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Last week Professor of Artifacts Conservation, Amandina Anastassiades, was invited to attend two symposiums on Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Antiquities. The first, organized by the American Embassy in Ottawa, was held at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau on Sept 21 and 22. Professor Anastassiades arranged for the MAC artifacts conservation students to attend the first afternoon session of this symposium. As well as attending the talks, the students had the opportunity to tour two exhibitions at the CMH which were included as part of the symposium: "First Peoples Hall" and "The Greeks : Agamemnon to Alexander the Great".

The second symposium, organized by the American Consulate in Toronto, was held at the Art Gallery of Ontario on Sept 23 and 24. Both symposiums hosted a range of law enforcement personnel, art conservators, and other Canadian and US federal and civic heritage professionals. Former Head of Conservation at the Smithsonian MCI, Harriet Beaubien, was a headline speaker for both symposiums.

“The core theme that emerged from the conference was clearly ‘partnership’. Whether it be between law enforcement and conservation experts, or American and Canadian officials, collaboration and coordination are the only truly effective ways to ensure the preservation of humanity’s rich cultural heritage for future generation to discover.” - US Embassy, Ottawa.

Photo and story from Queen's university Art Conservation .