Conserving a Living Tradition: Hands-on Workshop to be held at Mission in Rural Chihuahua, Mexico

Rural Mexico will be the location for one of Heritage Conservation Network's 2003 series of hands-on building conservation workshops. The workshop, to be held September 21-27, 2003, at San Francisco de Borja Mission in Chihuahua, is part of HCN's continuing effort to provide technical assistance to preservation projects while offering an opportunity for students, conservators and other interested parties to learn specialized building conservation skills.

Rural Mexico will be the location for one of Heritage Conservation Network's 2003 series of hands-on building conservation workshops. The workshop, to be held September 21-27, 2003, at San Francisco de Borja Mission in Chihuahua, is part of HCN's continuing effort to provide technical assistance to preservation projects while offering an opportunity for students, conservators and other interested parties to learn specialized building conservation skills.

The workshop is a cooperative effort between HCN and Misiones Coloniales de Chihuahua, a non-profit organization that assists local residents in the conservation of the 168 historic missions in the state of Chihuahua. The workshop will focus on appropriate techniques for working with adobe brick, lime plaster, and structural elements such as vigas. Decorative elements, including carved wood and stone and decoratively painted surfaces, will also be addressed during the week-long course. The mission was established in 1639, destroyed in the rebellion of 1648, and rebuilt by 1676.

"Of all our 2003 workshops, the one in Mexico presents the greatest opportunity to support cultural heritage conservation. The San Francisco De Borja Mission is part of the area's living heritage, important to the daily life of the community, and local residents and HCN participants will be learning side by side how to properly care for the structure. The international participants will be making a significant contribution to an important preservation project and, as with all our workshops, will be able to take what theyâ€ve learned and apply it †either on a professional level or a personal one †to projects of their own", says Jamie Donahoe, HCN's Operations Director.

An on-site conservation expert guides and teaches participants through the workshop, so participants need only an interest in preservation and a willingness to learn while they work. Instruction will be in English and Spanish. There is a small chance that State Government will request that the workshop be held at the Santa Rosilia Mission, which has a similar history and is in the same vicinity as San Francisco de Borja. The exact location will not alter the details of the workshop, and transportation will be provided from the city of Chihuahua to the workshop site.

The cost of the workshop is US$ 875, which includes lodging, meals, insurance, and workshop materials. Pre-registration is required; registration materials and more workshop details are available from HCN's web site at www.heritageconservation.net or from their office at 1557 North Street, Boulder, Colorado, 80304, USA. Phone +1 303 444 0128, Fax +1 775 320 6837, E-mail workshops@heritageconservation.net.

Heritage Conservation Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of architectural heritage around the world. Through a network of experts, volunteers and community members, the organization aims to increase awareness of the significance of historic sites and stimulate each community's interest in and knowledge of appropriate conservation skills, thus helping to provide for the long-term preservation of significant structures and sites.

#####