The Best in Heritage 2013 to host the first Global Heritage Forum

A new addition to this year’s The Best in Heritage event, which will be held in Dubrovnik, Croatia, from 19 to 21 September, is the Global Heritage Forum. The aim of this initiative, a joint-venture between Europa Nostra and the International National Trusts Organisation (INTO), is to bring together senior representatives of European and international heritage organisations to discuss a global agenda for heritage. Around 140 participants from all over the world are expected to attend the conference and the presentation of the Global Heritage Forum initiative.

During this top-level but informal meeting, a global strategy and an action plan for cultural and natural heritage will be outlined. The main points on the agenda are: discussion of problems and matters of common interest; collaboration upon areas of interface and development of concerted actions; capitalisation of media attention; exchange of information on programmes and projects; and coordination of calendars of events and meetings.

John Sell, Executive Vice-president of Europa Nostra, Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, its Secretary General, and Simon Molesworth, Executive Chairman of the INTO, will lead the working sessions and moderate the discussions with high-level representatives of several organisations, on 19 September, at the Rector’s Palace. The presentation of the Global Heritage Forum initiative to all attendees of the conference will take place the next day at the Theatre Marin Držić.

Twenty-four award-wining museum, heritage and conservation projects from the United States to China will be presented on 20 and 21 September at the Marin Držić. The programme, which comprises some of the most innovative, professionally advanced and inspiring projects nationally or internationally recognised in 2012, includes the presentation of a selection of six European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards, among which are two Grand Prix laureates: the conservation project of the Number 2 Blast Furnace of Sagunto in Spain and the Norwegian Heritage Foundation’s education and awareness-raising project ‘Improve a Heritage Site’.

The richness of cultural heritage on an international level will be further represented by the Australian Immigration Museum’s ‘Identity: Yours, Mine, Ours’ in Melbourne, the Egyptian Children’s Centre for Civilisation & Creativity in Cairo and the Indonesian conservation project ‘Mbaru Niang’ on Flores Island. Other award-winners from Portugal, Scotland, Russia, Japan and Canada will also present their projects.

For detailed information on the programme and to register your attendance at the event, please visit The Best in Heritage website.