projects and plans for the preservation of historic building culture and for sensitive further building! At the annual ISG symposium, we intensify this international exchange and enrich it with excursions.

Graz’s UNESCO World Heritage Site is also in focus: the symposium will take place in the heart of the Old Town World Heritage Zone, in the newly renovated Heimatsaal – part of the Universalmuseum Joanneum/Volkskundemuseum in Paulustorgasse. You can find the registration link here.