Berlin hosts first ever European Cultural Heritage Summit from 18-24 June

The Hague / Berlin, 18 June 2018 – The European Cultural Heritage Summit will be held in Berlin and its surroundings from 18-24 June as part of the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018. The European Policy Debate, the European Heritage Awards Ceremony and public gatherings at Sanssouci Park (Potsdam) and Gendarmenmarkt (Berlin) are among the highlights of the Summit Programme, which includes more than 50 events.

The European Cultural Heritage Summit, with its motto “Sharing Heritage – Sharing Values”, will be the largest European event taking place during the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018. The Summit – supported by the European Commission, the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media as well as the Berlin Senate Department for Cultural Affairs and Europe – is co-hosted by the German Cultural Heritage Committee (DNK), the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK) and Europa Nostra, the leading European heritage network.

The Summit is the first of its kind and will provide an extensive and unique platform for interaction and exchange between diverse stakeholders in the field of cultural heritage. Most events catering to experts will take place from 18 to 21 June. These include events held by the European Commission, the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community, the German Commission for UNESCO, the German Foundation for Monument Protection, the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, the British Council, Eurocities, NEMO, ICOMOS, the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation, the Humboldt University Berlin, Bertelsmann and the Goethe-Institute. Several events specifically target a younger audience (Youth Conference “Culture & Heritage in a Digital World”, Student Summit “Culture Up Your Future – Living out European Heritage in the Digital Age”, Young Professionals Summit “The Future is Heritage”).

On 22 June during the European Policy Debate “Sharing Heritage – Sharing Values”, a number of high level politicians will discuss the role of cultural heritage in regard to European values, identity and cohesion policy. Among the speakers will be Tibor Navracsics, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport; Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the European Committee of the Regions; Luca Jahier, President of the European Economic and Social Committee; and Françoise Nyssen, Minister of Culture, France. Corina Creţu, European Commissioner for Regional Policy had to cancel unfortunately. As part of the debate the “Berlin Call” will be presented. This Call aims to give a significant impetus to the “New European Agenda for Culture” and the “Action Plan for Cultural Heritage” currently prepared by the European Commission.

Following the European Policy Debate, the winners of the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards 2018 will be honoured at a high-profile Award Ceremony on the evening of 22 June at the Berlin Congress Center. The European Heritage Awards Ceremony will be co-hosted by Plácido Domingo, the renowned opera singer and President of Europa Nostra, and Tibor Navracsics, European Commissioner for Culture. It will be attended by the Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier in his capacity as the Patron of the European Year of Cultural Heritage in Germany.

On Saturday 23 June the public is invited to join the “European Picnic at Sanssouci” on the lawn at the foot of the Orangery Palace’s magnificent terraces. On Sunday 24 June, the interactive fair “Our Heritage” will welcome all Berliners as well as visiting guests to discover cultural heritage with all of their senses at a colourful market located at the beautiful Gendarmenmarkt.

For the complete list of events, please visit http://european-cultural-heritage-summit.eu/events/

Press invitation and details on press registration will follow soon.

To find out more about
European Cultural Heritage Summit
European Year of Cultural Heritage in Germany (SHARING HERITAGE)
European Year of Cultural Heritage in Europe
German Cultural Heritage Committee (DNK)
Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK)
Europa Nostra