EU supports Europa Nostra’s Project ‘Mainstreaming Heritage’

The leading European heritage organisation Europa Nostra announces the start of its new partnership with the European Commission for the next three years in the framework of the implementation of the Creative Europe programme. Following an open call for proposals in support of European Networks launched at the beginning of this year, the European Commission has selected Europa Nostra’s project ‘Mainstreaming Heritage’ among the 22 European networks who will receive a substantial EU grant. The EC evaluation panel attributed to Europa Nostra’s project a very high score of 93 points out of 100 points.

“Europa Nostra is very proud to initiate a new partnership with the European Commission, and this at the moment when there is a clear policy and institutional momentum for heritage at the EU level. This momentum needs to be further supported by a representative and dynamic European network powered by a well-established civil society organisation with a proven track record in organising complex European activities in the fields of networking, policy development, capacity-building, celebrating excellence, campaigning and raising awareness,” stated Denis de Kergorlay, Executive President of Europa Nostra.

This ambitious project, which will be implemented from September 2014 to September 2017, foresees to further strengthen and expand the wide-range of Europa Nostra’s networking activities, including ‘The 7 Most Endangered’ programme, the organisation of annual European Heritage Congresses and supporting activities in the field of communication with a strong focus on social media. Europa Nostra will also organise capacity-building days in Brussels for its member and associate organisations. Finally, a series of joint ventures will be developed with private foundations, corporate sector and the field of art.

“After an intense year marking the 50th anniversary of our organisation in 2013, Europa Nostra stands ready to embark into a new phase of its action. Europa Nostra will reinforce the capacity of the heritage sector not only through the implementation of our Network project but also through the continuous running of the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards, and through the coordination of the European cooperation project ‘Cultural Heritage Counts for Europe’, the results of which will be presented in June 2015 during our Congress in Oslo”, added Denis de Kergorlay.

Furthermore, Europa Nostra intends to strongly engage and further enlarge the members of the European Heritage Alliance 3.3, which currently gathers 33 European networks active in the broader field of heritage. “By enhancing synergies, adopting common positions and developing joint projects, we will be able to better structure the heritage field and allow it to speak with a stronger voice. This will increase the impact of our pan-European lobby for an integrated EU strategy related to cultural and natural heritage”, affirmed Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, Secretary General of Europa Nostra.