Europe’s best heritage achievements 2024 enthusiastically celebrated in Bucharest
The winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2024 were celebrated with great enthusiasm on the evening of 7 October at the iconic Romanian Athenaeum in Bucharest. Some 800 heritage professionals, volunteers and supporters from across Europe attended the European Heritage Awards Ceremony 2024, while over 10,000 people followed it online.
The Awards Ceremony, jointly organised by Europa Nostra and the European Commission with the support of Creative Europe Programme of the European Union, was held in the presence of distinguished high-level representatives who took the stage.
Cultural heritage brings 🇪🇺 pride, belonging & joy. Tonight at European Heritage Awards, we celebrated the finest efforts in preserving it.
Congratulations to all Grand Prix winners 🏆
and special applause to the Saxon Church in Alma Vii 🇷🇴 for the Public Choice Award 2024! pic.twitter.com/s30FNwHk32— Iliana Ivanova (@Ili_Ivanova) October 7, 2024
Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, stated: “Cultural heritage gives Europe something that is invaluable, yet often intangible: pride, belonging and joy. For over two decades Europa Nostra and the European Union have been working hand in hand to preserve and promote Europe’s heritage.”
Hermann Parzinger, Executive President of Europa Nostra, emphasised: “There are no better elements than culture and cultural heritage for bringing people together and embracing our multi-layered identity, from local to European.”
Cecilia Bartoli, President of Europa Nostra, conveyed a video message: “Our cultural heritage helps us build bridges across borders, cultures and generations. It boosts a sense of togetherness and belonging. That is why Europa Nostra – together with the European Cultural Foundation and Culture Action Europe – is campaigning for a Cultural Deal for Europe. Culture and cultural heritage must become Europe’s priorities”.
It was an honour to hold the Awards Ceremony and the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2024 in Bucharest under the high patronage of the President of Romania and in partnership with the Romanian authorities.
The President of Romania, H.E. Klaus Iohannis, sent a written message to the Ceremony delivered by Sergiu Nistor, Presidential Adviser: “The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards are an encouragement for authorities to place our cultural treasures at the heart of development visions and as an asset of competitiveness”.
Raluca Turcan, Minister of Culture of Romania, affirmed: “Tonight’s Awards serve as a form of appreciation for those who have dedicated themselves to the protection of heritage, and a reaffirmation of our shared commitment to preserving our collective memory and the values that unite us”.
Nicușor Dan, Mayor of Bucharest, said: “Thank you for choosing Bucharest as the host city for the European Heritage Summit 2024. It is an important opportunity to speak to the broader public about the significance of heritage for our identity and its huge potential in developing our cities and countries”.
Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, Secretary General of Europa Nostra, was Master of Ceremonies.
During the European Heritage Awards Ceremony in Bucharest, the five laureates of the Grand Prix and the winner of the Public Choice Award for 2024 – which receive a monetary award of €10,000 each – were announced. The Grand Prix winners were selected from among this year’s 26 winners from 18 European countries by the Board of Europa Nostra, based on the recommendation of an independent jury of experts.
The five laureates of the Grand Prix 2024 are:
Citizens’ Rehabilitation of the Tsiskarauli Tower, Akhieli, GEORGIA
Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme, IRELAND
Saxon Church in Alma Vii, ROMANIA
Society of Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities, CROATIA
Ignacy Historic Mine, Rybnik, POLAND
The remarkable rehabilitation of the Saxon Church in Alma Vii in Romania is the big winner of 2024: it received a Grand Prix and the Public Choice Award 2024. This impressive initiative raised the largest number of votes, cast via an online poll with the participation of some 10,000 citizens from all over Europe.
The European Heritage Awards Ceremony featured live musical performances by the Romanian symphonic ensemble Violoncellissimo, led by Prof. Marin Cazacu.
More information
Ceremony: programme booklet | video recording | photo selection | x thread | instagram stories
