Europa Nostra closes its 50th anniversary with major policy in Brussels
The Belgium capital will host the closing events of Europa Nostra’s 50th Anniversary from 4-6 December. The European Heritage Policy conference ‘Cultural Heritage for Europe, Europe for Cultural Heritage’, which will bring together eminent experts, decision-makers and top-level representatives from EU Institutions, on 5 December, is the highlight of the programme. It will be followed by the opening of the photo exhibition on the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards at the headquarters of the European Commission. The Citizens Dialogue and a special concert entitled ‘European Inspirations’ at the BOZAR will close this landmark day dedicated to cultural heritage in the heart of the European decision-making.
The policy conference will take place at the Bibliothèque Solvay, the opening of the exhibition on the Awards at the headquarters of the European Commission, the Citizens Dialogue and the concert at the BOZAR.
On 4 December, the Steering Committee of the European project ‘Cultural Heritage Counts for Europe’ will meet in the morning at the Europa Nostra Brussels Office and hold an open session with the European Heritage Alliance 3.3 in the afternoon at the EU Randstad Region Office. The Local Award Ceremony for the research project for the restoration of the exceptional machines of the Wielemans-Ceuppens Brewery, a Grand Prix winner of a EU Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards in 2013, will take place in the evening at the WIELS – Contemporary Art Centre.
The European Heritage Policy conference ‘Cultural Heritage for Europe, Europe for Cultural Heritage’, organised by Europa Nostra in cooperation with Edificio at Bibliothèque Solvay (winner of a European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards in 2012), on 5 December, is the highlight of the three-day programme in Brussels. To demonstrate the multiple values of heritage and outline strategies for the future are the main objectives of this conference, which will bring together eminent experts, decision-makers and top-level representatives from EU Institutions.
The morning session will consist of three panel discussions: ‘Contributing to a Sustainable Development’, ‘Engaging Communities’ and ‘The 7 Most Endangered: the way forward’. On this occasion, high-level delegates from Europa Nostra and the European Investment Bank Institute (EIB-I), founding partner of ‘The 7 Most Endangered’ programme, will present and discuss the results of the rescue missions to the most threatened heritage sites in Europe in 2013. The project ‘Cultural Heritage Counts for Europe’, which is supported by the Culture Programme of the European Union, will also be publicly launched.
In the afternoon, after the panel discussion ‘Heritage Movement without Borders’, several distinguished speakers – including Remy Jacob, Dean of the EIB-I, Romas Jarockis, Vice-Minister of Culture of Lithuania, and Henri Malosse, President of the European Economic and Social Committee – will participate in the concluding session. Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament, will convey a message to the audience via a video especially recorded for the event. Plácido Domingo, the world-renowned opera singer and President of Europa Nostra, will make an introductory speech, while Denis de Kergorlay, Executive President of Europa Nostra, will make the concluding remarks.
This major policy conference will be followed by the opening of the photographic exhibition on the EU Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards, entitled ‘Europe: Our Past, our Future’, at the Berlaymont building. Some 360 remarkable projects have received Europe’s most prestigious heritage prize since 2002. This exhibition will take us on a fantastic journey across Europe, from Norway to Turkey, displaying some of the best and most inspiring examples in the heritage field. It is hosted by Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth. Plácido Domingo will participate in the event.
Plácido Domingo, Androulla Vassiliou, Michelangelo Pistoletto, renowned Italian visual artist, Isabelle Durant, Vice-President of the European Parliament, and Paul Dujardin, Director of the Palais des Beaux-Arts, are the speakers at the Brussels Citizens Dialogue to be held at the BOZAR. The debate will focus on the ways out of the crisis and the future of Europe, with a special emphasis on the role of culture as a catalyst for European integration. This initiative is organised by the Representation of the European Commission in Belgium and the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, in partnership with BOZAR and Europa Nostra.
A special concert entitled ‘European Inspirations’ at the BOZAR – with the participation of the Belgium baritone Ivan Thirion, the Georgian bass Kakhader Shavidze, the Greek mezzo-soprano Alexandra Gravas and the Portuguese fado singer Katia Guerreiro – will mark the 50th Anniversary of Europa Nostra and celebrate the role of culture in the European project.
On 6 December, the meeting of the Council of Europa Nostra will be held at the EU Randstad Region Office. During this gathering, the results of the rescue missions to ‘The 7 Most Endangered’ monuments and sites in Europe in 2013 will be presented and discussed. Local representatives of the missions will take part in the meeting.
