2017 Exponatec Cologne spotlights cultural heritage

Exponatec Cologne, Europe’s leading communication platform for the museum, conservation and restoration sectors, took place from 22-24 November in Cologne, Germany. In view of the upcoming European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018, with the motto “Sharing Heritage”, the field of cultural heritage was under the spotlight at this year’s edition of the event. Europa Nostra, which is among the main partners of Exponatec, was represented by its Board Member Guy Clausse, who presented the organisation and its flagship initiatives for the Year, with special focus on the European Cultural Heritage Summit to be held in Berlin from 18-24 June. Europa Nostra Deutschland and its Chairman Alexander Fürst zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn co-hosted the symposium “Digital Monument: Historic Preservation and New Media”.

Exponatec Cologne 2017

The 2017 edition of Exponatec placed a special emphasis on cultural heritage, featuring a series of presentations, lectures and exhibition areas revolving around cultural heritage related topics. The discussions focused on the protection of European cultural heritage with the aim of actively guiding even broader segments of society, especially the younger generation, towards cultural heritage.

On 23 November, the symposium “Digital Monument: Historic Preservation and New Media” gathered together some 130 people. In his welcome remarks, Alexander Fürst zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, Vice-President of Europa Nostra and Chairman of Europa Nostra Deutschland, noted that Exponatec was a prelude to the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018, which will be officially launched at the European Culture Forum in Milan on 7-8 December. In his address, Siegwart Graf Eulenburg, Council Member of Europa Nostra, stressed the importance of the Year for the cultural heritage field. The European Year of Cultural Heritage was also the main topic discussed during the General Assembly of Europa Nostra Deutschland, which took place after the symposium.

What is the digital monument? And for what purposes do we actually digitalise monument preservation? The symposium “Digital Monument: Historic Preservation and New Media” examined these questions, in particular the digital distribution and mediation of content, as well as goals and ideas relating to monument preservation. It was organised by four Member Organisations of Europa Nostra from Germany, namely the Federation for Country and Environment, the Association for the Protection of Monuments and Landscapes in the Rhineland Area, the German Foundation for the Preservation of Monuments and the German Castles Association with its European Castle Institute.

On 22 November, The Best in Heritage Excellence Club seminar was held by the European Heritage Association, a Member Organisation of Europa Nostra based in Croatia. Professor Tomislav Šola, Director of The Best in Heritage, explained the conceptual framework of the event, which focuses on the promotion of excellence, best practices and award-winning achievements. The outstanding conservation project of the Nuragic Sculptures of Monte Prama in Sardinia in Italy – winner of an EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Award 2015 and voted as Project of Influence at The Best in Heritage Conference 2016 – was one of the award-winning projects presented at this year’s seminar. The event was moderated by Goranka Horjan, Chair of ICOM SEE and Chair of the Awards in the category Education, Training and Awareness-Raising.

Video presentations about the best museum, restoration and conservation projects from around the world, including many winners of the EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards, were broadcast at The Best in Heritage stand during the entire event.

Europa Nostra, which was present with an information stand during the entire event, The Best in Heritage and the German Museums Association are the main partners of Exponatec. Throughout the four exhibition areas, institutions and companies from all relevant segments of the culture market showed new products, solutions and concepts revolving around exhibiting, restoration and cultural heritage and thereby provide groundbreaking impulses.

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