Cultural Revitalization of Kars: Conservation, Living Culture Preservation and Socio- Economic Development in Kars, Anatolia, Turkey

Above: Historic Drawing of Kars

Kars Heritage Program Sponsors
Global Heritage Fund
Kars Municipality
The Christensen Fund
The Chrest Foundation
Turkish Cultural Foundation
Yavuz & Tijen Ahiska
GHF Trustees for Global Heritage

1. Executive Summary

Introduction

With average incomes of only $823, Kars is among the country’s poorest and most neglected provinces. Yet before the cold war Kars was among the young republic’s most progressive places. Naif Alibeyuoglu, mayor of Kars now sees a chance to reverse his city’s decline ….. Kars could even become a regional hub in the Caucasus. The Economist, June 17th 2006

Click here to view the Kars Cultural Heritage Project Bruchure (2.3mb PDF)

The Southern Caucasus region has perhaps the greatest density and diversity of cultural heritage assets in the world. The intersecting border regions of Turkey, Armenia, and Georgia are particularly rich in culture and historic legacy, and represent the ebb and flow of various civilizations over time. Conflict in the region, the Cold War, and political divisions have left much of this rich heritage stranded in remote and under-developed areas.

The Ancient City of Kars lies in the heart of the South Caucasus region, a strategic position of the Turkey’s border, which intersects with Armenia, Georgia and Iran. Kars is situated in North Eastern Anatolia, which is rapidly growing in importance with talks of Turkey’s accession to the EU. Should Turkey join Europe, this region would represent the Eastern most border of the European Union. The Kars Historic District was viewed primarily a poor squatter settlement, a backwater and dumping ground without provisions of city services, such as sewage, waste management utilities. Except for occasional tourist visits to the Kars Citadel, the Historic Kaleici District was unused.

Currently, there exists a pressing need to preserve these unique cultural and historical legacies, but also to do so in a manner that will bring economic and social benefits to current and future generations. Through rural-urban migration, irresponsible development and modern agricultural practices, many traditional cultures and historical buildings are being swept away by modernizing forces. The work of Global Heritage Fund in Kars and the surrounding region is the first step towards developing a strategy and program in this critical area.

Global Heritage Fund is working with the Kars Municipality, The Turkish Government, international development institutions and Turkish organizations and non-profits to integrate concepts of historic preservation and urban revitalization with community development and sustainable tourism. Through master planning, conservation and restoration, cultural, social and economic initiatives, Kars’ historic district will become the epicenter of increased tourism and economic stimulation that will benefit the city of Kars, the Kars region and neighboring cities. What was once the former abandoned backyard of Kars is being transformed into the central showcase for economic and cultural revitalization and tourism development.

Above: Historic Photograph of the Kars Kaleici Historic District

GHF’s work has focused broadening the reaches of the project to incorporate local, national and international governments, Turkish and international NGOs, regional and international development institutions, private companies, business associations, tourism companies and private investors. There is ever increasing Turkish and international interest in Eastern Anatolia, with many organizations are looking towards establishing possible partnerships with GHF and are attracted to the ancillary benefits arising from work efforts. Based on work already completed and the successful engagement of interested parties by GHF in 2005, the Kars Project is slowly gaining the critical mass necessary to have sustainable and wide-reaching effects over the next 2 years.

GHF’s involvement in Kars has served to catalyze interest in Kars and the region, with the Kars Municipality, The Turkish Mass Housing Authority TOKI and the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism having already invested significant funds towards Kars’ development.

In 2006 and 2007, it is expected for the Kars Municipality to secure further funding commitments to address revitalization efforts in Kars, infrastructure improvements and social risk mitigation.

GHF’s primary goals for Kars revitalization are:

1. Master Conservation Planning
2. Architectural Planning & Design
3. Model Conservation & Restoration
4. Community Development
5. Partnerships & New Funding

2006 GHF Kars Funding Requirements

The largest funding requirement is for the completion of the Namik Kemal House Community Center. This facility will serve as the hub for social and economic development programs and civil society capacity building initiatives for both the city of Kars and the surrounding region.

GHF requires fund in 2006 for Program management and stewardship. These funds are required to hire Turkish staff with appropriate skill sets to manage the separate but interlinked components of the Kars Heritage Program. These funds will also enable the staff to pay for the involvement of 2-3 interns from both Turkish and international academic institutions and be used toward the GHF Kars Heritage Program at the Kars Cultural Festival in September of 2006.

Above: Traditional techniques for preparing wool (August 2005)

II. Kars Background

The city of Kars, located in the northeast of Turkey, and borders Armenia and Georgia, is strategically important as the gateway to the Caucasus Region. Although the area is struggling with a depressed, largely agrarian, economy and a high level of out-migration, Kars has significant potential for economic, social, and cultural development. With funding and support, GHF believes that the region’s rich natural resource and cultural wealth can be used to expand cultural and eco-based tourism, and provide a significant economic and social development in the local communities.

Rich cultural diversity: Kars multicultural heritage found in the Kars Region is reflected in its rich mix of living cultures, arts, music, food, dance, handicraft, agricultural production, biological and natural resources. Conservation International has named the Southern Caucasus one of the most 25 biologically richest and most endangered terrestrial eco-regions on earth. There are over 72 languages and dialects spoken within 200 km of Kars.

Out-migration: Kars currently faces related challenges of a depressed economy leading to high levels of out-migration, as young people leave in search of employment. Rural-urban and transnational migration has increased significantly in the last 15 years, accelerated by globalization and improvements in transportation and communications. The departure of Kars’ affluent population has had a negative and significant impact on the local economy, and led to loss in purchasing power for the remaining population. According to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, today one million person of Kars origin live in major Turkish cities or outside Turkey all together.

In addition, the closure of the border with Armenia has increased the cost of energy, and reliance on coal shipments from across the Black Sea, has grossly affecting the manufacturing sector.

Agricultural-based Economy: Even with the rural-to-urban movement of the 1960s, the Kars Province has remained predominantly rural with 77% of the population still working in the agricultural sector. New business development in other sectors has been difficult. Established business owners cite harsh climate, remoteness, high cost of fuel and transport, lack of skilled labor, and difficulty in accessing credit as factors threatening their financial viability. As a result, unemployment is high.

Nevertheless, sectors with development potential include agro-processing, ecological and cultural tourism, and commercial manufacturing for export. However, for these sectors to develop further, the Province and the Municipality must jointly promote the Province, its assets, and its products. Resources must be channeled toward improving the marketing of potential exports. Local entrepreneurs note that the Province and the region are sorely in need of a marketing strategy.

Also, Kars-based enterprises are important to improving trans-border relations. A commercial flow of good and service between eastern Turkey and western Armenia would bring local economic benefits to these impoverished regions and bridge the political divide that currently exists between these two nations. Opening the border to trade would provide a regional market for Kars’ products and enhance their economic viability.

Above: Kars Historic Ottoman District River View from GHF Kars Master Conservation Plan (MCP).

GHF Progress to Date: GHF Kars Heritage Program: 2004-2005

In 2004, Global Heritage Fund (GHF) was asked by The Christensen Fund to investigate the possibilities for cultural and economic revitalization in Kars, Eastern Turkey. Based on a positive investigation by GHF and the approvals of two primary funders - The Christensen Fund and Chrest Foundation, GHF completed Stage II: Master Conservation Planning and established The Kars Heritage Board in partnership with the Municipality of Kars.

Based on the Kars Heritage Master Plan, GHF received further commitments to lead a major transformation of the Kars Historic District. Working in partnership with other NGOs, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the Kars Municipality and private developers and tourism operators, GHF focused on four overall goals in 2005:

1. Completion of the Kars Heritage Master Plan
2. Architectural Planning & Design
3. Model Conservation & Restoration
4. Community Development
5. Partnerships & New Funding

III. GHF Kars Heritage Program 2006

GHF will focus its efforts and funding in four (4) main focus areas in 2006:

A. Architectural Design & Planning
B. Model Conservation & Restoration
C. Community Development
D. Project Management

A. Architectural Design & Planning

GHF will continue to fund architectural planning and design in Kars for historic preservation and urban revitalization of the Kars Historic District. GHF believes that the conservation and restoration of buildings in the Kaleici District will help the local people to feel a more tangible connection to their rich and diverse heritage, but help build the attractiveness of the city to both Turkish and International tourists.

The Kars Municipality is in the process of applying for a grant from the European Union Regional Integration Fund. While these funds cannot be used for the development of architectural conservation and restoration plans, the Municipality intends to allocate a significant portion of these infrastructure funds towards the revitalization of the Kaleici District and the conservation and restoration of historic buildings. Additional sums of this grant will be allocate to the improvement of social and environmental health infrastructure improvements of the Historic District.

In 2006, GHF will commit funding towards the development of architectural and city planning drawings for:

1. The Kaleici Riverfront
2. Topcuoglu Hamam Kars Visitor Center
3. Namik Kemal House Community Center final payment

GHF is investing in the development of architectural designs for the beautification of the Kaleici Riverfront. The intent is for the Municipality to fund the implementation of these designs with EU funds and create scenic walkways and paths through the heart of the Historic District.

For more information on the Topcuoglu Hamam and the Namik Kemal Community Center please see below, under Conservation and Restoration.

B. Conservation & Restoration

Core to GHF’s mission is the procurement of in-country matching funding. Without the financial engagement of local and regional stakeholders, GHF project sites would lack the sustainability to carry them past the 3-4 year GHF commitment period.

The Kars Municipality is matching 1:1 all GHF investments in historic conservation and restoration. In 2006, The Kars Municipality will help fund the Namik Kemal House Community Center, the Topcuoglu Hamam and the Kaleici Riverfront.

Above: Namik Kemal Community Center restoration & adaptive reuse (October 2005)

Above: Namik Kemal Community Center restoration & adaptive reuse (October 2005)

In 2006, GHF will commit funding for the completion of the Namik Kemal House Community Center and the adaptive re-use of the Topcuoglu Hamam to serve as the Kars Visitor Center.

i. Namik Kemal House Community Center

Above: John Hurd, Head of Conservation for GHF, Kars Governor and the Kars Mayor officially open the Namik Kemal community Center during the Third Annual Kars Caucasian Cultural Festival – September 16th, 2006

The architectural plans of the Community Center were designed to utilize the two buildings and structures, one to serve as the lecture theatre and meeting space and the other to serve as the Community Center directorate and offices.

GHF has contracted the work of Cihan Restorations to complete the conservation, restoration and adaptive reuse of the Namik Kemal House. Based on Promet’s architectural approvals by the Erzurum Conservation Board in June 2005, GHF began the conservation, restoration and adaptive reuse of the Namik Kemal house into the Namik Kemal Community Center.

In the remaining summer months of 2005, Cihan Restoration was able to complete the exterior restoration and adaptive-reuse of the lecture theatre building. In March 2006, Cihan Restoration began the similar activities for the building to be used as the program offices. This building is in much better shape and will require less conservation and restoration time and work. The Community Center is expected to be completed towards the end of July.

a. Exteriors & Interiors

GHF is allocating funds in 2006 towards the completion of the 2 building Community Center exteriors and interiors. The Kars Municipality will provide additional in-kind funding through the provision of labor, equipment and building materials.

The 2006 budget will also include funds to complete the interiors of both Community Center buildings. This will include:

Above and below: NKCC Exterior

Below: NKCC Exterior

Below: NKCC Interior

Below: NKCC Interior

Above: NKCC Lecture Theatre Interior

Above: Cihan Restoration Team

Above: NKCC Ceremony

Above: Kars MP, Kars Mayor and Kars Governor during the NKCC ceremony

Above: Representatives from Kars Municipality, Chrest Foundation, The Christensen Fund and GHF during the NKCC ceremony

b. Furnishings & Equipment

Upon completion, the Namik Kemal Community Center will require an investment in furniture and equipment to run community-based economic and social development programs.

Municipality and CYDD. The 2006 Budget includes funds to purchase the following materials:

ii. Topcuoglu Hamam – Kars Visitor’s Center

GHF’s work in Kars seeks to raise local capacity and ability to establish Kars as a hub for regional tourism. Eastern Anatolia, while suffering from regional disparity, plays an important role in the fusion of Caucasus culture and Anatolian tourism through its close proximity to major sites in Ani, Erzurum, Ardehan, Artvin, Dogubayazit, Sarikamis and Van. GHF firmly believes that with little industrial activity to be found in the region, tourism truly remains one of the region’s best potentials for increasing local income and generating economic activity.

In 2006, GHF is funding the architectural design for the adaptive reuse of the small Topcuoglu Hamam in the Kaleici District. In 2006, The Kars Municipality is pledging money towards the reuse of this historic building as a tourism visitor’s center.

This building will serve as a visitors’ center for Kars and the surrounding region. The facility will not only provide information on historical monuments and sites, but will serve as an information clearinghouse on hotels, restaurants, cultural landscapes and cultural resources to be discovered and visited in both Kars and the surrounding region. GHF hopes that leading entrepreneurs and small businesses involved in the Regional Cultural Development Program will have their cultural-based activities displayed in this center. Therefore, the facility will serve not only as a tourism center, but as an economic empowerment vehicle to cultural tourism-based entrepreneurs from the city and the region.

C. Community Development

Increasingly, cultural heritage is not only seen as a national psychological or sentimental asset, but as a potentially valuable economic asset that can be of particular importance to impoverished and under-developed regions. In countries and regions where GHF works, the need is not only to conserve sympathetically this unique legacy in a coherent, coordinated way, but to do so in a way

Kars Community Development Needs

The use of cultural revitalization and restoration of the Historic District can be seen as trigger for larger and more wide-scale social and economic development initiatives. GHF understands that for such a cultural revitalization program to be sustainable over the long-term there is a need to engage all local stakeholders in a manner that is process driven and directly benefits their social and economic existence.

Above: GHF Community Development (July 2005)

Through the development of partnerships with organizations and their respective regional initiatives, GHF can aid in the provision of micro-credits, grants, product marketing and business development to entrepreneurs. The Kars region is already widely known for its cheese and honey products and kilim carpets. Partnerships can also provide capacity development to cooperatives and bazaars, looking to better market and disseminate their products to both local tourist-driven and national markets. These partnerships will not only facilitate community engagement, but also convey real economic benefits to the city and region through investment stimulation.

GHF is of the opinion that the sustainability of these ancillary economic benefits and externalities will not be successful without additional support for corresponding social initiatives. Effective engagement of all local stakeholders is impeded if there exists no mechanism or capability for their social integration, participation and support. GHF believes it is crucial to develop partnerships to help foster the creation of community-based organizations (CBOs), associations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for civil society. Community centers for women, the blind and the disabled improve the gender balance and allow the more disenfranchised and marginalized members of society a place for interaction and a vehicle for education and outreach.

Local Institutional Capacity Building

A very important element in GHF’s Kars and regional strategy is to build and empower local institutions and community-based organizations for the successful development and long-term sustainability of the GHF Kars Regional Development Program. Program partners will facilitate empowerment of local stakeholders, community-based organizations (CBOs), NGOs, and local government organizations through strategic partnerships that will facilitate transfer of skills and knowledge and creation of new capacity to effectively design, manage and expand such regional cultural and natural resource-based programs sustainably.

Above: The future of the Kars Region

In partnerships with CYDD, GHF will plans to use part of funds raised for 2006 towards the establishment and operation of local program offices in the Namik Kemal house. The local program office is expected to become a regional center of information and expertise in sustainable indigenous cultural and natural resources development. The office will also provide information clearinghouse functions: connecting rural regional projects and initiatives with international funding and grant making institutions. It will also serve in the role of program administrator and undertake further local civil society education, training and capacity building activities.

Kars Namik Kemal House Community Center

A Kars community center will serve a very necessary social function through the provision of a facility tailored to benefit minority demographic groups and a diversity of cultural-based activities. The Namik Kemal house has been identified as the most suitable structure in the Historic Ottoman District of Kars to house a city and regional community center. GHF intends to expand the influence and use of the Namik Kemal house community center to cover a range of cross-regional and cross Caucasus initiatives and programs throughout 2006 and 2007.

Namik Kemal Community Center: Organization & Structure

Through the development of a management and operation protocol between GHF and the Kars Municipality, a Namik Kemal Community Center Board will be established to oversee the Namik Kemal Directorate, programs and the recruitment of partner institutions and organizations for the development of specialized programs.

Above: Kars Children (May 2005)

Social Development

GHF and the Kars Municipality have spent the last 6 months seeking out a Turkish organization to serve as the Community Center Directorate. While a community center ultimately must be in the control of the representative people and community organizations, currently in Kars, these groups lack the technical capacity to operate the facility and design effective programs.

The types of programs that CYDD will develop and implement from the Namik Kemal Community Center will include:

• Children, Youth & Adult Education
• Women’s handicraft development and workshops
• Agriculture and bio-production
• Cultural Heritage Conservation & Development
• Rural Tourism Development
• Environmental Protection
• Community Health
• Internet & computer literacy

The Namik Kemal Community Center partners have selected the Turkish Organization Cagdas Yasami Destekleme Dernegi (CYDD) to act as the Community Center Directorate for the Namik Kemal Community Center. CYDD is a non-political organization well known and respected in Turkey. They have well-established links to both international and national corporate partners but are well-connected and in-tune with the local conditions and social framework in Kars.

Below: Kars Economic Activity (August 2005)

It is important for the Community Center Directorate organization to have both national and local scale and credibility. For an organization to be successful in Kars, it must be in-tune with the local conditions and desires. This knowledge, acceptance, and receptiveness to local conditions are imperative for the long-term success of any Kars social development programs and initiatives. CYDD has a long and reputable standing with the people of Kars. This credibility and local understanding will be invaluable to the development of effective and participatory social development programs in Kars.

CYDD has long-established relationships with influential corporate partners and private individuals in Turkey. CYDD will be able to mobilize their own funds towards equipping the Namik Kemal Center in addition to funding the social development programs. There non-political nature will ensure a long-term and unbiased commitment to the people of Kars.

IV. Economic Development

GHF seeks to stimulate the local and regional economy through business collectives, partnerships, and grants. Given the cultural and natural resource richness of the Kars region, development efforts need to focus on the strongest sectors in the economy, including ecological and cultural tourism, manufacturing of specialty goods, and bioproduction. GHF believes that the financial and human capital available to these sectors must be addressed through a structured and tailored training and capacity building program. North Eastern Anatolia is already widely known for its:

• Agricultural products – cheese, honey, organic vegetables, traditional grains and farmed trout.
• Traditional arts and crafts - kilim carpets, crochet work, folk music, traditional dance and visual arts.
• Adventure holidays and Eco - tourism - whitewater rafting, mountain treks, horseback riding, flora and fauna.
• Cultural Landscapes - traditional ottoman villages & farmland, forest and lake environments and multicultural monuments and landscapes.

This program will help to build the capacity of the local entrepreneurs to empower themselves through the education and development of business skills and facilitating access to micro-credit. The GHF Kars Regional Development Program will also help to build regional ecological and cultural tourism and help local producers expand their reach to national and even international markets for cultural handicrafts and traditional agricultural products.

GHF Kars Regional Development Program: August 2006 – September 2007

In 2006-2007, Global Heritage Fund is seeking funding to launch the Kars Regional Cultural Development Program. The Program will support rural development, local entrepreneurship and cultural tourism in the Kars region. It will focus on capacity building, education and training workshops to over 200 regional entrepreneurs, women and young people, emphasizing cultural development and conservation of natural resources in 2006 and 2007.

GHF and our partners will work with multicultural community leaders and stakeholders to identify entrepreneurs active in ecotourism, bio-production, traditional farming, cultural preservation and revitalization and invite them to participate. GHF’s newly restored Namik Kemal house will serve as both the training center and regional program directorate offices and will provide local support networks to participants.

Above: Kars entrepreneur (June 2005)

Key Program Focus Areas:

• Cultural Resource Management, Preservation & Living Culture Revitalization
• Sustainable Natural Resource Conservation & Management
• Bio-production, Traditional and Organic Farming
• Cultural-based Tourism & Eco-Tourism

Tentative Training Topics:

• Orientation
• Project Planning
• Project Management Training
• Project Grant Applications
• Financial Management Training
• Computer Literacy Training
• Micro-loan & Grants Ceremony

In addition to providing the participants of the Program will better project management, marketing, financial skills and access to capital, The Kars Regional Development Program will:

• Foster sustainable indigenous resource development projects.
• Build bridges and partnerships between promising projects and international small and medium enterprise (SME) funding agencies in Turkey, the United States, European Union, and Japan.
• Develop a financial micro-loan program for the best projects.
• Develop a catalogue of the regions rich cultural and natural resources based resources for entrepreneurial activity.
• Build the region’s capacity to sustainably use the region’s rich cultural heritage as a means for promoting ‘responsible’ cultural based tourism and Eco-tourism development.
• Stimulate rural economic development in North Eastern Anatolia.

GHF’s vision is to design and implement the Regional Program as an education platform. Material and training will be prepared through the establishment of strategic partnerships with both national and international NGOs, private-sector businesses and international development institutions.

Kars will serve as both the model and the base of training for the Regional Program. GHF is currently restoring the Namik Kemal house to serve as the training center and program directorate for the Regional Program. The Namik Kemal Community Center will include a lecture theatre, offices and catering facility serving traditional dishes from the region. GHF will provide experienced local staff to manage and coordinate the Program, and local support networks for participants. GHF strongly believes that the needs and objectives of local entrepreneurs and stakeholders must drive the design of the Regional Program.

Above: Eco-tourism & entrepreneurship in the Kars Region (July 2005)

Ensuring the Program is designed to support the multiple objectives of the region’s people will be fundamental to its success and widespread participation. Through the Program, training workshops and project infrastructure will assist regional entrepreneurs, women and young people in the following:

1. Form community-based organizations (CBOs) and capacity building initiatives so they can outreach effectively.
2. Educate rural entrepreneurs engaged in cultural heritage and natural resource activities through project development and management, financial skills and computer literacy training.
3. Prepare project proposals for submission to a database of national and international donor agencies.
4. Partner with an established Turkish Bank working in Anatolia to provide microloans to participating entrepreneurs.
5. Understand and appreciate of the need for the sustainability of the region’s natural environment and culture.
6. Establish regional tourism as a profitable activity and a mechanism for stimulating, building and sustaining the regional economy.

GHF Kars Regional Development Program: Partnerships

GHF will be responsible for Program coordination and execution, but strategic partnerships are necessary to lead specific training programs and provide the capacity development to regional participants. GHF and Program partners will:

(1) Establish key program and strategic partnerships with selected government agencies, private institutions, international donor agencies, research organizations and NGOs to devise program specifications and training materials;

(2) Initiate meetings and secure necessary agreements with the program’s strategic partners, possible corporate sponsors and a Turkish Financial Institution for the provision of micro-loans;

(3) Establish a Kars Regional Development Program Advisory Committee (PAC) to serve all aspects of the program including design and implementation. The PAC will also be responsible for the selection of project for further training and capacity development and eventual project prize winners in each category

(4) Convene a one-day planning workshop in August 2006 for all Program partners and strategic partners.

(5) Organize a launch event including press meeting at the Namik Kemal Community Center. This should coincide with the Kars Cultural Festival to be held September 14th – 16th, 2006.

GHF is in discussions with a number of Turkish and international organizations to participate as the technical partner for the Program. These have included:

Micro-enterprise loans - Regional Program Entrepreneurial Collateral Fund

GHF believes that one of the biggest constraints entrepreneurs in the Kars region is access to capital to expand and grow their businesses. With such widespread levels of poverty and unemployment many people do not have conventional collateral to secure bank loans. The provision of micro-loans will not only help provide financial empowerment to regional entrepreneurs to help jumpstart their businesses, but will provide important emotional, intellectual and spiritual empowerment for the people of the Kars Region and develop paths to self-sufficiency.

With funding support from partners, GHF will deposit money in an account with a partnered local bank. This sum could be used by authorized entrepreneurs as collateral against their smaller individual bank loans. The bank would only draw off the Entrepreneurial Collateral Fund if a participating and pre-approved entrepreneur happened to default on a loan re-payment to the bank. The Program Directorate could work in close association with the partner bank to monitor individual participants and their loan repayments.

Wider Recruitment for 2007

Following the commencement of the Regional Program in August of 2006, GHF will actively look to broaden the scope and reach of the 2007 Program. GHF will not only expand the area of focus in North Eastern Anatolia, but also look to incorporate and integrate indigenous cultures, landscapes and natural resources from neighboring Caucasus countries into the Program. Not only will the Program benefit from greater diversity, but will also facilitate cross-border interaction and development in the South Caucasus region.

Above: Community Training (August 2005)

Expansion of the program to indigenous people in neighboring Caucasus countries such as Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan will facilitate true pluralistic interaction on cultural development and conservation of natural and biological resources. GHF will also seek to expand training materials and strategic partnerships to support this increase in focus area and multi-cultural involvement.

With ever increasing cultural-based tourism and eco-tourism in the region, GHF feels demand for sustainably derived indigenous cultural and natural environment based products and services will rise dramatically. GHF intends to provide a catalogue of these exact resources as means of advertising and showcasing the location and origin region’s cultural resources, cultural and natural landscapes, and biodiversity to visitors.

Anticipated Community Development Results

The 2006 Kars Regional Cultural Development Program will lead to a range of noteworthy outcomes including:

1. Kars Community Center:
A Kars community center equipped with lecture theatre, offices display area and catering facility serving traditional dishes from the region. The center will serve as a hub for information and expertise, and regional program administration and planning for local training and capacity building activities

2. Kars Education & Training Program:
A Kars regional education, training and capacity building program for sustainable development of indigenous cultural and natural resources designed and in operation in North Eastern Anatolia

3. Strategic Partnerships:
Strategic partnerships and matching funding from at least 3-4 international and Turkish donor agencies, corporations, government agencies and NGOs in the training and capacity building program

4. Widespread Regional Participation:
Participation of at least 100-200 local entrepreneurs, women and young people in the orientation program to learn about sustainability of indigenous resources.

5. Project Management Training:
Intensive project management and project development training for at least 50 regional participants, including financial management and computer literacy program.

6. Access to Information:
Detailed database and information clearing house to allow regional entrepreneurs access to information on international donor agencies, and project development support institutions in specific focus areas.

7. Access to Capital:
Partnering with an MFI or the establishment of the Regional Program Entrepreneurial Collateral Fund through a local bank will help erase some of the barriers to entrepreneurs in the region lacking collateral.

8. Increased Capacity:
New institutional and technical capacity in the Kars region to educate and train local entrepreneurs on sustainable cultural and natural resources use and undertake and initiate new projects.

9. New Model:
A new global model for cultural development programs based on sustainable regional resource development projects with public and private sector support and training.

10. Catalogue of Resources:
A catalogue of the Kars’ Region natural and cultural resources for the purpose of building cultural and eco-tourism opportunities and income generating activities in the region, facilitating regional economic and social development.

11. Increased Tourism:
With a catalogue of resources available to visitors of the region, increased tourism attention and support to local entrepreneurs will build revenue to entrepreneurs involved in eco-tourism and cultural-based tourism.

Encouraging Private Investment in Kars

With an approved plan for the Kars Historic Ottoman District, GHF will work with private hotelier developers, shop and restaurant owners, tourism operators, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, and the Kars Municipality to increase interest in Kars and the Historic Ottoman District.

GHF is seeking to raise local capacity and ability to establish Kars as a ‘hub’ for both tourism and as a spark for regional development. Eastern Anatolia, while suffering from regional disparity, plays an important role in the fusion of the Caucasus culture and in terms of Anatolian tourism through its close proximity to major sites in Ani, Erzurum, Ardehan, Artvin, Dogubayazit, Sarikamis and Van. With little industrial activity to be found in the region, tourism truly remains one of the region’s best potentials for increasing local income and generating economic activity.

A crucial step towards the establishment of Kars as ‘hub’ is the expansion and improvement of tourism infrastructure. The project partners are striving to attract private investment for the development of tourism facilities and the identification of Kars as a major destination for tour operators. GHF is additionally working with Turkish Association of Travel Agents (TURSAB) and the Tourism Investment Association (TYD) to bring large-scale tourism infrastructure and focus to Kars. GHF would also like to provide tourism capacity training and small and medium enterprise (SME) loan and grant support to local people seeking to establish small boutique hotels, pensions, cafes, shops and restaurants.

GHF has identified a number of private developers committed to Kars to construct new Ottoman-style pensions, shops and residences within the Historic District under the building guidelines set forth in the Master Conservation Plan. GHF is actively engaged in helping Kars to secure key private investors for restoration and new authentic construction of pensions and commercial districts within the Kars Historic Ottoman District.

GHF has identified twelve authentic historic Ottoman structures which will be restored in the coming years in partnership through direct conservation funding, reuse by private developers and GHF Preservation Matching Fund subsidies to existing owners for authentic restoration combined with co-funding from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and the Municipality.

GHF estimates that within the Kars Historic Ottoman District and the Buffer Zone areas there is potential for renovation and new construction of 20-30 new pensions or boutique hotels, totaling over 300-400 rooms, which can generate over $2.6 million in tourism revenues and $500,000 in new tax revenues annually for conservation and infrastructure improvements within 6 years.

VI. Appendices

GHF Progress to Date: GHF Kars Heritage Program: 2004-2005

In 2004, Global Heritage Fund (GHF) was asked by The Christensen Fund to investigate the possibilities for cultural and economic revitalization in Kars, Eastern Turkey. Based on a positive investigation by GHF and the approvals of two primary funders - The Christensen Fund and Chrest Foundation, GHF completed Stage II: Master Conservation Planning and established The Kars Heritage Board in partnership with the Municipality of Kars.

Based on the Kars Heritage Master Plan, GHF received further commitments to lead a major transformation of the Kars Historic District. Working in partnership with other NGOs, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the Kars Municipality and private developers and tourism operators, GHF focused on four overall goals in 2005:

6. Completion of the Kars Heritage Master Plan
7. Architectural Planning & Design
8. Model Conservation & Restoration
9. Community Development
10. Partnerships & New Funding

1. Completion of the Kars Heritage Master Plan

In early 2005, GHF completed the development of a comprehensive Master Conservation Plan for the Kars Ottoman Heritage District, a Class One Archaeological Site and its surrounding Class Two and Class Three Protected Areas and Buffer Zone. Kars Historic Ottoman District has potential to be nominated an UNESCO World Heritage site, or be listed as an extension of Ani World Heritage site.

The Kars Master Conservation Plan was produced and prepared by the Planning Director Nejat Sert. During the 2005 summer season this was given a thorough critical review by the Project Director, John Hurd, with the assistance of the Kars Heritage Board of Directors and especially with the help of the Project Technical Advisor, Oktay Ekinci. In May 2006, this plan was submitted and approved by the Turkish Heritage Preservation Board and municipal, provincial and national governments.

The GHF Kars Master Conservation Plan has transformed the perception and image within the municipality, the Town Council and the communities of Historic Kars as an abandoned backyard to an economic and cultural showcase.

2. Architectural Planning & Design

Based on priorities established in the Master Plan, GHF invested funding in the development of architectural conservation and restoration plans for a number of key historic buildings. The Kars Master Plan provides the framework and architectural regulations for any investors seeking to fund conservation or restoration of any buildings in the Historic District.

GHF sought to fund architectural planning of the first buildings to be conserved and restored in the Historic District to:

Above: Kars Master Plan - Kaleici Historic District (February 2005)

1. Provide model concepts of historic preservation
2. Trigger urban revitalization efforts
3. Provide adaptive re-use of historic buildings for community development
4. Conserve historic buildings for sustainable tourism development

In 2005, GHF, through our partnership with Promet, a leading conservation architectural firm in Ankara, invested in the development of architectural plans for the Namik Kemal House and three (3) Traditional Ottoman Riverside Houses

3. Model Conservation & Restoration

In 2005, GHF funded the model conservation and restoration of some of the key historic buildings in the Historic District. The buildings included:

A. Namik Kemal House – For Adaptive re-use as a community center
B. Three Ottoman Houses – Exteriors
C. Cleaning & Stabilization of Two Core Area Hamams
D. Demolition of Encroaching Industrial Buildings

A. Namik Kemal Community Center

The Namik Kemal House is a large ensemble consisting two main residential bays built in fine tufa ashlar and separated in modern times. To the city side is a part of the house that is now entirely separated from the ensemble, to the bridge side is a group of service rooms, which have now become storage areas. At the start of the season the cellars and ground floor rooms across the whole ensemble had become filled with rubbish and flood debris. Half of the main wing had become a ruin, with damaged walls to the riverside and to the roadside only a trace of walls remaining.

The architect, Yavuz Ozkaya has come up with a brave plan for conservation and partial reconstruction within a normal international ethic. The adaptive re-use is inspired and creates all of the services a good community center should have. Offices, meetings room, lecture hall, exhibition space, catering facility and small accommodation for a guardian.

When the cleaning, documentation and redesign were completed, negotiation with a skilful crafts team was preferred to a competitive tender. The chosen contractor Kayhan Seyrek of Cihan Restoration was negotiated down to a regionally low price of 550.000TL. Work is now advanced and of exceptionally high quality. The building is due for completion in July 2006.

B. Three Ottoman Houses

These Ottoman Houses are the last remaining authentic structures of the Ottoman Period left standing in Kars today. GHF is saving these beautiful buildings which will become the ‘DNA’ for style and authenticity for the entire Kars Historic District in the coming years. The buildings may be used for residential use, a small museum or as a small pension in the heart of the historic district.

i. Upper Ottoman House
The upper Ottoman house has developed from a fine traditional house into a piecemeal group of reconstructed rooms, but with superb features including a wooden balcony and with a 19th Century wing built with stones robbed out from an early period Armenian Church. A rare and original Ottoman Kitchen survives to the rear of the house. This house has now been given a renewed roof and repairs and decorations have been completed to the facades. Work is of high standard.

ii. Lower Riverside Ottoman house
The lower Ottoman house is a large house in reasonable condition, but having no garden or free land. It stands very well on the riverfront and is a prominent feature in historic pictures of the area. Structurally the building is very sound, despite attendant outbuilding and kitchen to the rear being in a ruined state. Externally Global Heritage Fund has completed a program of re-roofing using traditional materials and methods, together with a restoration of the riverfront elevation and sidewalls.

iii. Lower Riverside (Dangerous) Ottoman House
This fine house, now having a missing bay, is perhaps the oldest and most distinguished of the Ottoman ensemble. This fine house also features in old pictures and is unique in as much as it still contains a good deal of massive 17th century timberwork. Its door and threshold and most of its wooden windows are original as are several other features. The building is in a dangerous state of collapse. Here, structural support scaffolding is being erected at a cost of 20,000 YTL as a form of scaffold cage to protect the house from collapse. The scaffolding is adaptable and modular. It can be used for many project activities and when the Global Heritage Fund ends the Kars Program it can represent an excellent resource for the municipality for maintenance works in the years ahead.

Above: GHF Restoration of then Kaleici Historic District Ottoman Houses (September 2005)

Above: One of the last three authentic Ottoman houses in Kars

C. Two Hamams
GHF undertook the cleaning and stabilization of two 16th century hamams in the
Historic District.
i. Mazlumaga Hamam
ii. Topcuoglu Hamam

In 2006, Ministry of Tourism and Culture funds will be allocated to the restoration of the Mazlumaga Hamam as a working hamam. In 2005, the Kars Municipality purchased the Topcuoglu hamam from a private citizen. In 2006, GHF will fund the architectural designs for conservation and restoration of this hamam. The Kars Municipality will allocate funds towards the adaptive re-use of this hamam for use as a Kars Visitors Center.

D. Demolition of Encroaching Industrial Buildings
In recent years it has become the habit to place unsightly industrial buildings in the area of the Mosque of the Church of the Apostles. Electricity sub stations and a brick and concrete mill have also spoiled the amenity of the Castle district. In partnership with the municipality, GHF have now documented all of the industrial buildings and assisted and advised the municipality in their careful demolition and removal.

One substation and two concrete industrial buildings have been removed within the walled zone of the church. This area will be paved this year, and in the short term is now covered in a tidy gravel coating.

3. Community Development
Training of Local Community
During the process of works described above, a great deal of training has been achieved both directly and indirectly. In direct terms a group of 20 and more municipal workers have been trained in archaeological cleaning. Indirectly these men have come to understand the caution and respect required to work on and around delicate historic buildings. The local people have also gained a respect and appreciation of the historic Ottoman district.

Three interns, one from the University of Columbia and two from the Istanbul Koc University have worked with the Project director and Project manager for 3 months during this season. These interns have also achieved a high degree of understanding the needs and difficulties of the management and implementation of such a project.

Above: Community Training & Education (June 2005)

Their outputs were of high quality and they are to be congratulated for their valuable involvement and contribution to the aims and objectives of the project.

Less tangible training has been given to the managerial staff of the Municipality from the mayor down to the managers of the various works departments and to staff of the Museum, who have carefully and positively followed all works.

Appreciation and Understanding by Local Community
Ordinary people had no appreciation of the quality and beauty of the older built environment. This has now very much changed with older citizens becoming nostalgic and discussing the past in a way that has not happened before And the younger citizens starting to see and understand the importance of the historic Ottoman core and perhaps more importantly gaining a new respect for the memories and oral histories of the older generation and their rich experience.

The Mayor, Bashkan Naif Alibeyogulu, has personally stated that along with his appreciation of works as they progressed, and his understanding of the delicate approach required, that he was especially grateful for having had this attention focused on a beautiful district which he had never before appreciated.

Above: GHF Kars Heritage Program Exhibition - Kars Festival (September 2005)

Above: GHF Kars Heritage Program Exhibition – Kars Festival (September 2005)

4. Partnerships & New Funding

GHF-Kars Municipality Partnership - Matching Funding & Common Vision GHF’s partnership with the Kars Municipality has brought about a very significant commitment from the local government to the development of both the Historic District and the city of Kars. The Municipality has invested significant resources to purchase the most important historic structures in the Kaleici district to ensure protection and conservation. The Kars Municipality has also made significant improvements to city infrastructure through newly paved streets, utilities, pathways and parks, public spaces and lighting.

The GHF Kaleici Project has received significant municipal support through the provision of labor and equipment for cleaning, conservation, restoration and demolition of unsightly or encroaching modern buildings. As a result of GHF’s work in Kars to date, the level of Municipal capacity and understanding has also grown in terms of project development and management. The Municipality has also secured funding for new social housing for provision to the city’s most disenfranchised and marginalized groups. Modern housing will improve the level of environmental health, safe housing and social welfare in the city. Title deeds and plots of land for farming will dramatically help to reduce poverty levels in the city.

GHF and the Turkish Ministry of Tourism & Culture
The Ministry of Tourism and Culture has agreed to allocate financial resources to restoration and conservation efforts in Kars. Ministry funding has already been allocated towards a new cobblestone access road to the Citadel and repaving of the road to the historic city of Ani, 45 km east of Kars. National government funding has recently been pledged to conservation and restoration work on the Mosque of the Church of Apostles and the Mazlumaga Hamam starting in 2006.

Above: GHF Kars Heritage Dinner Event: October 1st 2005

Together with our partners in Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States, GHF has made excellent progress over the past two years to build a strong base of private and public sector support for the cultural revitalization and community development of Kars. In addition to raising in-country matching funding, which is difficult in Turkey, GHF has made substantial progress towards our goals and hopes to build on our momentum in 2006.