ICOMOS-ISCMP Award

We are excited to announce the ISCMP Excellence in Mural Conservation Award! The Award aims to recognize an outstanding project in mural painting conservation that exemplifies innovation, critical thinking, and a holistic approach to preserving cultural heritage. It honors a conservation project that sets a new benchmark in the field, balancing the integrity of the artwork with innovative techniques and sustainable practices. The award winner was decided upon by a judging panel comprised of 6 members of the ISCMP Bureau and the Events Commission.

We received 16 wonderful submissions, from projects representing 15 countries and 6 continents. The projects were evaluated based on the following criteria:

Criteria for Excellence

Comprehensive Conservation Approach
Demonstrates excellence in methodology, inclusivity, and sustainable practices, engaging diverse stakeholders.

Innovation in Traditional or State-of-the-Art Techniques
Introduces or applies innovative methods in mural conservation, whether low-tech or high-tech, showcasing significant cost benefits, water management approaches and/or interdisciplinary strategies.

Community Engagement
Effectively involves local communities, conservators, and stakeholders in a collaborative conservation process.

Ethical and Critical Approach
Adopts a thoughtful, critical approach to the ethical, historical, and artistic implications of preserving the mural painting.

And the Winner is…

We are delighted to announce that the AlUla Old Town Wall Paintings Conservation Project, led by Mirko Giangrasso and the Royal Commission for AlUla, has been awarded the 1st ICOMOS ISCMP Excellence in Mural Conservation Award!

“Executed with pigments and mud-based plasters, the murals are highly fragile and vulnerable to AlUla’s harsh environmental conditions, including periodic rainfall, flooding, extreme heat and UV exposure.” Giangrasso & Edimond, 2024

This outstanding initiative safeguards one of the most extensive vernacular mural ensembles in the Arabian Peninsula — over 900 earthen buildings decorated with wall paintings — through a program that integrates scientific investigation, conservation treatments, preventive measures, and community engagement.

To date, more than 18,000 m² have been documented, 4,000 m² assessed, and 1,900 m² conserved, establishing a replicable model for the preservation of mural heritage under challenging environmental and development conditions.

Congratulations to the Royal Commission for AlUla and all partners involved for their pioneering, sustainable, and ethically grounded approach to conserving this remarkable site.

View of AIUIa Old Town. “The collapse of roofs and walls in many buildings has exacerbated [environmental conditions], leading to structural damage such as cracking, flaking plaster, and the loss of painted decorations. Development and restoration activities further threaten the murals, underscoring the need for immediate and coordinated conservation efforts.” Giangrasso & Edimond, 2024
“[The murals] preservation requires sustainable strategies that stabilize and present them to the public while engaging the local community. Local knowledge and oral histories provide valuable insights, fostering a collective responsibility that ensures culturally sensitive and respectful interventions.” Giangrasso & Edimond, 2024 
Initial observation of the mural paintings (RCU)
Continuous monitoring (RCU)
Inspecting the painting with non-invasive microscopes (RCU; Opus Conservation)
Field testing a range of injection grout formulations to develop a custom grout tailored for the Old Town wall paintings (RCU; Opus Conservation)