International conference "David Gareji: Multidisciplinary Research and Development Strategy" will be held in Tbilisi on 18, 19 and 20 April 2019.

The conference was held at the Georgian Museum of Fine Arts - Arthouse on April 18 and was officially opened by the First Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia - Mikheil Giorgadze.

At the event, Nostra's Secretary General Sneshka Kaidvlig-Mihailovich, along with the Vice-President Pete Jassaperti and experts of the Institute of European Investigative Bank presented a report regarding Davit Gareji which started in november. The report covers the concept of setting up David Gareji monastery complex "Open Museum" in parallel with restoration, rehabilitation, economic development and other recommendations.

In the year 2018, David Gareji Monastery Complex was included in the list of the European Heritage Cultural Heritage Sites - Europe Nostra and the European Cultural Heritage of the Institute of European Investment Bank.

The goal of the conference is to promote multinational research on the site, to address the problems faced by the natural and cultural heritage of the complex and to find ways to solve, and develop the strategy and action plan.

The professors of University of Hebrew of Jerusalem, as well as the professor of the University Of New York - Professor Veronika Kalas, Professor of Georgetown University - Ori Soltes, representatives of the Institute of Environmental Protection and Research participated in the aforementioned event.

The conference is organized by the European Nostra Representation in Georgia - International Center for Art and National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia, supported by Shota Rustaveli Georgian National Science Foundation.

The David Gareji Monastery Complex was founded in the 1st half of the 6th century by the Assyrian fathers David Garejeli and his disciples, one of the unique monuments of Georgia's cultural and natural heritage. It is located in the south-eastern part of Georgia, on the banks of Ivri river, semi-desert and consists of more than two dozen cave complexes and many hundreds of complex hole systems. Part of the complex is located in Georgia's border areas of Azerbaijan. The monument has a status of national importance, in 2007 the complex is included in the UNESCO World Heritage National Preliminary List.

International Conference Program:

April 18, Thursday, 10: 00-18: 00

Address: Georgian Fine Art Museum, Conference Hall

Rustaveli Avenue # 7, Tbilisi, 0108, Georgia

Section I - Monument Management and Protection Issues

Section II - David Gareja Natural Heritage

April 19, Friday, 10: 00-13: 00

Address: Georgian National Museum auditorium

A.Furtseladze str. # 1, Tbilisi, 0108, Georgia

Section III - Historical, Cultural Aspect of David Gareja Monastery Complex

Artistic Aspects

On April 20, Saturday, 10: 00-17: 00

Address: Georgian National Museum auditorium

A.Furtseladze str. # 1, Tbilisi, 0108, Georgia

Section III - Historical, Cultural Aspect of David Gareja Monastery Complex

Artistic Aspects

See the complete program on the web site: www.gaccgeorgia.org

Official Partners:

Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation, National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation, Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, Georgian National Museum, Creative Europe, Europe Nostra, Institute of European Investment Bank.