Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage (IAPH)

The Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage (IAPH) was created in 1989 by the Andalusian government to contribute to the development of regional culture policies, with a comprehensive, multidisciplinary view of its heritage.

As a Public Agency since 2007 and a certified research institute since 2011, the IAPH contributes to the production and transfer of innovative knowledge on heritage and helps direct cultural policies as a smart development and growth factor in Andalusia.

Consolidated as a specialised centre of note in the national and international sphere, it plays a central role in heritage thanks to its multifaceted nature.

More about singular projects:

IAPH as...

A research institute

Part of the Andalusian Knowledge System, a recognition that identifies its role and potentiality in scientific production and its work transferring knowledge to the Andalusian production network and society, in two ways: as a generator of its own research and as a mediator: a policy and research needs planning centre, stimulating research, collaboration and networks.

A body of the administration

Driving it to act as a public service via a selection of services drawn up according to strategic aims and real external demand.

An instrumental body

Dedicated to any issues that might be entrusted to it by the Department and in general the Andalusian Government, in line with the functions and traits that give purpose to the institution.

A business agency

Enables funds and resources to be acquired to aid its activity and economic sustainability.

One mission: cultural heritage

Mission

To advance cultural heritage for growth and social wellbeing

The IAPH exists to generate innovative knowledge on heritage, transfer it and shape cultural policy for smart growth and development in Andalusia

Vision

To attain institutional excellence and consolidate leadership in research and innovation for the social and territorial sustainability of cultural heritage

Values

Specialisation
Integrative vision
Mediation
Participation
Innovation
Exemplariness
Commitment and focus on public service
Interdisciplinary team work
Transparency and communication

The challenges of today

The transformations in our society in recent years have produced new challenges that directly affect the concept and potentiality of cultural heritage, the role of public institutions and the functions of agents dedicated to knowledge, value and care of cultural assets in all dimensions.

Consolidating an advanced vision of development

Driving a new sensibility that values diversity and promotes social and environmental sustainability through other ways of relating, communicating and acting. Development goes beyond technological progress and economic growth and should be seen as a set of activities that guarantee Andalusia the highest wellbeing, full expansion of its culture, strengthening its human values and the effective participation of its population.

Culture should become the fourth pillar of sustainability and include, together with economic, social and environmental aspects, essential values relating to wellbeing, balance and identity.

Advancing in the concept of heritage and its implications

Heritage is an EMOTIONAL CONNECTION; heritage policies are especially important because of their capacity to generate cohesion and citizenship.

Heritage is a SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION in a constant state of transformation, and it is societies and their members that develop their cultural expressions and who decide which ones to transfer, protect and preserve.

Heritage is a cultural, social, educational and economic RESOURCE and one of the greatest assets Andalusia has for its development.

Heritage should be a CROSS-CUTTING POLICY, capable of supporting and generating social and territorial cohesion by being integrated with other sectors.

Progressing towards a new production model

Knowledge of heritage can and should generate value for Andalusian society. Innovating in heritage today means reflecting, committing and positioning ourselves in three complementary areas: thought, applied practice and management. Qualifying human capital, generating and transferring knowledge and promoting enterprise are key elements.

Adapting to change as an institution

Cultural institutions should modernise in order to guarantee with transparency that their social aims, quality of performance and management of entrusted public services are fulfilled. It is essential to expand mechanisms of public participation to encompass aspects relating to knowledge, production and use of cultural heritage, not just those of consumption and contemplation.

Our skills

With the aim of developing and updating standards, methodologies and protocols, the IAPH records, analyses and disseminates information on cultural heritage, researching theories, methods and technologies for documenting it, and executes interdisciplinary tangible and intangible property conservation and promotion projects. At the same time, it offers specialised consulting and analysis services and a wide range of training designed to improve the skills of Andalusia’s professional sector.

Development of protocols for cultural heritage documentation, research, conservation and management

Methodologies, protocols and technical recommendations for heritage documentation
Conservation methodologies and protocols

Technical and analytical consulting

Historical studies
Valuation and appraisal of cultural assets
Conservation analysis and diagnostics
Feasibility studies
Preventive conservation
Scientific/technical judgements
Desk studies
Heritage information systems
Management of document, graphic and bibliographic collections
Analysis, diagnosis and heritage strategies for sustainable territory management of heritage
Designing participatory processes for the sustainable management of cultural heritage
Proposals for additions of cultural assets on the UNESCO List of World Heritage and Intangible Cultural
Heritage onto their Urgent Safeguarding List

Projects

Scientific research on cultural heritage
Documenting and studying cultural heritage
Conservation of tangible and intangible property
Promotion of scientific culture and participation of citizens
Heritage and tourism management: routes and itineraries, museum preservation and promotion, management plans, etc.
Digitalisation of archives, graphic, bibliographic and document collections
Landscape guides
Development of training programmes
Archaeological projects
Graphic and audiovisual documentation of cultural heritage
Running professional conferences
Editorial projects
Promoting heritage during intervention processes

Example experiences

Improving heritage information and documentation:

Development of training programmes
Digital Guide on Andalusia’s Cultural Heritage
Guide to the Historic Urban Landscape of Seville
Record of Landscapes of Cultural Interest
Atlas of Intangible Heritage
Library, media library and archive
Andalusian Registry of Contemporary Art
Thesaurus of Andalusian Historical Heritage
Underwater Archaeological Map

Intervention in tangible and intangible property:

Royal Chapel of Granada
Giraldillo (statue at the top of the bell tower). Seville Cathedral
Works from the Museum of Málaga
Altarpiece of Santa Ana (Triana)
Paintings by Murillo, Velázquez and Zurbarán
Collection of the Palacio de San Telmo, Seville
Santo Cristo de la Salud Church in Málaga
Parts from La Joya necropolis (Huelva)
Landscape intervention at Bolonia Cove

Education and dissemination:

Specialised training: courses and Masters
Website and social media
PH magazine
Accompanied stays
Educational projects: Immerse Yourself, Let’s Fix Pinocchio, etc.
Educational programme with the Descubre Foundation
Open days

Competitive projects:

RIMAR: Andalusia-Morocco visual memories
Transhabitat: sustainable development
Urban Tangible Heritage of Andalusia
PASO: research on the procession platform of Gran Poder
European Food and Drink: reusing digital resources
HeritageCARE: monitoring and preventive conservation
IMAN: Analysis for the conservation of Moorish Andalusian manuscripts
Re-Habitar: contemporary heritage and technology
Open data on cultural heritage

Networks and collaborators

One of the main features of heritage work is that it is undertaken in collaboration with other bodies.

Private bodies and companies
Public bodies and institutions
Universities
International organisations and centres

International cooperation

World Heritage Centre (UNESCO): Indications for conservation of historic cities
Getty Conservation Institute: Methodology for conservation of polychrome wood altarpieces
Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute of Brazil (IPHAN): Valuation of the cultural landscape of the Jesuit missions of the Guaranis
Ecuador’s Ministry of Culture and Heritage: Strengthening public policy on cultural heritage management
Chile’s National Centre for Conservation and Restoration (CNCR-DIBAM): Framework collaboration programme
Kingdom of Morocco Ministry of Culture: RIMAR - Recovering the visual memories on Andalusia-Morocco
French National Institute for Cultural Heritage (INP): Programme of stays for students of conservation and restoration

Locations

The Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage has 2 main offices on Andalusian soil.

Central office

Located in Seville in the old Monastery of Santa María de las Cuevas, also known as the Monastery of La Cartuja, it was renovated by the architect Guillermo Vázquez Consuegra for the Seville Expo’92. The IAPH shares the space in La Cartuja, an area of 12 hectares with over 35,000m2 of buildings, with the International University of Andalusia and the Andalusian Contemporary Art Centre.

Centre of Subaquatic Archaeology (CAS)

Located in the Spa of Nuestra Señora de la Palma y el Real in Cádiz since 1998, this 1920s building was declared Heritage of Cultural Interest (BIC in Spanish) by the Regional Government of Andalusia’s Department of Culture in 1990.

Equipment

Six equipped conservation and restoration WORKSHOPS with the aim of encompassing intervention in all kinds of assets:

Polychrome wood sculpture workshop
Easel painting workshop: wood, fabric, metal, etc.
Fabric workshop
Document and bibliographic heritage workshop: documents, books, drawings and graphic works
Archaeological heritage workshop: wall painting, plaster, stone material, mosaics, tiling, archaeological ceramics and glass
Silver workshop: silversmithing and working with precious metals

Laboratories for chemical, biological and geological analysis with the latest equipment.

Equipment for photographic and image technology.

Classrooms for teaching, equipped conference room, library and meeting rooms.

Total area of facilities: 7.667m²

Commitment to quality

The IAPH is an institution geared towards public service and committed to providing quality services.

The IAPH is aware of the importance of maximising the quality of its services (available at www.iaph.es/servicios), its user satisfaction and respect for the environment through a Quality and Environmental Management System based on:

Continual innovation in science and technologies applied to the reality of heritage
Production and transfer of specialised knowledge
Effectiveness and efficiency of its resources to offer an expert service
Development of a wide, varied range of services that is continually updated to meet user needs
Guaranteed control of our processes to offer the highest quality
Professional training of staff
Promoting a culture of respect for the environment

In its 3 decades working at the service of cultural heritage, the Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage has received awards and mentions from nationally renowned institutions for its experience and dedication to heritage work:

Hispania Nostra Award 2015, category: territory or landscape intervention, for landscape action at Bolonia Cove, Cádiz
HUMAN 2013 award from the University of Cádiz for knowledge transfer, especially in underwater archaeological heritage
AR&PA Award 2012, granted by the Castilla-León Regional Government
Finalist in the ABC Awards for the best institutional website 2012
GECA Award 2010, granted by the Andalusian Association of Cultural Management Professionals for its contribution to cultural management training
3rd Royal Foundation of Toledo Award in 2007 in recognition of its work defending heritage nationally and internationally and being an example to follow in understanding cultural heritage in modern societies
10th National Award for Restoration and Conservation of Cultural Heritage in 2006 for its notable conservation and restoration work, especially work that concluded in the replacement of the original Giraldillo (top sculpture) of the Giralda de Sevilla (bell tower of Seville Cathedral)