Department of Photography of Film and TV School of Academy of Performing Arts (Prague) in Havana – Starting Czech-Cuban collaboration in protecting the photographic cultural heritage?

Summary: In the course of 2014 a joint scientific project was carried out by experts in the field of photography restoration at the Prague FAMU Academy together with certain scientific institutions on Cuba, in particular the Photo-Theque of the City of Havana. Two working visits of Czech specialists in Cuba took place during which the topics for common activities were agreed and the most endangered parts of the photographic cultural heritage in Cuba, or rather in Havana, were determined. The project covered also a practical workshop and a conference focusing upon the preservation and restoration of pictures made by all sorts of historical photographic techniques. The main purpose of the workshop consisted in exploring photographic collections in Havana and training professionals in a number of cultural institutions how to apply conservation and restoration techniques in photography. The Czech delegation also visited the José-Martí-National Library, the National Archives and the Cuban Institute of History with special orientation upon modern history of the 19th and 20th century. The delegation was offered insight into the exceptionally interesting collections and funds of photography of all these institutions, resulting into suggestions of possible improvements of specific care. The programme scheduled for 2014 having been successfully met, continuing collaboration in 2015 is envisaged.