Day 1 – September 14: Arrival & Opening Reception

Your journey begins in Kathmandu, Nepal, as participants arrive and check in at our accommodations. In the evening, the program opens with a formal reception at Taragaon Next, welcoming esteemed dignitaries, government officials, museum directors, and cultural leaders. This exclusive gathering will feature welcome speeches by key figures, setting the stage for the seminar. You will enjoy an evening of networking, cultural engagement, and introductions to fellow participants and expert faculty.

Day 2 – September 15: Introduction & Risk Assessment

The first full day of the seminar focuses on the foundations of sacred art conservation. The morning begins with a welcome session and participant introductions, followed by an in-depth lecture on the role of Buddhist sacred art in museums, monasteries, homes, and communities. A second lecture explores risk assessment for sacred art, covering threats and preservation strategies specific to this artform.

In the afternoon, participants embark on a field trip to a Buddhist nunnery and monastery to assess real-world conservation challenges with time for observation and discussion on-site between monastics and conservators.

Day 3 – September 16: Storage & Display Techniques

The day is dedicated to best practices for the storage, handling, and exhibition of sacred art and approaches to documentation in traditional settings. The morning session features lectures on both traditional and contemporary Thangka and Paubha artworks. In the afternoon, participants visit the National Museum of Nepal to observe and discuss current conservation practices and practice risk assessment and condition reporting for museum collections on-site. Next, participants will present their findings and engage in conservation case studies and discussion with museum staff and experts.

Day 4 – September 17: Traditional vs. Contemporary Techniques

This day delves into the materials and techniques used in both historic and modern Thangka and Paubha forms. The morning session includes a lecture on the comparative study of traditional and contemporary painting methods. Participants then visit a tailoring shop where traditional and contemporary textile mountings are created.

In the afternoon, a field trip to Enlightenment Thangka Studio provides an opportunity to observe master artists at work and, under their guidance, to paint using traditional methods and materials, with time for extensive discussion.

Day 5 – September 18: Conservation & Treatment

The focus of the day is on conservation treatment options for sacred artworks, with plenty of time for discussion for participants about treatment methods for Thangka and Paubha, both traditional and contemporary forms. Then the group proceeds to visit the Itumbaha Museum, a Newari community museum founded to combine traditions with an updated museology approach. We will meet with museum volunteers from the dedicated community. Then we visit the studio of a Newari contemporary artist, and a contemporary art gallery. The day concludes with a discussion on the challenges of conserving Nepal’s monastic and museum collections in the face of impermanence.

Day 6 – September 19: Final Discussions & Closing Ceremony

The seminar concludes with a morning in-depth review, final discussions, and follow-up plans with international conservators, museum professionals, monastics, scholars, and artists, with final recommendations for advancing conservation efforts in Nepal and in the lives of the participants.

In the afternoon, participants visit Paubha Master Lok Chitrakar’s Studio to gain insights into contemporary approaches to Paubha painting and its evolution. We also will visit small traditional family temples and walk through the historic streets.

That evening, we meet for a celebratory dinner, certificate distribution and networking, where participants reflect on their experiences, connect with fellow professionals, and celebrate the successful completion of the seminar.

Schedule subject to change.