CROMLahore Heritage Skills Training Workshop

Programme Overview

The CROM Lahore Training Workshop was conceived as a developing platform for training emerging practitioners in traditional and contemporary heritage conservation and restoration techniques, while enabling direct engagement with national and international experts. The programme emphasized skill-based learning, knowledge exchange, and exposure to evolving conservation practices within historic contexts.

The programme was implemented in collaboration with the Commonwealth Heritage Forum (CHF), whose support enabled capacity-building for emerging heritage practitioners, strengthened skills transfer through structured training and expert exchange, and reinforced sustainable conservation practices within a wider Commonwealth heritage framework; the Aga Khan Cultural Service–Pakistan (AKCS-P), which contributed technical expertise, conservation knowledge, and institutional support rooted in long-term heritage stewardship; and the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA), which facilitated site access, contextual learning, and engagement within Lahore’s historic urban fabric.

A total of 30 participants took part in the workshop, which was structured across two parts.

Workshop Structure

Part One: Techniques and Foundations

Phase One was designed to establish a strong grounding in traditional restoration practices through a combination of theoretical input, live demonstrations, and closely guided instruction. Participants were introduced to the historical context, material philosophy, and technical discipline underpinning heritage conservation practices.

During this phase, participants were trained in:

• Lime-based techniques, including material preparation, layering, curing, and an understanding of lime’s behaviour over time
• Naqqashi techniques, focusing on line work, pigment preparation, and traditional compositional principles
• Kashi Kari techniques, covering tile preparation, glazing processes, colour application, and firing considerations

Emphasis was placed on understanding traditional materials—their sources, properties, and limitations—as well as correct surface preparation and sequencing of processes. This phase aimed to cultivate material sensitivity and technical precision while grounding participants in the historical processes and ethical considerations central to conservation and restoration work.

Part Two: Hands-on Practice and Application

Part Two shifted focus from instruction to application, allowing participants to translate their foundational knowledge into practical execution. Participants worked collaboratively on on-scale group panels, physically implementing the techniques learned in Part One under expert supervision. This hands-on approach encouraged problem-solving, peer learning, and an understanding of best practice conservation principals and approaches, scale, coordination, and workflow within a shared conservation task.

A central objective of this phase was to train participants to work directly from source material, reinforcing accuracy, discipline, and respect for original visual languages. Participants were guided to observe closely, replicate faithfully, and adapt responsibly—skills essential to professional restoration practice.

Naqqashi was given particular emphasis during this phase through lectures, demonstrations, and site visits. The training also included UV light imaging, allowing participants to study Naqqashi under 360nm ultraviolet light at 3 sites at the Lahore Fort—thus closely examining historic painted surfaces. Students carefully analysed the styles, patterns, and visual language of the Naqqashi. Based on their observations, participants produced detailed written reports and selected individual Naqqashi works, which they then digitally restored as part of the learning process.

Experts and Guest Lectures

The workshop benefited from the guidance of distinguished international and national experts:

Part One Exhibition

An exhibition titled “Lime, Kashi Kari and Naqqashi” was organized at the Calligraphers’ Bazaar of the Wazir Khan Mosque, Lahore, as part of the CROMLahore Skill Training Hub (Part I). Presented by CROMLahore and CHF, in collaboration with AKCSP and WCLA, the exhibition showcased the progress and learning outcomes of the trainees.

The exhibition utilized both enclosed and open-air spaces. A dedicated hujra titled Bagh-e-Nargis (The Garden of Narcissus) featured individual Naqqashi panels based on the Nargis motif, while the open corridor displayed Kashi Kari works, including lime plaster tiles, glazed geometric tiles, and Sozenkari-decorated pieces.

Part Two Exhibition

The Exhibition Showcasing Heritage Skills Training Project was held from 23–27 November 2025, at the Wazir Khan Hammam in the Walled City of Lahore. Curated by Imran Ahmad, the exhibition presented works developed through intensive training in lime-based construction, Kashi Kari, and Naqqashi.

Set within Wazir Khan Mosque, one of Lahore’s most significant heritage sites, the exhibition offered visitors an immersive engagement with heritage crafts that continue to shape the region’s architectural identity.

Overall Impact

The CROMLahore Heritage Skills Training Workshop successfully functioned as a collaborative learning platform, equipping participants with global conservation ideas, technical skills, interdisciplinary exposure, and hands-on experience essential for heritage conservation.

Through training, exhibitions, and public engagement, the programme reinforced its core objectives of cultural preservation, skill transfer, and community engagement, while contributing meaningfully to the revitalization of traditional craft practices.