07.00 – 08.30 - Registration

Official opening 3rd Caribbean Heritage Conference

Gustavo Araoz - Keynote speaker - The importance of collaboration through ICOMOS

Araoz will emphasise on the importance of collaboration of Caribbean heritage professionals through ICOMOS  

Michael A. Newton - Introducing Willemstad UNESCO World Heritage city

Old Willemstad consists of several distinct historic districts, reflecting different eras of colonial town planning and development. The urban and architectural development since the 17^th century will be briefly explained      

Dimitri Cloose - The history of Willemstad’s Harbor

Willemstad developed as a port town, so the harbour itself is part of the World Heritage site. The history of the port will be reviewed, also in relation to other Caribbean port towns.

Questions & Answers with speakers

Willemstad harbour boat tour & lunch

Gather in the lobby. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes, light clothing and sun protection. A bottle of water will be provided upon departure.

Session: Underwater heritage & archaeology - 14.00 - 17.00

Peggy Leshikar-Denton - Caribbean Underwater Cultural Heritage: Past, Present & Future

Amy Victorina - Archaeology of Historic Willemstad

Curaçao has a vast range of heritage that spreads over a period span of more than 5000 years. This heritage is constantly under threat by developments. For managing the old city an update of the Cultural Heritage Map of Curaçao is necessary.    

Oshane Robinson - The story of Port Royal

The Jamaican city of Port Royal possesses a unique heritage that is now an underwater time capsule of 17th century English colonial society. Through archaeology we get a direct window into the past.

Q & A session with speakers

17.30 - Official Welcome Reception at the Governor's Palace

The official welcome to the conference is hosted by the Governor of Curaçao at the Governor's Palace. We gather in the lobby of the Renaissance at 5:30 PM for a short walk across the floating bridge to historical Fort Amsterdam, where the dinner reception is held from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Dress code is formal attire.    

Session: Branding & Marketing of heritage 08.00 – 12.00

Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace - Keynote speaker - Branding and marketing heritage

There are many examples of successful heritage branding and marketing programs that will be used to illustrate the tools and techniques that deliver the value that the destination is seeking.  

Sheron Johnson - Heritage Sustainability: A marketing approach in Barbados

Three case studies of three heritage properties that have been restored in Barbados will be examined. They have been adapted for reuse and have started to implement various strategies and initiatives to market and brand their sites.

Annefleur Siebinga - Making heritage matter

How can you get stakeholders in the tourism industry, and also the local community, involved and interested in heritage. And what makes a heritage site successful.    

Alen Hadziefendic - Youth as Key Factor in Marketing and Branding of the UNESCO World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism. 

Peter Chandler - Creating Your Unique Selling Proposition

Vincent Jacot - Remember the Alamo! Building Heritage from a Neglected Space

In 2011, Texas’s state government gained control of the Battle of Alamo site. A large redevelopment project was set up. This presentation will use the example of the touristic utilization of the Alamo to explore various best practices.  

Questions & Answers with speakers

Lunch & poster sessions

Lunch at the Renaissance accompanied by poster presentations.    

Session: Financing heritage preservation - 13.45 – 17.00

Keynote speaker Michael de Sola - Financing heritage preservation

The local Maduro & Curiel’s bank financed various heritage conservation projects on Curaçao. The Managing Director of the bank will give his personal point of view.

Rob van der Bergh - The rise of Pietermaai and the establishment of the Pietermaai District in Curaçao

In a timespan of about 15 years an old rundown district changed into a lively neighborhood. Now it is a cozy, nice place with bars, restaurants and students hanging around. What was behind the revival of this district? What was the economic impact of this development?

Bharat Bhojwani - Preserving heritage through a real estate fund

When talking about built heritage funding is often a problem. When investors see possibilities, funding will become easier. A new heritage real estate fund will be launched on Curaçao.

Terence Suthers - Money follows ideas; Contemporary Approaches to Success in Funding Heritage Preservation

The speaker will illustrate by reference to three successful but very different small to medium scale heritage projects in Yorkshire, UK, how various funds were attracted because the ‘value added’ ideas behind the projects were sufficiently compelling, whilst at the same time being highly likely (and have since proven) to command sufficient visitor footfall and/or other means of generating earned income to be economically self-sustaining thereafter.

Anne Witsenburg - Financing heritage conservation in Aruba

Government funding for heritage preservation is very limited. An insight will be given into how the Monumentsfund Aruba handled the following key questions: Where is the money? And how to get a hold of it? How to use your monuments as an asset? How to get investors interested?

Celia Toppin - Enhancing the development of a heritage community in the Caribbean

Presentation and update on the progress of the Cultural Heritage project which is being implemented in the Caribbean by the Organization of American States.  

Questions & Answers with speakers

17.30 - Cocktail party

Closing the second conference day with a relaxing cocktail party at another historical location with an amazing island view. The buses will depart from the lobby at 17.15  for a short city tour followed by the cocktail reception. Dress code is casual for this one!  

8.00 - 10.00 - City trip Otrobanda

We start the day with a brisk morning walk through the historical district of Otrobanda. Make sure you bring comfortable walking shoes, light clothing and sun protection. A bottle of water will be provided upon departure. Starts at 8.00!  

Session: Adaptive re-use of built heritage – 10.00 – 12.00

Arno Boon - Keynote speaker - Exploring the different stories and layers of heritage in cohesion

About the practice of reuse and value increasement in the Netherlands:  the application on the former hospital in Willemstad (Curacao). BOEi is a Dutch national institute for restoration and re-allocation of cultural heritage.  

Sir Henry Fraser - A Success Story of Historic Preservation and Adaptive Reuse in Barbados

Examples of very old adaptive re-use in Barbados will be presented. Followed by examples of tragically lost historic treasures, of success stories, and of a number of failures, where the Barbados National Trust and public opinion have failed to achieve the goal of preservation. Finally, examples are given to illustrate both successful methodology and failed efforts, including some of the “gremlins” that operate to frustrate the goals of preservation and appreciation for our patrimony.  

Marcel Dennert - Adaptive re-use; a matter of agility

The Foundation of Heritage Preservation on Curacao has restored many buildings during the past decades. Often a solid business case formed the basis for the architectural approach in restoring the respective buildings. However, (partly) due to economic malaise we have seen businesses change locations. The final result has been an increase in empty buildings in the city center. A fresh approach to the functional and design aspects of restoration is pleaded for.

Questions & Answers with speakers

12.00 - Lunch & presentation University of Curaçao

Lunch at the Renaissance with a presentation by Carola Hein, professor and chair History of Architecture and Urban Planning at Delft University of Technology in collaboration with the University of Curaçao.    

Session: Adaptive re-use of built heritage – Continued – 14.00 – 17.00

Victor Marín-Crespo - Keynote speaker - Cuban examples of adaptive re-use

Cuba has initiated large conservation projects in Havana during the last decades.Buildings got different functions. Often a positive adaptive re-use, sometimes less successful.  

Nirvana Persaud - Adaptive re-use for sustainable heritage preservation: A focus on built heritage in Guyana

The presentation will focus on the notion of adaptive reuse, which is not a new concept as there are a few successful examples in Guyana including hotels, cafes, offices, cultural spaces, as a continued viable method of sustainably preserving Guyana’s heritage.  

Questions & Answers with speakers

Closing of conference

18.00 - 21.00 Farewell & closing cocktails

The buses will depart from the lobby at 5:45pm for a fun night in a historical district. Dress code is casual.

Optional tour to the western part of Curaçao

In the western part of the island there are four plantations which are part of a future UNESCO World Heritage nomination.  In 2011 this nomination was officially inscribed on the tentative list for World Heritage sites. These plantations will be visited during the tour.