Call to revive manuscript restoration techniques

The participants of the Fifth Arab Workshop for Manuscript Restoration being held at the Juma Al Majid Centre for Culture and Heritage called for reviving manuscript restoration techniques and encouraging youngsters to take part in related workshops.

The workshop, which is held jointly by the centre and the Arab Manuscripts Institute of the Arab League, based in Cairo, opened on March 3 and ends on April 1.

Highlighting the importance of the workshop, Dr Bassam Daghestani, the Head of Maintenance, Treatment and Restoration of the centre's Manuscripts Section, explained: "This workshop aims at building a new generation capable of understanding and caring for manuscripts, and increasing the number of experts in the Arab and Islamic manuscript industry, along with methods of preservation used in the Arab World."

Summing up what the participants had discussed, Dr Daghestani said: "The workshop is now almost through. In the first two weeks, the participants learnt how to perform manual and automatic restoration.

They were also taught how to restore maps, books and periodicals with their own hands and using the Al Majid restoration device. They had the chance to learn more about how books and manuscripts are vulnerable to termite infestation.

"In the next two weeks, they learnt the Islamic art of binding books and they had the chance to learn how to treat adverse conditions that hit books, using chemical treatment."

Juma Al Majid, Director of the centre, said at the opening ceremony: "We are holding this workshop, trying to revive our cultural manuscripts and preserve them.

"We'd like to join hands with the Arab Manuscripts Institute of the Arab League and teach participants how to restore manuscripts manually, scientifically and with the Al Majid restoration device.

Trainees will learn how to fix manuscripts and books by using marmoreal paper that is used in making hard covers and other kinds of special paper used for restoring and preserving manuscripts. As part of the workshop's programme they can practise what they have learned on the Al Majid restoration device."

Twenty participants are representing nine countries - Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Sudan, Palestine, Mauritania, UAE, Algeria and Libya. The workshop will be a great opportunity for all to meet and exchange their expertise and views on the obstacles in the art of repairing manuscripts and reviving its techniques."