Capacity Building Academy IV

The fourth Capacity Building Session was led by Transylvania Trust, a charity foundation based in Bonțida at Bánffy Castle. The organisation was founded by conservation professionals from Cluj-Napoca, Romania in 1996 to preserve the region’s built heritage, including the historic castle, and in doing so to engage with the community.

Transylvania Trust presented their Built Heritage Conservation Trainings. The first training was held in 2001, shortly after Bánffy Castle was listed as one of the 11 most endangered buildings in the world, and now take place annually. During two-week summer restoration camps, participants learn skills such as masonry, joinery and stone carving. The hands-on training not only teaches traditional crafts, but also helps in very practical ways to restore the castle.

The project is highly inclusive: Transylvania Trust recognises the importance of an interdisciplinary approach as well as wider collaboration among the public. Alongside the participative approach to the conservation of the building, Transylvania Trust also regularly organises events such as open days, children’s programmes, exhibitions and artists in residence at the castle. In this way, the charity aspires to encourage interest in and appreciation of the region’s rich built heritage.

The specific knowledge and expertise shared during the capacity-building session will help us develop pilot actions that are richer and more diverse in the next phase of our project, allowing us to adapt and strengthen our approaches moving forward.