As part of our center’s lecture series, an international conference program on the “Keşlik Monastery Wall Paintings Restoration Project,” under the theme of “Cultural Heritage,” was held in the Medrese A1 Hall with the participation of approximately one hundred people. The event was organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, with the support of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums and the Nevşehir Governorship, hosted by Cappadocia University, and in collaboration with Nevşehir Hacı Bektaşi Veli and Hacı Bayram Veli Universities; and implemented by our center and the Nevşehir Regional Restoration and Conservation Laboratory. This scientific meeting was supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey, the Nevşehir Governorship, the Nevşehir Provincial Special Administration, the Cappadocia Tourism Infrastructure Services Association, and the Ürgüp District Governorship, and included experts from the Nevşehir Restoration and Conservation Directorate, Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University, and Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University. The conference focused on an international project planned for 2024-2030, involving Turkish, Japanese, and Italian experts from Japan’s Tokyo National Institute for Cultural Heritage Research and Kanazawa University, as well as the Mircea Maria Gerard Foundation and the Bastioni Association in Italy. During the conference, experts discussed the “Preservation of Cultural Heritage” project, specifically focusing on the Archangel Michael Church at Keşlik Monastery, whose restoration, conservation, and landscaping work was completed in 2023. Expert teams at Keşlik Monastery shared their past and planned efforts to preserve the church’s medieval paintings. The conference program is as follows:
Session 1: “The Wall Paintings of the Archangel Michael Church in Keşlik Monastery in the Context of Art History” Prof. Dr. Tolga Uyar (Lecturer at Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University)
Session 2: “The Use of Digital Technology in the Conservation Project of the Archangel Michael Church Wall Paintings” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hirofumi Sugawara (Kanazawa University, Japan)
Session 3: “Preliminary Studies for the Conservation of the Archangel Michael Church Wall Paintings in Keşlik Monastery” Dr. Daniella Murpy (President of the Bastioni National Heritage Preservation Association) and Dr. Yoshifumi Maekawa (Tokyo National Institute of Cultural Heritage Research)
Closing Panel and Field Trip to Keşlik Monastery
