PREAMBLE
The
VENICE CHARTER was created in 1964 as a statement of principles
for the conservation and restoration of monuments and sites.
It opens with the preamble:
“Imbued with a message from the past, the historic monuments
of generations of people remain to the present day as living
witnesses of their age-old traditions. People are becoming
more and more conscious of the unity of human values and regard
ancient monuments as a common heritage. The common responsibility
to safeguard them for future generations is recognized. It
is our duty to hand them on in the full richness of their
authenticity. It is essential that the principles guiding
the preservation and restoration of ancient buildings should
be agreed and be laid down on an international basis, with
each country being responsible for applying the plan within
the framework of its own culture and traditions. By defining
these basic principles for the first time, the ATHENS CHARTER
of 1931 contributed towards the development of an extensive
international movement which has assumed concrete form in
national documents, in the work of ICOM and UNESCO and in
the establishment by the latter of the International Centre
for the Study of the Preservation and the Restoration of Cultural
Property”.
Both Charters focus on monuments and sites ashore. Maritime
heritage is not covered despite its close affinity. Therefore
the 4th EMH Congress, meeting in Barcelona in 2001, resolved
to adapt the VENICE CHARTER for maritime heritage in Europe,
to be known as the “BARCELONA CHARTER”.
DEFINITIONS
ARTICLE
1. The concept of maritime heritage afloat embraces the single
traditional ship in which is found the evidence of a particular
civilisation or significant development as well as traditional
sailing, seamanship and maritime workmanship. This applies
both to larger ships and to more modest craft of the past,
which have acquired cultural significance with the passing
of time.
ARTICLE
2. The preservation, restoration and operation of traditional
ships must have recourse to all the sciences, techniques and
facilities, that can contribute to the study and safeguarding
of the maritime heritage afloat.
AIM
ARTICLE
3. The intention in preserving and restoring traditional ships
in operation is to safeguard them whether as works of art,
as historical evidence or for perpetuating traditional skills.
PRESERVATION
ARTICLE
4. It is essential for the continued survival of traditional
ships in operation that they be maintained on a permanent
basis.
ARTICLE 5. Making use of traditional ships for some socially
useful purpose always facilitates their preservation. Such
use is therefore desirable but it must not significantly change
the exterior layout of the ship. Modifications demanded by
a change of function should be kept within these limits.
ARTICLE 6. A traditional ship is inseparable from the history
to which it bears witness and from the waters it sailed. Therefore
its homeport and area of operation ideally should be in the
regions of its former usage.
RESTORATION
ARTICLE
7. The process of restoration is a highly specialised operation.
Its aim is to preserve and reveal the aesthetic, functional,
and historic value of traditional ships and is based on respect
for original material and authentic documents. The restoration
in any case must be preceded and accompanied by a historical
study of the ship.
ARTICLE
8. The restoration of traditional ships will best be accomplished
by means of traditional materials and techniques. Where traditional
materials or techniques prove inadequate, the consolidation
of traditional ships in operation can be achieved by the use
of modern materials for conservation, the efficacy of which
has been shown by scientific data and proved by experience.
ARTICLE 9. The restoration of a traditional ship does not
require that the ship shall be restored to the original building
year. Some ships have a great historical value in a later
period of their former time of working. Restoration to any
period should be executed only after thorough consideration
of the quality of the historical and technical documentation
available for the chosen period.
ARTICLE 10. Obligatory navigation- and safety equipment must
integrate harmoniously with the whole, but at the same time
must be distinguishable from the original so that restoration
does not falsify the artistic or historic evidence.
ARTICLE 11. Additions cannot be allowed except in so far as
they do not detract from the interesting parts of the ship,
its traditional setting and the balance of its composition.
ARTICLE 12. In all works of restoration there should always
be precise documentation in the form of analytical and critical
reports, illustrated with drawings and/or photographs and
other appropriate media. Every stage of the work of dismantling,
treatment, reassembly and addition of new parts, as well as
technical and structural features identified during the course
of the work, should be included.
The BARCELONA CHARTER as adopted by the EMH Working Group
28th of September 2002 in Enkhuizen.
Arne Gotved Anders Berg
(Chairman EMH Cultural Council) (President
EMH)
Signed March 30th 2003 on board Fregatten Jylland, Ebeltoft
DK
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