“Heritage Matters”: Europa Nostra highlights longtime link to Scotland and looks ahead to renewed partnerships during visit to Edinburgh

Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, Secretary General of Europa Nostra, delivered the keynote speech to a large audience of circa 100 heritage professionals and practitioners during the event “Heritage Matters” held on 17 March at Edinburgh City Chambers.

Organised by the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) Fellowship in Scotland and led by Ann Packard, a long-standing champion of arts and heritage in Scotland, the UK and Europe, this public talk brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from across the built environment, cultural sector and policy community, as well as members of the RSA Fellowship network. The Europa Nostra Board was represented by its member Graham Bell, former Director of Cultura Trust, who is also a RSA fellow. Robert Aldridge, Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, delivered opening remarks recalling the 900th anniversary of the city of Edinburgh which was celebrated in 2025, while Ann Packard introduced Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović to the audience.

Giving a fresh impetus to a longstanding connection to Scotland

Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović’s address highlighted the essential role of heritage in shaping sustainable, inclusive and resilient societies, and emphasised that, in a context of geopolitical instability, climate challenges and rapid technological change, cultural heritage is a key resource for strengthening democracy, social cohesion and resilience. It is also a prime resource for fostering a sense of belonging to a wider community, from local to European level.

“Heritage Matters for Europe, and Europe Matters for Heritage,” she said, and invited Scottish heritage organisations to give a fresh impetus to their active participation in Europa Nostra’s ever-growing pan-European heritage movement.

Her intervention also underlined the importance of European and international collaboration and reaffirmed the strong and enduring links between Europa Nostra and the United Kingdom, including Scotland’s significant contribution to Europe’s heritage movement. She specifically paid tribute to the founding organisation of Europa Nostra from Scotland, The National Trust for Scotland, as well as to two other founding organisations from the rest of the UK, namely The National Trust and The Civic Trust. She also offered a personal tribute to the late Prof. Dr James Dunbar Nasmith, a renowned architect, former President of the Scottish Civic Trust and Scottish individual member of Europa Nostra, who, among others, played an important role in the development of Europa Nostra’s Awards Scheme.

She also noted that Scotland has been the recipient of over 10 European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards, acting as an example in the Conservation and Adaptive Reuse category, and has had multiple sites shortlisted for Europa Nostra’s 7 Most Endangered Programme. Furthermore, she mentioned the European Heritage Hub’s peer-learning visit organised in Glasgow in July 2024, which brought together European heritage professionals and local stakeholders to exchange good practices in heritage-led sustainable development. Last but not least, she recalled the European annual conference organised by Europa Nostra in Glasgow in collaboration with the Scottish Civic Trust back in 1999 and stressed that it is high time to plan another major European gathering in Scotland. Speaking about the European Heritage Hub project, she encouraged Scottish members and partners to consider establishing a Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Scotland.

Welcoming a new Member organisation: SHBT

On this occasion, Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović and Graham Bell warmly welcomed the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT) as the newest member organisation of Europa Nostra.

“We are proud to join Europa Nostra as the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust approaches its fiftieth year. The preservation and adaptive reuse of Scotland’s historic built environment is work that extends well beyond our borders. Being part of a pan-European network of heritage champions provides us with a stronger platform from which to contribute and advocate for what we believe in at home and abroad.

Indeed, the challenges confronting historic building preservation today are certainly shared across the European continent and we believe that Europa Nostra’s powerful role facilitating collaboration and innovation across borders will be of tangible strategic value to our charity. For our part, we look forward to playing an active part in Europa Nostra as well as fostering stronger and reinvigorated cultural links between Europe and Scotland,” said Dr Samuel Gallacher, Director of the SHBT.

Among the many successful projects accomplished by SHBT, this organisation undertook  a major conservation and regeneration of Riddle’s Court, situated on Edinburgh’s iconic Royal Mile, from 2015 to 2017, thus bringing the building back to life and securing its future.

Scottish heritage organisations in focus

The visit to Edinburgh included a workshop for Scottish national heritage organisations held at Riddle’s Court, the present-day headquarters of the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT). The meeting was led by Dr Samuel Gallacher, with the aim to revive Europa Nostra’s long-standing relationship with heritage stakeholders from Scotland. Participants in the workshop included representatives from the Scottish Civic Trust, National Trust for Scotland, The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, Built Environment Forum Scotland, and Scotland’s Churches Trust.

Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović and Graham Bell also had a very fruitful encounter with the leadership and the Staff of Historic Environment Scotland (HES) at Longmore House, the organisation’s headquarters located in Edinburgh. On this occasion, representatives of the Historic Environment Scotland, the leading public body investigating, caring for and promoting Scotland’s historic environment, expressed a keen interest to join Europa Nostra as an Associate Organisation and to collaborate closely with Europa Nostra to enhance its mission and action in Scotland and also to intensify the participation of Scottish members and partners in the activities of Europa Nostra.

Europa Nostra’s Secretary General also visited Preston Hall, a historic house located in the vicinity of Edinburgh to learn more about the challenges of restoring and managing historic houses which are privately owned, and also to learn about the activities of the organisation Scottish Land and Estates.

A shared commitment for a stronger collaboration

Bringing together voices from across sectors and disciplines, and shining a spotlight on the vibrancy and expertise of the Scottish heritage movement, Europa Nostra’s visit to Scotland underscored the shared purpose of placing cultural heritage at the heart of public policy and societal development. It further underlined Europa Nostra’s commitment to strengthening its collaboration and partnerships in Scotland in the near future, in full alignment with Europa Nostra UK based in London.

More information

Europa Nostra’s visit to Edinburgh follows a new report launched by The Heritage Alliance — “From Local to Global: The Power of Heritage in a Changing World” — which highlights the vital role the UK’s heritage sector plays in strengthening international collaboration and soft power.

Produced in partnership with Europa Nostra UK Council member Emma Collins, and World Monuments Fund, the report shows how heritage organisations — from local charities to national institutions — build global connections through conservation partnerships, research collaboration, skills exchange and international networks.