Art Signs 2006

	A Filippi nella Macedonia Greca, celebre per la battaglia tra le due fazioni che nel 1° secolo a. C. si disputarono la supremazia su Roma e per le prime predicazioni cristiane di San Paolo tra i pagani, si sono svolte nei giorni scorsi le celebrazioni greche per il 60° anniversario dell'UNESCO. Nell'Agorà e nel Foro romano sono state allestite due mostre internazionali sul tema della salvaguardia dei Beni Culturali, volute dall'Unione Europea ed affidate, per la regia e la realizzazione, al CeSMAP Museo Civico di Archeologia e Antropologia di Pinerolo. Una tavola rotonda si è quindi svolta al Municipio di Filippi, presenti autorità greche del Ministero per la Cultura di Atene, il Dr. Damir Dijakovic, sovrintendente dell'UNESCO per l'Europa dell'Est, il Dr. George Dimitriadis direttore dell' Hellenic Centre, i rappresentanti del progetto europeo "Artsigns Artrisk" tra cui il Dr. Ulf Bertilson, direttore del Ministero Beni Culturali della Svezia e rappresentante dell'ICOMOS-CAR, il Prof. Dario Seglie direttore del Museo di Pinerolo e rappresentante dell'IFRAO-UNESCO.   La riunione si è conclusa con l'indicazione, da parte dell'UNESCO, di organizzare prossimamente una riunione internazionale a Pinerolo sul tema della salvaguardia dei Beni Culturali e Naturali con particolare riferimento alla  tutela e gestione delle aree da valorizzare e proteggere. Questa scelta regionale è avvenuta anche in considerazione del fatto che il Piemonte e le Alpi Occidentali offrono un panorama di risorse valorizzate e di gestione di aree protette, musei e parchi, tale da far scuola per altre situazioni territoriali, a livello internazionale. Le esperienze di eccellenza del Pinerolese potranno così, ancora una volta, dopo gli eventi olimpici, avere una tribuna particolarmente qualificata quale è quella mondiale dell'UNESCO ed  una occasione significativa per progettare nuove realizzazioni e più ampie sinergie.
	OPENING ADDRESS by Prof. Dr. Dario SEGLIE IFRAO/UNESCO Liaison Officer Polytechnic of Turin, Dept. of Museography CeSMAP - Centro Studi e Museo d'Arte Preistorica Viale Giolitti 1 10064 Pinerolo, Italy
	Authorities and Central Excellencies, President of the Region, Mayor of Philippi, HERAC Director General, Distinguished Members of the Executive Board, Dear Colleagues and Partners in the EU Projects, Ladies and Gentlemen,  It is a pleasure and an especial honour to meet with you for our session on Cultural Heritage, European Protection Projects, UNESCO's 60th Anniversary celebration, in this magnificent historic, classic place of Philippi in Macedonia, Greece, rich in memories and archaeological remains, a crossing point, a forum linking Asia and Europe, melting pot of cultures and ideas.   It is an honour and privilege for me, on behalf of Mr. Robert Bednarik, Convener of the IFRAO, the International Federation of Rock Art Organizations, in my role of IFRAO UNESCO Liaison Officer, and on behalf of the Prof. Luiz Oosterbeek, Secretary General of the IUPPS International Union of Prehistoric and Protohistoric Sciences of UNESCO, to have the opportunity to thanks your Excellencies once more for your vital participation. Let me extend a warm thanks to our Colleagues of Greece, to my friend Dr. George Dimitriadis in particular, and to the International Project Partner Members, and express our gratitude for their contribution to our work in this Meeting and for the close cooperation with the CeSMAP of Pinerolo, Italy in the ArtRisk and ArtSigns Exhibitions set up, that will be inaugurated this night in the ancient Forum of Philippi. The pre-historic rock art of the world has been studied for centuries, but until very recently much of this endeavour has yielded little more than subjective contemporary re-interpretations of ancient symbolic systems. In recent years a specific research discipline has begun to emerge in this field, intended to examine the development of human cognition. The International Federation of Rock Art Organisations (IFRAO) is the main force behind the campaign of rendering rock art studies more rigorous, transforming the topic into a scientific pursuit, into the most ancient spiritual legacy of the Humanity. IFRAO members in general and Greece HERAC in particular are protagonists in the campaign oriented to the research, study, conservation and re-valuation of the Cultural Heritage as a patrimony of the Mankind. This is the first comprehensive academic effort about the application of scientific principles and methods in the study of pre-historic art. The EU Projects and the correlated Exhibitions are especially intended for use by researchers, teachers, students, authors, conservators, site managers and administrators concerned with the study, analysis and protection of rock art, and for the general people. International cooperation accomplishes its objectives when, and only when, its activities directly benefit the people. One of our main functions is to give fresh impulse to popular education and to the spread of culture. As we have found, we have reason to be proud of the cordial cooperation between HERAC of Greece, the CeSMAP of Italy and the IFRAO system. This fact is a long-term relationship that extends from the scientific fields to the social spheres. What is certain is that a strong partnership between Greece and the IFRAO is good for both of us. Philippi is a better possible location for the regional headquarters of the whole Balkan region. We will work closely with you in every aspect to attain the III Millennium development goals. We will continue to work with you to promote internationally- science, knowledge and peace, security and prosperity through a reformed and strengthened multilateral system. With this trip I have made my second official visit to Philippi; although it is so brief, I am certain that you will find, as we do, that it has further cemented the close cooperation between us. And we will continue to look forward to warmly cooperate again in the future.        I wish to us all a cooperative and enjoyable session. Thank you for your kind attention.   Dario Seglie Philippi, Greece, 3rd July 2006	grecia archeo grecia archeo grecia archeo grecia art grecia art spagna archeo spagna archeo spagna archeo pinerolo archeo pinerolo archeo pinerolo art pinerolo art pinerolo rock art ferrara archeo ferrara archeo
	ARTSIGNS EU Project The present past. European Prehistoric Art: aesthetics and communication     Authorities and Central Excellencies, President of the Region, Mayor of Philippi, HERAC Director General, Distinguished Members of the Executive Board, Dear Colleagues and Partners in the EU Projects, Ladies and Gentlemen,   Good evening and kalispéra. It is a pleasure and an especial honour to meet with you for the first opening of the ARTSIGNS European Cultural Heritage Projects, in this magnificent historic, classic place of Philippi rich in memories and archaeological remains, a crossing point, a forum linking Asia and Europe, melting pot of cultures and ideas. The culture of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome is collectively labelled "classical culture". The time period in which this culture was dominant is called classical antiquity, and its creative output  is known as "the classics". Quintus Horatis Flaccus, (65 BC - 8 BC), known as Horace, was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus.  He was here, in the Battle of Philippi.   We learn from the poet Horace: Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit et artes intulit agresti Latio ("Greece, when captured, captured her savage conqueror and brought the arts into rustic Latium.") and, as Horace suggests, the pen was mightier than the sword. Greek culture continued to reign supreme in the Mediterranean, and exerting a profound effect on European life. I am happy to welcome you to the opening of the EU Project ARTSIGNS Exhibition in this Forum, Agora of Philippi.   This Exhibition is one of many activities of European Union; I will explain for the people who are present today, this European "Culture 2000" Programme: ARTSIGNS The present past. European Prehistoric Art: aesthetics and communication, an international initiative supported by the global community. An important goal of this Programme is to conserve and divulge the Cultural Heritage for the future human generations. It is therefore our special responsibility in this Project to undertake basic research on Prehistoric Art, which cannot realistically be done elsewhere, and also information and education. Another of our activities is public relations, which enables us to reach large people with our exhibitions and other media (seminar, web sites, conferences, etc.).   The present project aims at promoting an interaction involving Prehistoric Art, modern artists and journalists. The project builds from the following considerations: 1.   Prehistoric Art is recognised as the most ancient material evidence of the complexity of human behaviour, at least since modern humans spread into Europe over 40.000 years ago.  2.   Yet, art within pre-modern societies was not aesthetics alone, and among many other components, it played an important role in the communication and information processes within those societies. 3.   The project builds from these first considerations of Prehistoric Art as a common trans-national heritage of European people with a symbiosis of aesthetics and communication. But the project aims to focus on how this reality interacts with current European societies, where art is perceived as mainly aesthetics. Hence, the project aims to value the European dimension of Prehistoric art, as a means of stressing common trends in European cultural interaction, by engaging, apart from basic archaeological research, also the tree "branches" mentioned above: Prehistoric Art (engaging science), Modern Art (engaging modern artists) and Modern Communication (engaging mass media and people).   This is why there is no doubt that the Agora of Philippi is a well-chosen first venue for the ARTSIGNS exhibition. I recall that the Project Partners are also working with the UNESCO, IFRAO, and IUSPP Organizations.   We, the Partners Project, know that unfolding this potential means to address not only the scientific, technological, and economic aspects of global development problems, but also the human, social, and legislative issues involved. Because mismanagement in our past world of modest population and limited technological power could be tolerated far more readily than it can in the crowded, high-tech global world of tomorrow, we have to do better, we urgently need new thinking. I am indeed impressed by the vast and significant contributions that have been made to archaeological and aesthetical research by the protagonists of this exhibition. Last but not list, I am very happy to thanks my friend Dr. George Dimitriadis and the colleagues of the HERAC Hellenic Rock Art Centre for the excellent work in set up this important Exhibition. But what is almost significant is the manner in which the goals were achieved - through extensive collaboration, including their most important asset of all - their human capital. I wish the ARTSIGNS Exhibition every success, and I am convinced it will make a most valuable contribution, to reversing the disingenuous spiral of ignorance cultural heritage destruction linkages, towards the direction of consciousness and sustainability. It only remains for me to thank you all for your patience in listening to me. Dario Seglie Philippi, Greece, 3rd July 2006	portogallo archeo portogallo archeo portogallo archeo sardegna archeo sardegna archeo sardegna art sardegna art napoli archeo napoli archeo napoli archeo napoli art napoli art valcamonica archeo