Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Nicosia kicks off with two days dedicated to cultural heritage and citizens’ engagement

The official launch of the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Nicosia took place on 27-28 February 2025, marked by a series of events dedicated to cultural heritage, unity, and citizen’s engagement. Bringing together representatives from civil society, heritage experts, policymakers, and community leaders from across Europe – with a special focus on the Mediterranean and the Middle East – the launch highlighted the role of heritage in fostering dialogue, reconciliation, and social cohesion.

 

The official inauguration ceremony took place at the Hall of the University of Cyprus, one of the Founding Members of the Nicosia Hub and was opened by the Vice-Rector of the University responsible for Academic Studies, Prof. Tatiani-Eleni Synodinou.

Joining a growing network of Europa Nostra regional Hubs – currently located in Krakow, Lisbon, and Athens – the Nicosia Hub will serve the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. It will focus on promoting excellence in heritage preservation, advancing sustainability and culture-based climate action, and rebuilding cultural bridges across the region. The initial Cypriot founding partners of the Nicosia Hub are the University of Cyprus, The Cyprus Institute, the Nicosia Municipality and the A.G. Leventis Foundation.

The new regional Hub will provide a platform for grassroots initiatives and NGOs across the region, from the Mediterranean to the Middle East, to connect and share best practices. It aims to foster mutual support in preserving heritage – tangible and intangible – in a region vulnerable to crises, including conflict and disasters due to man-made or natural hazards.

 

H.E. Dr. Vasiliki Kassianidou, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus, attended the launch event, underscoring heritage’s role in promoting peace amid climate change, regional conflicts, and globalisation. She described Cyprus as a safe space for cultural exchange and capacity-building, stating: “The Nicosia Hub builds a bridge of mutual respect between Europe and the Middle East, connecting citizens and European institutions.”

 

Androula Vassiliou, Chair of the Nicosia Hub and Vice-President of Europa Nostra, emphasised Cyprus’ strategic role as a bridge between Europe and the Middle East: “We live in a very volatile region of the world. Culture and cultural heritage can build strong foundations for peace and friendly relations, cooperation, and mutual respect.”

Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, Secretary General of Europa Nostra and Project Leader of the European Heritage Hub, underlined the need for a decentralised and citizen-focused approach, encouraging local cross-border collaborations to amplify the European Heritage Hub’s impact.

What a great public launch of our Heritage Hub in #Nicosia, that will a.o. help us build vital bridges with colleagues from the Middle East.
Special thanks to our VP @VassiliouEU for her leadership, to Princess @DanaFiras1 for our partnership & @LinaKassianidou for her support! https://t.co/2VXIi2W2dT

— Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović (@SneskaEN) February 27, 2025

HRH Princess Dana Firas of Jordan, President of ICOMOS Jordan and the Petra National Trust, as well as Chair of INTO and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, highlighted the deep connections between Europe and the Middle East through cultural heritage and emphasised the need for strategic, inclusive, and environmentally responsible action, particularly in addressing climate change.

Throughout the launch event, speakers underscored the need for peace in the region, positioning Cyprus as a champion of cross-border cultural cooperation, based on mutual respect, social inclusion and citizens’ engagement.

The launch event included a musical performance by the Music Academy of the University of Cyprus and ARTE Music.

Insights from the 1st Public Forum on Citizens’ Engagement

The second day hosted the inaugural Public Forum on ‘Citizens’ Engagement in Preserving Cultural Heritage’, providing a dynamic platform for cultural heritage leaders, NGOs, and local communities to exchange experiences and discuss strategies for strengthening grassroots involvement.

The Forum was opened by Prof. Stavros Malas, President of the Cyprus Institute, one of the Founding Members of the Hub, followed by the Chair of the Nicosia Hub, Androulla Vassiliou.

Practitioners presented case studies showcasing initiatives that use heritage as a vehicle for social integration, cohesion, and peacebuilding. These examples illustrated the power of heritage, emphasising that it is not just about monuments and artefacts, but about people – their stories, identities, and livelihoods – highlighting how heritage can serve as a catalyst for building stronger, more united communities.

 

Key addresses featured prominent advocates and winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards, including La Paranza Cooperative of Naples, Acta Vista from France, and the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage of Cyprus, as well as John Beauchamp from the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Krakow, Lydia Carras from Elliniki Etairia – Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Athens, Patrick Calleja from Din l-Art Ħelwa National Trust for Malta, and Lama Abboud from the Turathuna Foundation in Syria. From the Kraków Hub’s ongoing heritage forums and podcasts to Syria’s local restoration efforts, all speakers emphasised the role of civil society and NGOs in safeguarding heritage.

The Forum ended by a panel discussion among Princess Dana Firas of Jordan, Dr Yiannis Toumazis, Director of the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation (associate member of the Nicosia Hub) and  Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, Secretary General of Europa Nostra. The panel discussion was moderated by Sebastien De Courtois, member of Europa Nostra’s Council. Panelists agreed that cultural heritage is crucial not only for preservation of old stones – it is a vital tool for social transformation, reconciliation, and sustainable development.

The programme included several insightful visits to cultural landmarks. Dr. Vasiliki Kassianidou, Minister of Culture of Cyprus, hosted HRH Princess Dana Firas of Jordan and Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, Secretary General of Europa Nostra, at the Archaeological Museum, offering an exclusive opportunity to explore its remarkable collections. A special guided tour of the Leventis Municipal Museum followed, providing an enriching experience of the city’s artistic heritage. Participants were also invited to a visit of the special exhibition at the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation, where they were personally guided by its Director, Yannis Toumazis. Finally, the group visited the Cyprus Visual and Art Museum (associate member of the Nicosia Hub), where its President Rita Severis warmly hosted them for an in-depth exploration of the museum’s diverse and valuable collections.

 

On 1 March, Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, Secretary General, together with Androulla Vassiliou, Chair of the Nicosia Hub and two other Board members of the Hub, Agni Petridou and Glafkos Constantinideskos, had an open and constructive meeting with Mehmet Harmanci, Representative of the Turkish-Cypriot Community of Nicosia, as well as with Turkish Cypriot colleagues active in the field of heritage, to discuss their due involvement and input to the future activities of the Nicosia Hub. This will be formalised in the coming weeks in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding. On this occasion, they also made a short walk in the historic areas located in the northern part of Nicosia, including a visit to the workshop and the store run by Hasder, a local NGO for promoting traditional handicrafts (associate member of the Nicosia Hub).

Looking Ahead

The Nicosia Hub launch programme reaffirmed the crucial role of communities and NGOs in safeguarding cultural heritage, ensuring it continues to serve as an invaluable force for dialogue and mutual respect between Europe and the Middle East. The discussions laid a solid foundation for future collaborations, with the Nicosia Hub poised to expand its outreach and impact in the years ahead. The European Cultural Heritage Summit 2026 to be held in Nicosia mid-June, in the framework of the Cyprus Presidency of the EU, will provide the ideal opportunity to give a further boost to the activities of the Nicosia Hub.

As the Nicosia Hub continues to evolve, it invites all those from Cyprus and the neighbouring region of the Middle East, who value cultural heritage – whether individuals or NGOs, to join in this important mission. Together, we can build a network of collaboration, innovation, and solidarity, where the preservation of our shared heritage becomes a driving force for peace, unity, and sustainability.