OxfordBrookes, but isalso Education Coordinator for the IHBC. Howtheprojectwillbeachieved Atraining workshop will be established in Romania during the summer of 1999 with student/participants drawn from the full range of ethnic groups throughout Romania. Students will be given lectures on conservation philosophy by lecturersfrom Oxford Brookes University and will be directly tutored in conservation practice by the British Craftsmen, overseen by the team of conservation professionals. Students will also be given direct"hands-on" experience at craftskills. 'fhe workshop will take place at the Bethlan Gabor College in Aiud, a national monument identified by the TransylvaniaTrust as exemplifying many of the problems associated with the decay of the historic building fabric of Romania. A detailed survey of the college has been undertaken by members of the Partnership. Four students will be allocated to each of the eight conse1vation craftsmen, and the workshop will be established in two, five week modules, thereby allowing a throughput of 64 students. It is expected that a Certificate of Competence will be issued at the completion of the workshop, endorsed by the IHBC, Oxford Brookes University, The TransylvaniaTrust and the Romania Government. It is also hoped that tl1e most proficient student(s) will be offered a ScholarshipatOxford Brookes University. The detailed survey of the Bethlan Gabor College was undertaken by members ofthe UKteam and The Transylvania Trust between 30th November and 8th December 1998. Many of the problems identified were caused by water penetration and retention within the main fabric of the buildings, which are rendered onto a bricksubstructure. Decay and fractureof primary roof members were also evident inspecificareas. As a result, the workshop willconcentrate on traditional rendering skills,timber frame/ carpentry repairs and roofing/weatherproofing techniques. Costs/funding The total cost of the Project will be US $316,470, of which US $158,800 has already been realised through contributions/donations. The remainder is being sought through EU funding. Our initial aimwas to apply to the European Union underthe provisions of Project Raphael. However the recent problems relating to the European Commissioners has resulted in extra stringent scrutiny of applications to ensure that all set criteria are met! Project Raphael unfortunately contained a single clause which we were unable to meet and consequently we are now pursuing funding under the PHAREProgramme. We have also been Context62June1999 advised of the eligibility of the project under the LEONARDOinitiative for next year but we are determined to ensure it willtake place tl1isyear. Communications between Shropshire/Herefordshire, Brussels and Bucharest are frequent/ daily! Funding of the swvey was achieved through contributions from the IHBC and the British Embassy (Bucharest). Benefitsoftheproject The most immediate benefits will be the direct repair of the Bethlan Gabor College, the exchange of craft techniques, and the fostering of immediate relations between European Countries.In the longer term there will be a cascade of information to other conservation projects: self education of indigenous craftsman: regeneration of local craft industries: improvement of the heritage base to regenerate and encourage cultural tourism: establishment of a programme of educational exchanges (notably through Oxford Brookes University): and economic regeneration through poverty alleviation. The repair of the Bethlan Gabor College isin many ways incidental to the true aims of the project. Through its repair a major local benefit will accrue, but itis the wider teaching aims and exchange of expertise which will be me enduring legacy and which willfonn the catalystfor a Romanian conservation movement. Beyond the Aiud Project our sights, and those ofThe Transylvania Trust are firmly set on the restoration of Bannfy Castle, Bontida, in Cluj County and its development as a Romanian national craft skills centre. It is currently the subject of an application for World Heritage Status. Conclusion/overview A clear need for this project has been identified by the Romania Government. A partnership of expertise and experience has been assembled involving a diverse range of participants and all key organisations and individuals are now in place to undertake the project. The project has achieved a profile significantly greater than that which was expected when meWestMidlandsBranch was first invited to participate. That was made clear during the survey visit last December when members of the team were invited to discuss the project with tl1eRomania Secretaries of State for Culture and for Education in Bucharest. Subsequent to that visit, me project was discussed in the Romanian Parliament, and US $30,000 US allocated to it. Detailed discussions also took place at the British Embassy wim a representative of the British Ambassador and the Head of the BritishCouncil, Bucharest. Equally,in this country ithas been well received and fullysupported by allof the localauthority organisations involved. Much of this support has been due to the involvement of the IHBC in me Project, as the Institute is now held in very high esteem as the principal body in tl1e Britishconse1vation movement. Thiswas emphasised to us on many occasions during the survey visit to Romania. Involvement in the project offers the Institute a unique opportunity to help guide and influence a new conservation movement in a new democracy, but with mat comes great responsibility.The West Midlands Branch is very honoured to be involved. We have so far undergone a very steep learning curve and hope to report fu1theron the success of the project in a future issue of Context. Addendum Since writing the main article, activity has been frantic and has resulted in a successful bid for finances and a continued recruitment of crafts personnel, ready for a commencement of the Project on 28th June as programmed. However, we have had to redirect the project due to me evolving situation in Kosovo.The project location issimply too close to tl1eRomania border with Serbia for the Foreign Office and the British Embassy to assure our safety. We have been advised to postpone the start date. This initially was a major disappointment to us and to our Romanian partners, particularly as the project had achieved a ve1y high profile with endorsements from the British Council, The British Embassy (Bucharest), The Romanian Government, ICOMOS (UK and Europe), and a personal endorsement from His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. However, out of this adversity we have recognised an opportunity, through postponement, to raise further the profile of the Project and to prepare the team more fully for its implementation. To harness tl1emomentum and entlrnsiasm which has developed, we have redirected its emphasis for this year. The summer of 1999will therefore be used to establish a Foundation Project whereby ten Romanian semi-skilled craftsmen/ students together wim five members of the Transylvania Tmst will be brought to England to unde1take an intensive learning course through Oxford Brookes University, and through detailed workshops provided by the UKConservation team. On returning to Romania the students will undertake a series of minor repair projects as a lead-in to the implementation of the main workshop during the year 2000 as a Millennium Project. Funding for the Foundation Project is being sought through the DTI 'Know How Fund' and commercial sponsorship. Further bulletins on the project will be given through the Newsletter. 21
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