The Heritage Academy Alumni Association

The Heritage Academy Alumni Association (in Polish SAAD – Stowarzyszenie Absolwentów Akademii Dziedzictwa) was founded in 2006 in Krakow by an interdisciplinary group of alumni of postgraduate heritage management studies convinced of the need to continue searching for ideas and solutions to problems connected with broadly understood monument, heritage and landscape protection and management through discussion, research and  practical actions following post-graduate studies at the Academy of Heritage.

This interdisciplinary post-graduate programme is offered jointly by the Krakow University of Economics and the International Cultural Centre in Krakow focused on contemporary problems and issues of heritage management and protection, both cultural and natural, of local but also of universal meaning, in Poland and abroad.

Because of diversity of approaches and stress on the contemporary use of heritage and its potential for social and economic development of localities and sites, the association brings together persons with very diverse backgrounds and work experience – ranging from art historians, historians, archaeologists and architects to geographers, environment protection specialists, economists and sociologists, working for local administration, universities, cultural and civic centres. We wish to, through organizing conferences, seminars, workshops, exhibitions, professional trainings, promotion and publication oriented activities and different actions, join in the broader process of mobilising and building of a civil society for cultural and natural heritage.

The main statutory aims of the Association are as follows:

• promotion of attitudes, initiatives and actions conducive towards and supporting heritage protection and sustainable development respecting natural and cultural resources;
• activities aimed at increasing appreciation and respect for cultural and natural heritage;
• promotion and stimulation of initiatives of creating heritage protection and management strategies, strategies of empowerment of local population through the discovery and use of local heritage resources;
• research on the issues of heritage management, cultural regions, cultures of ethnic minorities and borderland areas;
• integration of scientific research, educational programmes and promotional activities linked with European cultural heritage;
• searching for and learning of innovative approaches towards protection and management of heritage developed abroad  trying to make use of them in the Polish context;
• developing knowledge, professional experience and qualifications of the association’s members.

The Association implements its statutory aims thorough:

• organisation and implementation of own programmes developed by its members as well as participation in the programmes of cooperating organisations;
• preparing publications in different forms and publishing on the issues linked with its activities;
• cooperation with domestic and international organisations with similar statutory aims;
• participation in study tours, seminars, scientific workshops and conferences.

The Heritage Academy Alumni Association undertakes projects which on the one hand lead to the personal and professional development of its members, on the other, help to save and preserve valuable monuments and support local communities in Poland and other European countries.

Projects completed in 2023:

• Intervention-type of conservation works of wall paintings of in the oldest part of the Armenian Cathedral in Lviv. Amount: PLN 107,500
• Restoration of the painting from the Kampian Chapel (continuation) and the reliquary from the Latin Cathedral in Lviv. Amount: PLN 54,000
• Emergency renovation works on a part of the roof truss in the Armenian Cathedral in Lviv. Amount: PLN 134,000

Projects completed in 2022:

• Restoration of the painting by Antoni Tuch in the Armenian Cathedral in Lviv. Amount: PLN 167,000
• Restoration of the painting from the Kampian Chapel with its gilded frame and the reliquary from the Latin Cathedral in Lviv. Amount: PLN 70,000
• Emergency renovation works on a part of the roof truss in the Armenian Cathedral in Lviv. Amount: PLN 190,000

This project is co-financed by the Minister of Culture, National Heritage and Sport from the Culture Promotion Fund - state special purpose fund




Projects organised and implemented from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage grants:

• Conservation and restoration works in the treasures of Polish culture in Ukraine - rescuing monumental paintings in the 16th century church in Dobromil, a Ministry of Culture and National Heritage grant of PLN 55 309;
• Intervention-type of conservation and restoration works of the wall paintings in the Armenian Cathedral in Lviv (Ukraine), 2nd stage, grant of PLN 114 867;
• Conservation and restoration works of wall paintings of Jan Henryk Rosen in the Armenian Cathedral in Lviv, 3rd stage, total costs: PLN 192 318;
• Scientific conference Problems of conservation and restoration of stone details on facades of historic buildings, grant of PLN 34 506;
• Conservation and restoration works of wall paintings of Jan Henryk Rosen in the Armenian Cathedral in Lviv, 4th stage, total costs: PLN 64 800;
• Conservation of side portal in the baroque church of Announciation of the Virgin (the church of the Bridgettine cloister) in Grodno (Belarus); grant of PLN 47 300;
• Conservation and restoration works of wall paintings of Jan Henryk Rosen in the Armenian Cathedral in Lviv, 5th stage, total costs PLN 129 377;
• Conservation, restoration and reconstruction works in the Tyszkiewicz Family Palace in Zatrocze (Republic of Lithuania). Next stage. A grant of PLN 98 400;
• Conservation and restoration of wall paintings of Jan Henryk Rosen in the Armenian Cathedral in Lviv (Ukraine). 6th stage. A grant of PLN 90 000;
• Conservation, restoration and reconstruction works in the Tyszkiewicz Family Palace in Zatrocze (Republic of Lithuania). Next stage. A grant of PLN 70 000;
• Interventional conservation work of Norblin’ paintings in the palace in Morvia. A grant of PLN 40 000;
• Conservation and restoration works of wall paintings of Jan Henryk Rosen in the Armenian Cathedral in Lviv, 7th stage. A grant of PLN 63 200;
• Conservation and restoration works of wall paintings of Jan Henryk Rosen in the Armenian Cathedral in Lviv, 8th stage. A grant of PLN 100 000;
• Interventional conservation work of Norblin’ paintings in the palace in Morvia – 2nd stage. A grant of PLN 70 000;
• Conservation and restoration works of wall paintings of Jan Henryk Rosen in the Armenian Cathedral in Lviv, 9th stage. A grant of PLN 81 600;
• Documenting lost and scattered Polish heritage abroad. A grant of PLN 61 800;
• Interventional conservation work of Norblin’ paintings in the palace in Morvia – 3rd stage. A grant of PLN 84 000;
• Interventional conservation work of Norblin’ paintings in the palace in Morvia – 4th stage. A grant of PLN 88 000;
• Conservation of st Romuald's sculpture at the Polish church in Kahlenberg – Vienna – 1st stage. A grant of PLN 60 00;
• Conservation and restoration works of wall paintings of Jan Henryk Rosen in the Armenian Cathedral in Lviv, 10th stage. A grant of PLN 135 000;
• Interventional conservation work of Wiśniewscy cementary chapel in Chervonohrad. A grant of PLN 29 500.

Projects organised and implemented from the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and Foundation for Citizens’ Iniviatives grants:

• Eco-museum – let’s protect local culture – a project aimed at activating residents of agricultural regions, especially young persons from 12 local communes of South Malopolska (Krakow) region by discovering the potential of local culture, heritage and traditions, total costs: PLN 121 650;
• Atelier of the Muses in Lanckorona – support for talented persons and heritage promotions, grant of PLN 215 600, a two-year project;
• Meeting with culture – 6th International Guitar Festival in Lanckorona (The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and Foundation for Citizens’ Initiatives grant).

Other projects organized and implemented in the past few years:

• Scientific support to cultural leaders of the Byelorussian countryside natural-cultural routes (Greenways) – a Programme of the RITA Foundation for Education for Democracy, grant of PLN 25 000;
• Atelier of the Muses in Lanckorona – interpretation of Lanckorona’s cultural heritage, grant of PLN 7000.

SAAD activities carried out in 2017:

• Intervention restoration works on paintings by S. Norblin in the palace in Morvi – stage V, including digitisation of works – 100% financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage programmes – PLN 73,000.
• The first stage of restoration works on the mural paintings in the presbytery of the Bernardine church in Vilnius – Lithuania – 100% financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage programmes – PLN 300,000.
• Conservation work on two side altars inside the church in Kahlenberg – Vienna –stage II – 100% financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage programmes – PLN 276,080.
• Conservation and restoration work on Rosen’s wall paintings in the Armenian Cathedral in Lviv. Stage XI – 100% financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage programmes – PLN 133,500.

SAAD activities carried out in 2018

• “Stage II of restoration works on the wall paintings in the presbytery of the Bernardine church in Vilnius – Lithuania”. PLN 86,400 (100% financed from the funds of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage).
• “Conservation and restoration work on Rosen’s wall paintings in the Armenian Cathedral in Lviv. Stage XII”. PLN 53,000 (100% financed from the funds of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage).
• “Conservation works on graves and national memorial sites in cemeteries
  in Switzerland, stage II”. PLN 90,000 (100% financed from the funds of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage).
• “Conservation works in the Polish church in Kahlenberg – Vienna – Stage III.” PLN 150,000 (100% financed from the funds of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage).
• “Conservation and technological works in the Armenian Cathedral Parish of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lviv on the painting by Rosen depicting the Last Supper, located in the altar apse with the conch closing the apse and smoothly painted green stripe, constituting the aesthetic part of the painting”. PLN 118,900. (100% financed from the funds of the “Polonika” National Institute of Polish Cultural Heritage Abroad).
• “Documentation, conservation and technological works on the paintings of St. Casimir
  and St. Stanisław Kostka, by Lilla Ciechanowska, and paintings depicting the emblem and Our Lady of Częstochowa by an unknown amateur painter, located in the former post-Bernardine church in Cendras, Ales, France”. PLN 32,000. (100% financed from the funds of the “Polonika” National Institute of Polish Cultural Heritage Abroad).

SAAD activities carried out in 2019:

• "Conservation work at the Polish church in Kahlenberg - Vienna - stage IV" for PLN 140,000; - 100% financed from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage programs
• "III. stage of conservation works on wall polychromies of the presbytery of the Bernardine church in Vilnius - Lithuania. " for PLN 230,000; - 100% financed from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage programs
• "Restoration and restoration works on the Rosen painting in the Armenian cathedral in Lviv. Stage XIII "for the amount of PLN 90,000; - 100% financed from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage programs
• "Conservation and technological works on polychromies by Rosen in the baptistery of the church of Mary Magdalene. Lviv "for PLN 65,000; - 100% financed from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage programs
• "Mosaic conservation in the dome of the Armenian Cathedral in Lviv, Ukraine" for the amount of PLN 375,200; - financed by the National Institute of Polish Cultural Heritage Abroad POLONIKA

SAAD activities carried out in 2020:

• "Intervention restoration work around the mosaic by Mehoffer in the oldest part of the Armenian Cathedral in Lviv”. The amount of the task performed PLN 144,000 was 100% financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, the Culture Promotion Fund.
• "Conservation and restoration works on the painting 'Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane' from the Lviv Cathedral of the Latin Rite". The amount of the task carried out was PLN 79,000, 100% from the financial resources of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, from the Culture Promotion Fund.
• "Rescue work on the organ instrument, the organ cabinet and the floor in the music choir in the church in Kremenets". The amount of the implemented task PLN 160,000, it was 100% financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund.

SAAD activities carried out in 2021:

• Conservation works of the mosaic designed by Józef Mehoffer and presented inside the dome of the oldest part of the Armenian Cathedral in Lviv, stage II, co-financing: 120 000 PLN
• Conservation and restoration of three reliquaries from the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Lviv, co-financing: PLN 100 000 PLN
• Conservation and restoration works on the painting "Transfiguration" in he Roman Catholic Cathedral in Lviv, co-financing: PLN 100,000

Study tours for the members of the association

:
• Niepołomice as an example of heritage restoration and management, June 2006;
• The multicultural heritage of Gdańsk, October 2007;
• Heritage management in the Wielkopolska (Poznań) region, June 2008;
• At the crossroads of cultures near the Bug rive” May 2010;
• Lviv, October 2013;
• Podlasie Region, September 2014;
• Gdańsk, April / May 2016;
• Belarus, September 2018.

We are open to new ideas and possibilities of cooperation with partners interested in the organisation and implementation of projects on heritage related issues, especially projects focused on the heritage of Central and Eastern Europe.