EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS


 


Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Federation, 22 September 2006

    
DECLARATION of Tsarskoye Selo

    
In the context of the Russian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the participants in the official launch of the 2006 European Heritage Days (EHD), meeting at an international colloquy on the "The value of Europe's cultural heritage" in Tsarskoye Selo on 22 September 2006: 

Taking into account the fruitful co-operation within the framework of the European Cultural Convention to which Russia has been a party since 1991; 

Considering the corresponding provisions of the Declaration of the Third Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe’s member states, particularly “we shall foster European identity and unity, based on shared fundamental values, respect for our common heritage and cultural diversity”; 

Considering that the present colloquy has provided the opportunity to take a closer look at the European principles of preservation, use and dissemination of cultural heritage and that the 2006 Launch in St Petersbourg gives an insight into the multicultural heritage of the Russian Federation which is an integral part of European heritage; 

Welcoming the exemplary cooperation of the Council of Europe and the European Commission for the European Heritage Days programme and hoping that this cooperation be extended to other initiatives designed to highlight the value of culture and heritage and its many contributions to European society as a whole; 


Take note, at the close of the proceedings of the Colloquy, of: 

- the interest displayed in cultural heritage by people from a variety of backgrounds, origins, religions and of different ages, as demonstrated by the public success of the European Heritage Days in the countries that have signed the Council of Europe's European Cultural Convention; 

- the need for people to have better knowledge of their roots in one or more human and cultural environments in this age of globalisation and at a time when individuals are searching for identity and a sense of belonging; 

- the public's growing enthusiasm for the heritage of countries other than their own, which has been fuelled by the boom in cultural tourism providing opportunities for people to appropriate the common heritage of Europe and of humankind and forge solidarity through heritage; 

- the risks to the heritage whether such risks result from natural or accidental disasters or those for which human beings are responsible and of the need to find means to prevent and remedy these disasters; 


Agree on the values that heritage represents for society and highlight the contribution its preservation and sustainable use make to human development and the quality of life, pointing out in this connection that: 

- cultural heritage has a fully developed political dimension in our societies insofar as it constitutes a medium for knowledge about, and mutual recognition of, the various cultures and identities that coexist on European soil and within individual countries; 

- it strengthens the social fabric and provides valuable tools for the education of young people in the spirit of the respect of human dignity, principles of democracy and human rights; 

- it provides appropriate scope for the development of intercultural and inter-religious dialogue and underpins European integration by developing European identity and affording it a cultural basis conducive to the achievement of cohesive, pluralistic and democratic societies; 

- the right of every individual to benefit from the cultural heritage and contribute to its enrichment, as part of the right to participate in cultural life goes hand in hand with mutual respect for the heritage of the different countries; it also means that, regardless of the legal rules governing property ownership, heritage is common property that cannot be the preserve of particular population groups, and that society has a collective moral responsibility to hand it down to future generations; 

- heritage in the broadest sense provides considerable development potential in a knowledge-based society, where knowledge and skills are becoming more likely to make for prosperity; it preserves jobs, in particular skilled jobs in the upkeep of property, and generates new occupations in communication, the interpretation and publicising of the heritage and the cultural and tourist industries; 

- numerous players are involved in the preservation and enhancement of the heritage, ranging from public authorities and experts to companies, voluntary associations, individual owners and ordinary members of the public; this shared commitment provides new opportunities for the public to participate in, and share responsibility for, the management of public space and cultural life; 


Emphasise the opportunity to set up a stronger “partnership” for heritage through: 

- the continuing responsibility of the state in promoting and devising conservation and integrated development policies and providing the appropriate legal and financial frameworks that allow combined action by public authorities, experts, owners of cultural property, investors, companies and civil society; 

- the cooperation between regional and local authorities that manage cultural heritage, and those who create and finance innovative programmes in the area of heritage preservation including civil society; 

- the positive experience of these bodies in supporting efforts for the preservation and use of objects of cultural heritage; 

- the role of community initiatives in providing increased public access to historical and cultural monuments and to acknowledge their right to participate in heritage preservation; 

- the need for the appropriate authorities to make use of tax mechanisms and financial incentives to facilitate public/private partnerships and voluntary initiatives; 

- the development of the cultural tourism sector which is a key example of the search for a balance between immediate profitability and longer-term repercussions benefiting society; in the light in particular of the Council of Europe Recommendation on the promotion of tourism to foster the cultural heritage as a factor for sustainable development; 


Remind the member states that: 

- support for mobility among members of the public and professionals and cultural exchanges facilitated by virtual media should be systematically encouraged in order to heighten awareness of the values embodied in the common heritage and promote lifelong learning for individuals; 

- international solidarity and the sharing of expertise make a valuable contribution to the preservation and restoration of the heritage and in particular to remedying the consequences of disasters or conflicts that have damaged heritage; 

- the expected accession of those states not yet party to the Council of Europe conventions on the heritage, in particular the Faro Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society, will facilitate the establishment of a mechanism for the sustainable use of cultural resources and encourage international sharing of good practice. 


The participants call on the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to:

- intensify the Council of Europe’s activities to promote European cultural cooperation and increase its visibility. For this purpose, devote to the cultural dimension of the Council of Europe special attention particularly during the discussions on the Council of Europe’s programmes of activities with a view to maintaining the present level of financing of the cultural sector in the Council of Europe;

- include, in the programme of activities of the Council of Europe, specific actions, programmes and projects aimed at the implementation of the Action Plan adopted at the Third Summit particularly that “we will foster dialogue on the role of culture in contemporary Europe and define ways to support diversity and artistic creativity, defending culture as a purveyor of values. Steps should be taken to enhance access to cultural achievements and heritage by promoting cultural activities and exchanges”;

- intensify the Council of Europe’s efforts contributing to the promotion of the historical and cultural heritage through cultural tourism. 


The participants warmly thank the authorities responsible for the organisation of the programme for the 2006 Launch of the European Heritage Days, the Ministry of Culture and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation, the Government of St Petersburg, the All-Russian society for the preservation of cultural and historical monuments and Europa Nostra as well as the curators in charge of the various places that have hosted the events launching the 2006 European Heritage Days.