Seminars
Index / Activities / Seminars / Guadamecí and Cordobán: Historical Knowledge and Intangible Heritage
Guadamecí and Cordobán: Historical Knowledge and Intangible Heritage
October 08, 2026From 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
CÓRDOBA
Casa Árabe Headquarters (c/ Samuel de los Santos Gener, 9).
From 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Prior registration required.
In Spanish.
On Thursday, October 8, Casa Árabe will host a scholarly seminar at its Córdoba headquarters dedicated to the research, conservation, and preservation of guadamecí and cordobán, which will include a temporary exhibition of art and crafts featuring pieces and works related to these traditional crafts.
The academic seminar “Guadamecí and Cordobán: Historical Knowledge and Intangible Heritage. Safeguarding Córdoba’s Heritage” has been organized by the Historic District Office of the Córdoba City Council, in collaboration with the Guadamecí Omeya House Museum, to mark the museum’s 20th anniversary.
The event will bring together researchers, cultural heritage specialists, institutional representatives, curators, and craft professionals to explore the history of guadamecí and cordobán, their significance in material and artistic culture, as well as the current challenges facing their documentation, conservation, and transmission.
The seminar will begin with an opening panel discussion on The state of research as reflected in art history and material culture. Moderated by Juan José Primo Jurado, director of the Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage (IAPH), the session will feature presentations by Félix de la Fuente, deputy director of the National Museum of Decorative Arts; Virgilio Martínez Enamorado, from the University of Málaga; and Ricardo Córdoba, from the University of Córdoba, who will explore their historical origins, uses, and development as unique expressions of the industrial arts.
The first panel, titled “Intangible Cultural Heritage: Research, Management, and Safeguarding,” will address the tools for protecting and recognizing artisanal knowledge, the role of institutions in its preservation, and the importance of documentation and social participation. Moderated by Rafael Pérez de la Concha, the session will feature contributions from Lluís García Petit of ICOMOS; Laura Reyes of the Ministry of Culture; Sol Tarrés of the University of Huelva; Gema Carrera of the IAPH Center for Documentation and Studies; and Fuensanta Plata, an expert in historical heritage conservation with the Regional Government of Andalusia.
In the afternoon, the second panel, “Applied Arts, Conservation, and Promotion of Decorative Leather,” will focus on the conservation of historical collections, artisan associations, training, and innovation, as well as the future prospects for these crafts. Moderated by Leopoldo Izquierdo, director of the Palacio de Viana, the session will feature presentations by Miguel Vázquez, head of Conservation and Restoration at the Palacio de Viana; José María Ruiz, president of the Cordoba Artisans’ Association (ACA); Francisco Rodríguez Escobar, professor at the Mateo Inurria School of Art and Design; and José Carlos Villarejo, director of the Guadamecí Omeya House Museum, who will present the history of this institution over its twenty years of activity.
The event will conclude with closing remarks from the moderators and a tour of an exhibition featuring works from the workshops of the Cordoba Artisans Association and students from the Mateo Inurria School of Art and Design.
This seminar serves as a forum for interdisciplinary exchange and reflection on the historical, cultural, and social values of guadamecí and cordobán, as well as on the need to preserve the knowledge, techniques, and crafts that form part of Córdoba’s cultural heritage.
Register using this form
Preliminary program (in Spanish)
The event will bring together researchers, cultural heritage specialists, institutional representatives, curators, and craft professionals to explore the history of guadamecí and cordobán, their significance in material and artistic culture, as well as the current challenges facing their documentation, conservation, and transmission.
The seminar will begin with an opening panel discussion on The state of research as reflected in art history and material culture. Moderated by Juan José Primo Jurado, director of the Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage (IAPH), the session will feature presentations by Félix de la Fuente, deputy director of the National Museum of Decorative Arts; Virgilio Martínez Enamorado, from the University of Málaga; and Ricardo Córdoba, from the University of Córdoba, who will explore their historical origins, uses, and development as unique expressions of the industrial arts.
The first panel, titled “Intangible Cultural Heritage: Research, Management, and Safeguarding,” will address the tools for protecting and recognizing artisanal knowledge, the role of institutions in its preservation, and the importance of documentation and social participation. Moderated by Rafael Pérez de la Concha, the session will feature contributions from Lluís García Petit of ICOMOS; Laura Reyes of the Ministry of Culture; Sol Tarrés of the University of Huelva; Gema Carrera of the IAPH Center for Documentation and Studies; and Fuensanta Plata, an expert in historical heritage conservation with the Regional Government of Andalusia.
In the afternoon, the second panel, “Applied Arts, Conservation, and Promotion of Decorative Leather,” will focus on the conservation of historical collections, artisan associations, training, and innovation, as well as the future prospects for these crafts. Moderated by Leopoldo Izquierdo, director of the Palacio de Viana, the session will feature presentations by Miguel Vázquez, head of Conservation and Restoration at the Palacio de Viana; José María Ruiz, president of the Cordoba Artisans’ Association (ACA); Francisco Rodríguez Escobar, professor at the Mateo Inurria School of Art and Design; and José Carlos Villarejo, director of the Guadamecí Omeya House Museum, who will present the history of this institution over its twenty years of activity.
The event will conclude with closing remarks from the moderators and a tour of an exhibition featuring works from the workshops of the Cordoba Artisans Association and students from the Mateo Inurria School of Art and Design.
This seminar serves as a forum for interdisciplinary exchange and reflection on the historical, cultural, and social values of guadamecí and cordobán, as well as on the need to preserve the knowledge, techniques, and crafts that form part of Córdoba’s cultural heritage.
Register using this form
Preliminary program (in Spanish)
