During 2018 the European Union will celebrate the diverse cultural heritage across Europe. At European level, all EU institutions are committed to making the year a success. The European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, as well as the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee will organise events to celebrate the year and launch activities focusing on cultural heritage.

The aim of the European Year of Cultural Heritage is to encourage more people to discover and engage with Europe’s cultural heritage, and to reinforce a sense of belonging to a common European space. The slogan for the year is: “ Our heritage: where the past meets the future.”

The year will see a series of initiatives and events across Europe to enable people to become closer to and more involved with their cultural heritage. Cultural heritage shapes our identities and everyday lives. It surrounds us in Europe’s towns and cities, natural landscapes and archaeological sites. It is not only found in literature, art and objects, but also in the crafts we learn from our ancestors, the stories we tell to our children, the food we enjoy in company and the films we watch and recognise ourselves in.

Cultural heritage has a universal value for us as individuals, communities and societies. It is important to preserve and pass on to future generations. It may think of heritage as being ‘from the past’ or static, but it actually evolves though our engagement with it. What is more, our heritage has a big role to play in building the future of Europe.

In addition, the EU will fund projects supporting cultural heritage. A dedicated call for cooperation projects relating to the year has been launched under the Creative Europe programme. A wealth of additional opportunities will be available under Erasmus+, Europe for Citizens, Horizon 2020, and other EU programmes.

Moreover, the Commission, in collaboration with the Council of Europe, UNESCO, and other partners, will be running ten long-term impact projects. These will include activities with schools, research on innovative solutions for re-using heritage buildings or the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural goods. The objective is to help trigger real change in the way we enjoy, protect and promote heritage, making sure that the European Year benefits citizens in the longer term.

In the framework of these events, YouthProAktiv attended on March 19 the conference “Innovation&Cultural Heritage” organised by the European Commission Directorate General for Research and Innovation, in the Royal Museum of Arts and HIstory.

In this context of the round-table discussion “The future of European Cultural Heritage”, Mr. Mircea Diaconu, Vice-Chair of the EP, Culture Committee, EP rapporteur on the European Year of Cultural Heritage, Mr. Christian Ehler, Co-Rapporteur of the resolution “A Coherent EU policy for cultural and creative industries”, Mr. Luca Jaier, President of the various interests Group of the Committee of Economic and social Comittee, Mr. Alin-Adrian Nica, 1st Vice-Chair of the SEDEC Commission of the Committee of the Regions and Mr. Wolfgang Burtscher, Deputy Director General of Directorate General for Research and Innovation, European Commission, discussed about two main questions: how do we achieve the policy proposals that we already have and what is the protection famework of European Culture Heritage.

The discussion highlighted the need of financial instrument to protect the European Cultural Heritage as current instruments in place are still not enough as well as increased budget in the next financial programmes destinated to cultural. In addtition, good investement in European Culture Heritage will also help to stop the recent intolerance phenomenon that is growing in some countries.

Participants highlighted the need of bigger protection at the local level, helping the local administration to conservate the cultural heritage and adopting cultural programs for the currently society. With a general agreement on the importance of cultural heritage not just as part of our identity but as guarantee of our future investing in culture arose as the real need for today and tomorrow’s Europe.

Keep posted for all the different initiatives that are going to be developed close to you!