Europa Nostra joins the newly launched New European Bauhaus Local Chapter in Venice

Venice was once again bustling with creative and innovative ideas in May, as the city hosted its annual Biennale Architettura 2023 focusing on the central theme “Laboratory of the Future”. Under this framework, the European Commission organised an event titled “Radical yet Possible Future Space Solutions” on 25-26 May, which included the launch on 25 May of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) Local Chapter in Venice, of which Europa Nostra is now a member.

 

The NEB local chapters are defined as a self-organised, place-based group of NEB community members that contribute to the delivery of the New European Bauhaus initiative by putting its values and principles into practice in their locality. By joining the Venice NEB local chapter, Europa Nostra reinforces its already established commitment to the activities of the NEB task force which it participates in through its network project European Cultural Heritage Agora.

The first day of the event took place in the “Forge of the Future”, which also hosts the headquarters of SUMus, one of the associate partners of the European Heritage Hub. Carla Toffolo, participated in her capacity as Project Coordinator of the newly launched European Heritage Hub, an EU-funded project led by Europa Nostra. The Hub – through the Europa Nostra liaison office in Venice – will contribute to the activities of the Venice NEB Local Chapter. “Formed by partners from all over Europe, the Hub gathers diverse expertise and resources to mobilise and strengthen the cultural heritage driven movement in Europe. We are delighted to strengthen our commitment to the New European Bauhaus also through the activities of the Hub, in Venice and elsewhere in Europe. Through our joint effort we will successfully build a more sustainable, a more inclusive and a more sustainableEurope,” she stated.

Cristina Loglio, Vice-President of Europa Nostra, Sneška Quaedvlieg Mihailović, Secretary General, and Elena Bianchi, Programme Manager of the European Heritage Awards at Europa Nostra, also attended the above-mentioned events.

The start of an important EU partnership

On 26 May, the programme took place at IUAV, the local world-renowned school of architecture. Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, held an engaging dialogue with Lesley Lokko, Curator of the Biennale Architettura 2023, and gave an inspiring opening speech: “Venice is a world’s marvel. Here in Venice, generations of architects have created a unique balance between man-made beauty and natural beauty. So I think there could be no better place to have the Biennale and the New European Bauhaus here in Venice”.

Italy is an important driver of the #NewEuropeanBauhaus – and an endless source of inspiration.

Today, local NEB chapters are opening all across Europe.

Including here in Venice.

Ultimately, the New European Bauhaus belongs to you. https://t.co/yksTff8s5n

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 26, 2023

At the end of the powerful address by Ursula von der Leyen at the NEB event, Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, Secretary General of Europa Nostra, briefly greeted the President of the European Commission, and thanked her for her leadership and the strong emphasis she has put on cultural heritage as a vital resource for achieving the New European Bauhaus goals, in better and stronger harmony with nature.

At the end of her powerful address at #NEB event of @la_Biennale, our SG @SneskaEN thanked President #VonderLeyen for her leadership & the emphasis she put on #culturalheritage as a vital resource for achieving #NewEuropeanBauhaus goals, in better & stronger harmony with nature. pic.twitter.com/nExSvah6GI

— Europa Nostra (@europanostra) May 26, 2023

On the aftermath of the disastrous flooding in Emilia Romagna, the President recalled the importance of tackling climate change: “Our Recovery Plan, NextGenerationEU, which is a far-reaching plan and not for the actual damage right now, has – and that is good – around EUR 6 billion for Italy to reduce the risk, for example, of floods and mudslides.” Von der Leyen also focused on the role heritage can play to preserve our planet: “The Venetian Republic was home to Andrea Palladio, a famous master of the Renaissance, and one of the most influential architects of all times. His legacy lies not only in the beautiful villas he left behind and in changing Venice’s skyline but also in his work on the theory of architecture. He rediscovered the ancient Latin idea that the perfect building must be durable and at the same time beautiful and useful. For centuries, architects have been inspired by this triad: durability, beauty, utility. And these three principles are basically also the three principles of the New European Bauhaus.”

Venice is a world’s marvel.⁰
But this jewel of Europe’s heritage is threatened by climate change.⁰
We can act and preserve it. The New European Bauhaus is showing us the way.

This is what I’m here to discuss at @la_Biennale. pic.twitter.com/clKpESTnnS

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 26, 2023

Elisa Ferreira, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, closed the session with an inspiring contribution: “Beyond a political commitment, the European Green Deal needs people, art and culture for a beautiful, sustainable and inclusive future, leaving no one behind.”