The Voice of Cultural Heritage in Europe / La Voix du patrimoine culturel en Europe
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ENEWSLETTER November 2011
HIGHLIGHTS
LATEST NEWS - CREATIVE EUROPE: COMMISSION UNVEILS PLAN TO BOOST CULTURAL AND CREATIVE SECTORS Thousands of people working in cinema, TV, culture, music, performing arts, heritage and related areas would benefit from increased EU support under the new Creative Europe programme unveiled by the European Commission today. Europa Nostra will examine carefully the proposals made by the European Commission and will shortly communicate its position to the EU Institutions concerned. With a proposed budget of €1.8 billion for the period 2014-2020, it would be a much-needed boost for the cultural and creative industries, which are a major source of jobs and growth in Europe. The new programme would allocate more than €900 million in support of the cinema and audiovisual sector (area covered by current MEDIA programme) and almost € 500 million for culture (presently covered by the Culture programme). Read more
FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT: EUROPEAN HERITAGE CONGRESS LISBON 30 MAY – 2 JUNE 2012 The Europa Nostra’s European Heritage Congress will take place in Lisbon, bringing together Europa Nostra members and representatives of the ever-growing cultural heritage movement from all over Europe. The Congress will be organised with the invaluable assistance of our member organisation, Centro Nacional de Cultura. Again, the highlight will be the European Heritage Awards Ceremony celebrating the winners of the 2012 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards. The European Heritage Awards Ceremony will take place at Lisbon’s historic Jerónimos Monastery on 1 June 2012. Read more
PLACIDO DOMINGO CALLS FOR JOINT ACTION TO SAVE FAMAGUSTA This year, the Grand Prix 2011 for category Research of the EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards, went to one exceptional project, carried out jointly by a team composed of Greek and Turkish Cypriots: the Architectural Heritage of the Buffer Zone in the Walled City of Nicosia, Cyprus. Europa Nostra's President, Maestro Plácido Domingo, sent a special personal message for this occasion which was read during the ceremony. Plácido Domingo congratulated the winners while at the same time calling for attention for another city - not far from Nicosia - that still needs such a large scale cooperation: the old city of Famagusta. Read more
60% INCREASE IN NUMBER OF ENTRIES FOR 2012 AWARDS This year, 226 award entries were received at the Europa Nostra International Secretariat in The Hague. Last year, entries were received from 31 different countries, while this year entrants applied from 38 different countries ranging from Iceland to Russia, from Sweden to Portugal. Most entries were received in Category 1: Conservation. Entries varied from the restoration of a classical country house to the rehabilitation of a mine, and anything and everything in between. Categories 2: Research, 3: Dedicated Service, and 4: Education, Training, and Awareness-Raising are also well represented with many remarkable studies, admirable people and exceptional projects. This year’s Awards Juries will certainly have a tough job with so many outstanding entries and wonderful projects. Read more
ANTWERP: EUROPA NOSTRA HERITAGE CITY 2011 On Monday, 21 November, a high-profile awards ceremony in Antwerp celebrated three winners of the EU Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards 2011: the Antwerp Central Station, a Grand Prix winner in category 1 (conservation), the association “Monumental Churches of Antwerp”, and the “Heart for People’s Cafés” project, both award winners in category 4 (education, training and awareness-raising). EU Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou attended this exceptional ceremony which took place in the central hall of the historic Central Station and also in the Antwerp Cathedral, followed by the reception hosted by the Mayor of Antwerp, at the historic Town Hall. The event was attended by many heritage professionals and volunteers from Flanders and Antwerp and also attracted much media attention. A full reportage (with photos) of this ceremony will soon be available on our website. Read more
EU COMMISSIONER VASSILIOU CELEBRATES VILLA EMPAIN IN BRUSSELS On Monday 3 October, under a blazing autumn sun, the local ceremony celebrating the Villa Empain took place on the Villa’s terrace in Brussels. The ceremony was attended by many Belgian guests. Mrs Androulla Vassiliou, member of the European Commission in charge of Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Mr Charles Picqué, Minister-President of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region which collaborated to the restoration, Mr Jean Boghossian, Chairman of the Boghossian Foundation, and Mrs Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, Europa Nostra Secretary General, spoke at the ceremony. Read more
At their last conference held in Victoria (Canada), from 12-16 October 2011, members of the International National Trusts Organisation (INTO), adopted the Victoria Declaration on the Implications for Cultural Sustainability of Climate Change. This important declaration seeks to raise the awareness of the world leaders from 193 countries who will assemble in Durban, South Africa, for the 17th Climate Change Conference (28 November – 9 December) that what is at stake is not just economic, social and political, but also that cultural heritage is in jeopardy and social sustainability is at risk. The Europa Nostra Council is expected to endorse the Victoria Declaration at its next meeting on 10 December in Berlin. Read more
REFORM OF THE COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY AND ITS IMPACT ON HERITAGE On 12 October 2011 the Commission presented a set of legal proposals designed to make the CAP a more effective policy for a more competitive and sustainable agriculture and vibrant rural areas. Following a debate in the European Parliament and the Council, the approval of the different regulations and implementing acts is expected by the end of 2013, with a view to having the CAP reform in place as from 1st January 2014. Europa Nostra welcomes the Commission's recognition, in the proposed Rural Development Rules, of the importance the cultural and natural heritage plays in rural development. Read more
EUROPA NOSTRA CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROPOSED PLANNING REFORM IN ENGLAND The UK government has launched a draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) aiming at introducing drastic changes to planning regulations. These changes intend to make it easier to develop new homes in the countryside. The Executive President of Europa Nostra, Denis de Kergorlay, wrote a letter to the UK Minister for Decentralisation, Greg Clark, advising against using the planning system as a short-term generator of economic growth, as these have proved unsuccessful in other European countries. Subsequently, EN UK sent a letter contributing to the public consultation on this matter. Read more
THE HERITAGE OF THE CITY – THE FUTURE OF EUROPE: 8-9 DECEMBER, BERLIN The German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development is organising a major International Conference 'The Heritage of the City - the Future of Europe, New Opportunities for Integrated Urban Development' on 8-9 December 2011 in Berlin. Europa Nostra Germany was closely involved in the preparation of this programme. The members of the Europa Nostra Council and Board will attend the Conference and will also hold meetings of those two governing bodies on 10 and 11 December in Berlin. Read more
POLICY
EUROPEAN HERITAGE LABEL ADOPTED BY THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT At its plenary session in Strasbourg, the European Parliament adopted on 16 November 2011, in second reading, the European Heritage Label. This decision paves the way to a final decision by the Council, possibly even before the end of this year. From 2013, a voluntary European Heritage Label may be granted to symbolic sites for Europe's history or integration. Particular attention will go to "transnational" sites, given their special symbolism for Europe's common history. Read more
EHD FORUM IN WROCLAW STRESSES THE MULTIPLE VALUE OF HERITAGE The 4th European Heritage Days Forum was held in Wrocław, Poland on 10-12 October, during the Polish Presidency of the EU, on the topic "Value the Heritage! European Heritage and Economic Development". The Forum brought together policy-makers, heritage experts and national coordinators for the European Heritage Days to discuss the value of cultural heritage for the European economy, particularly in times of economic crisis. The forum was opened by Bogdan Zdrojewski, Polish Minister of Culture and National Heritage. Europa Nostra was represented at this event by Piet Jaspaert, member of the Board. Read more
EUROPEAN HISTORIC HOUSES ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2011 IN BRUSSELS On Friday 30 September, almost 150 participants attended the annual Conference 2011 of the European Historic Houses Association (EHHA), organised on the theme “The value of historic houses for tourism, economic and social development” at the Royal Academies in Brussels. Speakers at the conference included Deputy Heads of Unit from various DG's of the European Commission which play a key role in the heritage field: Enterprise & Industry (for Tourism), Education & Culture and Research, as well as representatives of private owners of European historic houses owners and EN Secretary General, Sneska Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic. Read more
MORE THAN 800 DELEGATES ATTEND THE EUROPEAN CULTURE FORUM IN BRUSSELS More than 800 people from diverse cultural sectors, including Europa Nostra representatives, gathered in Brussels to attend the European Cultural Forum organised by the European Commission, DG Education and Culture, on 20-21 October. Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner in charge of Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, and Bogdan Zdrojewski, Minister of Culture and National Heritage of Poland opened the meeting which was divided in 4 sessions. Read more
EUROPEAN HERITAGE ALLIANCE 3.3 CALLS FOR A EUROPEAN STUDY ON THE VALUE OF HERITAGE On 7 September, a few members of the European Heritage Alliance 3.3 which was launched by 27 European and international networks and organisations active in the wider field of cultural heritage, last June in Amsterdam, gathered in the EN Brussels office to discuss further what concrete action should be undertaken or promoted by the Alliance. Representatives of the European Association of Historic Towns and Regions (EAHTR), European Cultural Foundation (ECF), European Historic Houses Association (EHHA), European Network of Cultural Administration Training Centres (ENCATC) and Europa Nostra proposed to the Alliance members to prepare a joint plea to the European Commission to finance a comprehensive and comparative study on Europe’s cultural and natural heritage assets. Read more
WE ARE MORE CAMPAIGN: SIGN THE MANIFESTO TODAY The “we are more campaign”, joined by Europa Nostra last June in Amsterdam, is now supported by 21.665 supporters (as of 17 November)! They all signed the Manifesto calling for an increased support to culture in the next EU budget (for the period 2014-2020). The “we are more campaign” calls to support the 37% budget increase the Commission proposed for its next Culture and Media programme “Creative Europe” which is due to be published at the end of November. Once again, Europa Nostra strongly encourages all its members and friends to join this important campaign by signing today the Manifesto! Read more
EUROPA NOSTRA BOARD APPOINTS A SPECIAL ADVISOR ON EU AFFAIRS Europa Nostra is happy to announce that at its last meeting on 22 September, the Board appointed Ralph Hallo as its “Special Advisor on EU Affairs”. Mr Hallo is Director of “Brussels Strategics”, European public affairs consultancy based in The Netherlands, and previously served as President of the European Environmental Bureau (2000-2005). He joined Europa Nostra as an Individual Member after the Amsterdam Congress and kindly offered to put his experience and expertise to use on behalf of Europa Nostra in the spirit of the theme of the Forum 2011 on volunteers. Read more
EUROPEAN TOURISM DAY 2011 DEDICATED TO EUROPE’S INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE On 27 September, EN Board member Piet Jaspaert and EN Staff member Louise van Rijckevorsel attended the 2011 edition of the European Tourism Day, organised by the DG Enterprise and Industry, on the occasion of World Tourism Day. The conference’s theme was "Industrial heritage: differentiating the European tourism offer". Around 400 participants discussed how the preservation and promotion of the European industrial heritage may contribute to the diversification of the tourism offer in Europe, and how - at the same time - tourism development strategies may be key alternatives to avoid job-losses and economic depression in abandoned industrial areas. Read more
EEA FINANCIAL MECHANISM 2009-2014: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HERITAGE Through the EEA and Norway Grants - Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway contribute to reducing social and economic disparities in the European Economic Area (EEA) and to strengthening bilateral relations with the beneficiary countries. In the period 2004- 2009 the three donor states made available € 1.3 billion for EEA and Norway Grants to the 12 newest EU member countries (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia) as well as for Greece, Portugal and Spain. Another € 1.79 billion is set aside for the period 2009-2014. Norway contributes around 97% of the total funding. Among the key areas cultural heritage is given an important priority with a share of 21%. Read more
ACCESS TO CULTURE PLATFORM CALLS FOR 2013 EUROPEAN YEAR OF CITIZENS THROUGH CULTURE On 18 October, Europa Nostra took part in the plenary session of the Access to Culture Platform in Brussels. This Platform is one of the three platforms (together with the Platform on Intercultural Europe and the Platform on Cultural Industries) which have been set up by the European Agenda for Culture in 2008. On this occasion, a Common Call for 2013 European Year of Citizens through Culture - launched under the umbrella of “A Soul for Europe” - was presented and endorsed by the Platform. Read more
INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERING CONFERENCE IN GRAZ (AUSTRIA) About 50 heritage and museum experts gathered in Graz (AT) for the International Volunteering Conference “European Heritage in our Hands” organized by MUSIS, the Association for the Support of Museums and Collections in the Austrian province of Styria. Laurie Neale represented Europa Nostra at the conference, thanks to a Grundvig grant from the EU Life Long Learning Programme. She presented Europa Nostra’s experience as a volunteer driven organisation, and reported on the EN Forum “Volunteering: added Value for Europe’s Heritage” which took place on 10 June in the cadre of the EN 2011 Amsterdam Annual Congress. Also attending the conference were Council members Margit Uray-Frick (EN Austria) and Višnja Kisić (EN Serbia), as well as Marina Stojadinović (co-author of the Reader for the EN Forum on Volunteering). Read More
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING HERITAGE COMMITTEE MEETING IN LONDON Europa Nostra's Industrial and Engineering Heritage Committee (IEHC) met recently in London (6-9 October 2011), in the Boardroom of the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich. On this occasion, it was decided to cooperate more closely with like minded bodies like TICCIH in the field of identifying Industrial Heritage in Danger. Furthermore, the IEHC is currently preparing its renewed Mission Statement. The IEHC welcomed the appointment of its Member Dr Paul Smith (FR) in the European Awards Jury - Category I Conservation - for the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards, seeing it as recognition of increasing importance Europa Nostra is attributing to industrial and engineering heritage. Read more EUROPA NOSTRA SPREADS ITS MESSAGE IN ASIA (TAIWAN) Europa Nostra, represented by Wolter Braamhorst, Editor of the “Heritage in Motion” Magazine, was one of the key note speakers during the 2011 International Symposium for Cultural Heritage Conservation and Transnational Cooperation in Tainan, Taiwan. On invitation of Taiwan’s Headquarters of the Administration of Cultural Heritage, Council of Cultural Affairs, Europa Nostra discussed the importance and challenges of transnational cooperation in Europe and expressed the hope that a similar continent-wide civil society organisation could be set up in Asia. Read More
For more information on policy matters: Louise van van Rijckevorsel: +32 (0) 2 400 77 02 or lvr[at]europanostra[dot]org
EU PRIZE FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE / EUROPA NOSTRA AWARDS
2011 AWARD WINNERS CELEBRATED ACROSS EUROPE AT LOCAL CEREMONIES 15 December Wooden Churches and Bell Towers of Europe, Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC 24 November The Blue Lamb' Granary in Gdansk, POLAND 21 November Antwerp Central Station, Antwerp BELGIUM (Grand Prix) Heart for People's Cafes, in Flanders and Brussels, Ghent BELGIUM Monumental Churches of Antwerp, Antwerp BELGIUM 19 October Professor PhDr. Tomáš Durdík, DrSc., Prague CZECH REPUBLIC 14 October 5 October 4 October Architectural Heritage of the Buffer Zone in the Walled City of Nicosia, CYPRUS 3 October Villa Empain, Brussels BELGIUM (Members Choice Awards) 21 September Förderverein Kloster Bredelar e.V., Marsberg GERMANY 20 September 4 grada Dragodid – Preserving Dry-Stone Masonry Techniques of the Eastern Adriatic, Zagreb CROATIA 17 September Szymon Modrzejewski, Nowica POLAND (Grand Prix) 10 September BK City, Delft THE NETHERLANDS 9 September The Hackfall Woodland Garden, Grewelthorpe UNITED KINGDOM (Grand Prix) 24 August New Approaches to the Conservation of Furniture in Boulle-Technique, München GERMANY
For more information on awards matters: Elena Bianchi, Heritage Awards: +31 70 302 4058 or eb[at]europanostra[dot]org
MEMBERSHIP
A WARM WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS Since September 2011, Europa Nostra welcomed 6 new Member Organisations, 3 new Corporate Friends, 16 individual members and 11 Life Members from 14 different countries. We warmly welcome these organisations and persons and thank them for their confidence and support.
Member Organisations: Gjirokastra Conservation and Development Organisation - Albania Association of Cultural Heritage Education - Finland Metiers du Patrimoine - France European Association of Archaeologists - Czech Republic Heritage & Museums - Greece
Corporate Friends: Fiskars Village - Finland Schmid & Kahlert - France Capital at Work – The Netherlands
We invite all committed to cultural heritage to join as a member or associate organisation or as an individual member: heritage professionals and volunteers; associations, networks and federations; foundations; public authorities and agencies; museums, schools and universities; corporations and businesses. Share your knowledge, experience and enthusiasm! To become a member: www.europanostra.org/join-us
For more information on membership matters: Barbara Zander, +31 70 302 4054 or bz@europanostra.org
COUNTRY REPRESENTATIONS
EN DEUTSCHLAND COLLOQUIUM ATTRACTS LARGE ATTENDANCE AT EXPONATEC IN COLOGNE Some 250 delegates representing German heritage organisations, industry and professionals working in the field of monuments’ restoration and conservation responded positively to the invitation of Europa Nostra Deutschland, Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz und Deutsche Burgenvereinigung to discuss the controversial issue "Regulations for heritage buildings in Germany - how much can a monument bear? ". The colloquium took place on 17 November in Cologne during the Exponatec Cologne Fair. Read more
EUROPA NOSTRA UK ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN PORTSMOUTH The UK’s local representation for Europa Nostra (usually shortened to ENUK), held its annual general meeting and conference this year in the famous naval city of Portsmouth. The event was organised by UK committee members Zeynep Aygen and David Thackray, under the guidance of committee Chairman, Lester Borley. The Executive President of Europa Nostra, Denis de Kergorlay, also attended the conference in Portsmouth. Since this was Lester Borley’s last year as the Chair of ENUK, part of the programme was a tribute to him and his wife Mary to commemorate the huge contribution they have both made to the work of Europa Nostra in UK. Read more
PARTNERSHIPS
THE BEST IN HERITAGE CELEBRATES ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY IN DUBROVNIK AND IN COLOGNE The annual Best in Heritage conference in Dubrovnik brought together 132 participants from 29 countries with a dense programme of presentations of awarded and recently opened museum, as well as heritage and conservation projects. Past award winners of the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Award, such as the Westergasfabriek renovation project in Amsterdam, the Baerwaldbad Conservation Through Vocational Training in Berlin and the Faith in Maintenance programme from the UK, shared their experience. Read more
EUROPEAN WINNERS OF THE WIKI LOVES MONUMENTS CONTEST TO BE ANNOUNCED IN DECEMBER In September 2011 European photo contest Wiki Loves Monuments received almost 170.000 images of European monuments from 17 countries. Winners from each participating country have been announced and can be consulted online. Heritage lovers have freely uploaded stunning images from historical landmarks to remote locations. These photos will further illustrate the extensive knowledge that has been collected and shared on Wikipedia on many monuments and heritage locations. Read more
EUROPA NOSTRA HELPS LAUNCH “THE PLACE I LOVE” PUBLIC CAMPAIGN IN SERBIA Banca Intesa with the support of Europa Nostra Serbia, the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of Serbia and the Serbian Ministry of Culture, has launched a large scale project called “The Place I love” (Mesto koje volim ), with the aim to fund the restoration of important heritage landmarks in Serbia. Major media and many prominent personalities from various fields have welcomed this public vote on people’s favourite heritage places. Banca Intesa will subsequently finance the safeguard of the place which gets the highest number of votes. Read more
HERITAGE TOURS
NEW TOURS IN 2012: MAASTRICHT IN THE NETHERLANDS AND TORINO IN ITALY For next year two Heritage Tours have been planned. A five-days tour in the second half March will visit the magnificent TEFAF (The European Fine Arts Fair – the greatest in the world) at Maastricht in The Netherlands, and a number of important historical sites in the region as well as a range of appealing private castles. Early October enticing Torino in north Italy, and its attractive surroundings, including the stunning legacy of the House of Savoie, will be widely toured for six days, seeing a wonderful variety of palaces, other historic edifices and private homes.
Early June, after the Annual Congress at Lisbon, a four-days post-Congress tour will travel to lesser known, but fascinating northern Portugal, visiting inter alia Porto and Guimaraes (2012 European Cultural Capital) and a selection of unmissable sites and private houses/quintas. Read more
For more information on Heritage Tours: Barbara Zander : +31 70 302 4054 or bz [at] europanostra[dot]org
RECOMMENDED
JUST OPENED: THE RESTORED WOODS OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI The woods surrounding the basilica of St Francis of Assisi have been restored by Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI) and they were recently opened to the public following its inauguration on 11 November in Assisi. In 2008 FAI accepted a donation of 60 hectares of abandoned land and started an unprecedented landscape restoration project that involved many private and public donors. Read more
REMOTE ACCESS TO WORLD HERITAGE SITES: 23-24 NOVEMBER, EDINBURGH At a time of economic crisis and environmental threat, countries everywhere have to address the dual challenge of protecting and preserving their natural and cultural heritage while maximising their economic value. This two-day international conference will focus on the potential for new technologies to create high-quality, remote-access visitor experiences for World Heritage Sites and other sites of cultural, historical and natural significance where remote access is either desirable or necessary. Read more
HERITAGE, DRIVER OF DEVELOPMENT: 27 NOVEMBER - 2 DECEMBER, PARIS The most important triennial international gathering of ICOMOS will take place from 27 November to 2 December 2011 for the first time in Paris at UNESCO headquarters. Read more
DISH, DIGITAL STRATEGIES FOR HERITAGE: 6-9 DECEMBER, ROTTERDAM Digital Strategies for Heritage (DISH) is the bi-annual international conference on digital heritage and the strategies that heritage institutions can follow. Triggered by changes in society, heritage organisations face many challenges and need to make strategic decisions about their activities and services. The key motivators for the conference are inspiration, knowledge, skills and networking. Read more
ANNOUNCEMENT
EU/COUNCIL OF EUROPE SUPPORT TO PROMOTING CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN KOSOVO The Council of Europe is seeking a Long Term Consultant to be based in Pristina to ensure the implementation of the Joint Programme "EU/Council of Europe Support to the Promotion of Cultural Diversity in Kosovo*" from 15 April 2012 to 14 October 2014. Interested candidates should submit a covering letter and an up-to-date CV to the address indicated in the terms of reference by 18 December 2011 at the latest. Read more
COLOPHON
Europa Nostra is the Voice of Cultural Heritage in Europe. It represents some 250 non-governmental organisations, over 150 associate organisations and more than 1500 individual members from more than 50 countries who are fully committed to safeguarding Europe’s cultural heritage and landscapes. Together, we provide a powerful network for dialogue and debate; we celebrate the best heritage achievements; we campaign against threats to vulnerable heritage buildings, sites and landscapes, and we lobby for sustainable European policies and high quality standards with regard to heritage.
Europa Nostra International Secretariat Lange Voorhout 35, 2514 EC Den Haag, Netherlands T +31 70 302 40 50 F +31 70 361 78 65 E info [at] europanostra [dot] org
Europa Nostra Brussels Office 67 Rue de Trèves / Trierstraat, 1040 Brussels, Belgium T +32 2 400 77 02 F +32 2 234 30 09 E bxl [at] europanostra [dot] org
Newsletter edited by Giuseppe Simone, Web Communications: +31 70 302 40 59 or gs[at]europanostra[dot]org
PHOTO: Jéronimos Monastery in Lisbon CC-BY-SA. Aire Dos Santos
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