Mobilisation in Solidarity with Cultural Heritage Defenders in Ukraine at Prague Summit
The European Cultural Heritage Summit 2022 in Prague was the perfect occasion to reiterate our solidarity and full support to Ukrainian heritage defenders, who were represented in Prague by a high-level delegation composed of policy-makers – headed by Kateryna Chuyeva, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine – and heritage professionals, including two highly deserving winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2022, namely the representatives of the restoration project of St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Kiev and the NGO World Vyshyvanka Day.
We are very grateful for the Certificate of Gratitude and Appreciation which was presented to Europa Nostra by Ihor Pashyvalo, Coordinator of HERI – Heritage Emergency Response Initiative, our trusted partner from Ukraine (photo above), in appreciation of our “enduring commitment and outstanding contribution to save cultural heritage of Ukraine in times of war”. This Certificate also states that “It is your support that gives us strength and inspires us to strive for our independence and democratic future based on universal human values – dignity, respect and freedom. By saving Ukrainian cultural identity, we protect world heritage, diversity and peace.”
Following the launch – jointly with the Global Heritage Fund – of the Heritage Solidarity Fellowship for Ukraine, with the vital support of ALIPH – the International alliance for the protection of heritage in conflict areas, we shall soon announce the second phase of the crowdfunding campaign in support of this Fellowship. We shall also continue to join our voices and forces with colleagues from GHF, ALIPH, ICOMOS, ICCROM and Cultural Emergency Response Fund from The Netherlands, with the vital role and support of the European Commission, in support of cultural heritage sites and defenders in Ukraine.
