Vienna hosts European Heritage Congress from 2-6 May

Hundreds of heritage professionals, volunteers and supporters will gather in the Austrian capital from 2-6 May for the European Heritage Congress 2014. During this major event, Europa Nostra, the leading European heritage organisation, will celebrate this year’s best achievements in this field, together with the European Commission; announce the ‘The 7 Most Endangered’ monuments and sites in Europe in 2014, in partnership with the European Investment Bank Institute; and contribute to the citizens debate on the future of Europe and on the place of cultural heritage within future EU policies and funding mechanisms. The congress is held under the patronage of the President of Austria, Heinz Fischer.

Photo: Burgtheater. © Georg Soulek-Burgtheater

Photo: Burgtheater. © Georg Soulek-Burgtheater

Media professionals are invited to attend the following highlights of the congress programme:

Announcement of ‘The 7 Most Endangered’ 2014 at the Dorotheum, on 4 May, at 13.00

This year’s list of the 7 most threatened monuments and heritage sites in Europe will be publicly announced by Europa Nostra, represented by its Executive President Denis de Kergorlay, and the European Investment Bank Institute, founding partner of ‘The 7 Most Endangered’ programme, represented by Guy Clausse, Acting Dean of the European Investment Bank Institute.

Panel discussion on the ‘New Narrative for Europe’ at the Dorotheum, on 4 May, at 13.30

Since April 2013, Europa Nostra has contributed to the ‘New Narrative for Europe’, an initiative proposed by the European Parliament and implemented by the European Commission, with a strong personal involvement of President Barroso, which has engaged Europe’s artists, scientists and intellectuals in a debate on the future of Europe, drawing on the strength of Europe’s culture and cultural values. Europa Nostra will hold a panel discussion – with the participation of Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth – to further promote the key role played by culture and heritage within the ‘New Narrative for Europe’ and the wider process of European integration. The debate will be moderated by Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, Secretary General of Europa Nostra and member of the Cultural Committee for the ‘New Narrative for Europe’.

Press conference at the House of Europe, on 5 May, at 12.00

Commissioner Vassiliou and Plácido Domingo, the world-renowned opera singer who is also the President of Europa Nostra, will announce the six Grand Prix laureates and the Public Choice Award winner of the 2014 EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards, considered Europe’s most prestigious prize in this field.

European Heritage Awards Ceremony at the Burgtheater, on 5 May, at 18.30
Commissioner Vassiliou and Maestro Domingo will jointly present the awards to the 27 winners of the 2014 EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards. The six Grand Prix laureates and the Public Choice Award winner, chosen in an online poll from among this year’s winning projects, will be revealed to the public. The two Austrian special mentions will also be honoured. The awards ceremony will feature musical performances by the famous ensembles The Philharmonics and the Vienna Boys’ Choir, as well as by the talented children’s orchestra Superar. The event, which will be a true ode to the Europe of Culture, is expected to assemble some 1,000 people. Eminent figures from the worlds of culture, business and politics, including high-level representatives from EU Institutions, have confirmed their attendance at the ceremony.

Please register your attendance at these events until 2 May by following this link

BACKGROUND
Europa Nostra – the Voice of Cultural Heritage in Europe – is a growing citizens’ movement for the safeguarding of Europe’s cultural and natural heritage. With its vast pan-European network of members (organisations and individuals), associates and partners, Europa Nostra is a highly influential lobby for cultural heritage. Europa Nostra campaigns to save Europe’s endangered monuments, sites and landscapes; it celebrates excellence through its Awards Scheme run in partnership with the European Commission; and it seeks to influence European and national policies related to heritage. In 2013, Europa Nostra celebrated its 50th anniversary.

The European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awardshonours every year up to 30 outstanding heritage achievements from all parts of Europe. Up to six are selected as Grand Prix laureates and one receives the Public Choice Award, chosen in an online poll. The awards are presented to the winners at a major public event, the European Heritage Awards Ceremony, which is hosted each year in a different European city, most recently in Athens (2013), Lisbon (2012), Amsterdam (2011) and Istanbul (2010). The EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards has been supported by the EU Culture Programme (now replaced by the Creative Europe programme) and has been organised by Europa Nostra since its launch in 2002. A total of 387 remarkable heritage accomplishments have been recognised in the past 12 years.

The project New Narrative for Europe was launched by the European Commission’s President José Manuel Barroso, together with Vice-president Reding and Commissioner Vassiliou, in Brussels on 23 April 2013. Three major public gatherings, hosted by President Barroso, were held in Warsaw with Prime Minister Tusk (11 July 2013), in Milan with Prime Minister Letta (8-9 December 2013) and in Berlin with Chancellor Merkel (1 March 2014). At the general assembly in Berlin, the Cultural Committee steering the project presented the final Declaration on the ‘New Narrative for Europe’, entitled “The Mind and Body of Europe”. The Declaration defines Europe as a state of mind and a moral and political responsibility shared by citizens across the continent. It reminds us of Europe’s common values that attract multitudes of people. It is an appeal for a scientific and artistic renaissance which needs brave leaders and committed citizens.

Press release

German

Joana Pinheiro
Europa Nostra Communications Officer
jp@europanostra.org
+31 70 302 40 55

Giuseppe Simone
Europa Nostra Web Communications Officer
gs@europanostra.org
+31 70 302 40 59

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