European affairs update

July 2021

  • Presidency Council of the European Union July-December 2021: Slovenia  https://slovenian-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/en/
  • Committee of Ministers (CoE) chairmanship May-November 2021: Hungary  https://www.coe.int/en/web/presidency
  • European Capitals of Culture 2022: Kaunas (Lithuania) , Esch-sur-Alzette (Luxembourg), Novi Sad (Serbia)  (from Jan 2022 due to the pandemic)

POLICY

EUROPEAN UNION

European Parliament Approves Horizon Europe with Dedicated Budget for Cultural Heritage

On 28 April, the European Parliament passed the new Horizon Europe legislation. After three years of negotiations on contents and budget, MEP’s approved a €95.5B plan (in current prices) for European innovation and research. A noteworthy part of the seven-year programme is the first time inclusion of a dedicated cluster budget for the cultural (heritage) and creative sector. The new Horizon Europe programme is structured around three pillars that are divided into specific subjects. For the first time ever, the authors of the programme included a cluster dedicated to Culture, Creativity and Inclusivity. According to its web page, it aims to safeguard cultural heritage and European democratic values, among other things. Another notable addition is the start of the European Innovation Council which will award grants and make equity investments to help small and medium-sized companies scale up new technologies. Find out more here.

Slovenian Presidency announces priorities in culture and education

Slovenian ministers Ms Simona Kustec, Minister for education, youth and sport and Mr Vasko Simoniti, Minister for culture, came to the CULT Committee for a presentation and an exchange of views over the policy priorities of the incoming Presidency. Slovenia, which took the rotating Presidency on 1 July and comes at a very challenging moment as the EU slowly starts the post-pandemic recovery process. The Presidency has expressed interest to work towards cultural rights and heritage as a central starting point for designing sustainable solutions for the EU's development. It is also expected that the Presidency will work towards blended learning solutions and propose an European agenda for adult learning as immediate response of Member States and the Commission to lessons learned from the Covid-19 crisis, but also putting education and skills at the centre of political action in the context of the Porto declaration. The Slovenian Presidency will also address the need to develop youth civic spaces as an answer to the shrinking space for civil society for young persons, but also mobility of young people and cross-border solidarity also in the context of the lessons learned from the Covid-19 crisis. Find out more here.

Read also the Council of the EU conclusions on the recovery, resilience and sustainability of the cultural and creative sectors.

 

MEPs approve the EU’s new culture programme

MEPs adopted ‘Creative Europe’, the EU’s programme for culture and the audiovisual sector, and the EU’s biggest ever financial commitment. The new programme, with its budget almost doubled when compared to 2014-2020, (up from 1.4 billion euro) will invest 2.5 billion euro (in current prices) in the EU’s cultural and creative sectors. MEPs recognise the importance of the continent’s cultural sector, and helping it recover from the COVID-19 pandemic which has left many cultural venues across Europe closed. Alongside the significant increase in funding, MEPs secured greater focus on inclusion, on support for contemporary and live music sectors that are among those hit hardest by the pandemic, and higher co-financing rates for small-scale projects. The CULTURE strand supports cross-border cultural and creative projects – cooperation (networks, platforms, innovation projects) between organisations and professionals in areas such as music, books and promotion of European literature, architecture, as well as the EU Cultural prizes and initiatives. More details here.

 

Council of the EU approves Conclusions on EU Approach to Cultural Heritage in conflicts and crises

The Council welcomed the EU Concept on cultural heritage in conflicts and crises, which provides an important contribution to enhancing the EU’s strategic approach to peace, security and development. The Council recognised the role of cultural heritage as an important vehicle for peace, democracy and sustainable development by fostering tolerance, mutual understanding, reconciliation, inter-cultural and inter-faith dialogue, mitigating social tensions and preventing renewed escalation into violent conflict. At the same time, the Council also recognises that cultural heritage can be instrumentalised as a trigger for and a target in conflicts and crises and can be subject to disinformation or information manipulation. The Council emphasises the importance of awareness and protection of cultural heritage as part of a conflict sensitive approach, throughout all phases of conflicts and crises. Protecting and safeguarding cultural heritage, as well as promoting respect for cultural diversity, are fundamental to preventing violent extremism, to fighting against disinformation and to generating positive dialogue and inclusion. The Council also recalls its conclusions of 7 December 2020 on EU Peace Mediation and reaffirms the role of cultural heritage as an entry point for mediation. Find out more here.

 

COUNCIL OF EUROPE

Poland signs the Faro Convention

In the presence of Mr Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Ambassador Jerzy Baurski, Permanent Representative of Poland to the Council of Europe, signed on 10 May 2021 the Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (commonly referred as Faro Convention).

This latest signature brings the total number of signatures to 7, in addition to the 21 member States that have ratified the Convention. Poland’s signature should further encourage citizen engagement in cultural heritage governance and the development of additional bottom-up initiatives in this domain, as the initiatives compiled in a recent study.

Find out more here.

Third Regional Seminar "Faro Convention for concrete action on cultural heritage"

The Council of Europe, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth of Georgia and the Georgian National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation jointly organised a high-level seminar “Faro Convention for concrete action on cultural heritage”, that took place from 10 to 11 June 2021 in an online format.

This meeting was part of the framework of the Council of Europe - European Union partnership in the field of culture and cultural heritage and, more specifically, their Joint Project “The Faro Way: enhanced participation in cultural heritage”, which aims at promoting and disseminating the principles of the Council of Europe’s Faro Convention and encouraging its signature, ratification and implementation in the member States. It brought together representatives of Ministries in charge of culture and heritage issues from the Council of Europe and the European Union member States, various international organisations, heritage communities and other local, regional and national stakeholders in culture and heritage fields. The regional seminar aimed at reflecting on the Faro Convention principles, exchanging on their interpretation and implications and sharing best practices on their implementation among the participants, with the aim to encourage the member States that have not yet done so, to sign and ratify the Convention, as well as create a momentum for increased participation of civil society in cultural heritage governance. See more about the Third seminar (Faro Convention)

Funding and investments

BUDGETS AND PROGRAMMES

Multiannual Financial framework (MFF)

The European Council adopted the next long-term EU budget for the period 2021-2027 and so the next multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027 is in place as of 1 January 2021. As a result, €1.074 trillion will become available for beneficiaries of EU funding during the next seven years.

In 2021, the European Union will have an annual budget of €164 billion in commitments and €166 billion in payments. The budget, the first under the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework, will allow the EU to mobilise significant public funds for a continued EU response to the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences; to kick-start a sustainable recovery and to protect and create jobs. It is planned to enable the EU to start investing in the future to achieve a greener, more digital and more resilient Europe.

The budget priority areas include:

· €1.1 billion for the Digital Europe programme for the Union's cyber-defences and to support the digital transition;

· €1.1 billion under the Just Transition Fund and €738.5 million under the LIFE programme to support environment and climate action;

· €2.8 billion for the Connecting Europe Facility for an up-to-date, high-performance transport infrastructure to facilitate cross-border connections;

· €2.7 billion for Erasmus Plus to invest in young people, as well as €306.4 million for the cultural and creative sectors through Creative Europe;

 

Further details and full budget breakdown here.

 

Green light from all member states for EU recovery spending

The Council has received in May 2021 formal notifications about the approval of the own resources decision from all 27 member states. National ratifications being completed, the EU can now start making available funds under the Recovery and Resilience Facility. With a financial envelope of €672.5 billion, the facility is the central part of Next Generation EU, the EU instrument for economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more about this here.

 

Press release on MFF package adoption

Q&A on MFF package adoption

MFF website

Recovery website

Factsheet on the 2021 budget

Infographic - Multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 and Next Generation EU

Long-term EU budget 2021-2027 (background information)

 

Find out how the EU distributes the budget of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 - with all the information, where you can see how much is allocated to each programme.

CREATIVE EUROPE

MEPs have approved the biggest ever budget for the EU's culture and creative sectors - €2.5 billion for 2021-2027.

Creative Europe is the only EU programme that exclusively supports the culture and audiovisual sectors. After a rough period for artists and the whole sector because of restrictions linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, Parliament and the Council agreed on a €2.5 billion budget for 2021-2027 in December 2020. MEPs approved the agreement during the plenary session in May 2021. Find out more here.

 

For more information on funding opportunities under the Creative Europe programme, check the Creative Europe Funding page or contact one of the National Creative Europe desks. You can find examples of European cooperation projects funded in previous years through the Creative Europe Project Results platform. The selection results of the latest calls have been published and can be accessed here.

 

The first calls of the Creative Europe programme 2021-2027 have now been launched.

The first calls to be launched under the Culture strand of the new Creative Europe programme 2021-2022 are available on the Funding and Tenders Portal.

 

Call for European Cooperation projects

With a budget of over €60 million, this call will support projects involving a large diversity of players active in different cultural and creative sectors. The focus is on European artistic cooperation and innovation on topics such as audience engagement, social cohesion, digitisation, contribution to the European Green Deal and sector-specific challenges in the book, music, architecture and culture heritage sectors. Applicants can choose between small, medium or large scale projects depending on the size of their consortium.

Deadline: 7 September 2021

Read the calls

 

Call for European networks of cultural and creative organisations

With a budget of €27million for the period 2021-2023, this call will support capacity-building projects implemented by representative, multi-country, membership-based networks of European cultural organisations.

Deadline: 26 August 2021

Read the call

 

Call for expressions of interest to establish a pool of experts to the Panel for the European Capital of Culture Action

The European Commission invites interested experts to apply for this open call for expressions of interest for the establishment of a pool of experts for potential members of the panel of experts for the European Union action European Capital of Culture. Applicants should submit their expression of interest through the online form on EU Survey at the latest 3 months before the list expires, on 31/12/2027. The European Union established this action under Decision 445/2014/EU.

Deadline: 30 September 2027

 

Creative Europe Brexit Update

The UK and the EU concluded a Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) on the terms of their future relationship on 24 December 2020, with its terms taking effect immediately after the transition period concluded on 31 December 2020. The UK’s participation in Creative Europe 2021-27, due to start in Spring 2021, was not included in this Agreement. Further details on the arrangements post Brexit here.

 

THE CITIZENSHIP, EQUALITY, RIGHTS AND VALUES PROGRAMME (CERV)

Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values ​​(CERV): EU program 2021-2027

A new EU funding period begun in 2021. The “Europe for Citizens” program, together with the REC (Rights, Equality and Citizenship) program and Daphne, form the EU program “Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values ​​2021-2027” - CERV for short. CERV - with a budget of around EUR 1.55 billion - will consist of four funding areas with the general goal of maintaining and developing open, rights-based, democratic, equal and inclusive societies. The priorities of “Europe for Citizens” remain.

 

Open Calls:

  •  Call for proposals limited/restricted to national Data Protection Authorities on reaching out to stakeholders in data protection legislation (deadline 9 September 2021)
  •  Network of Towns (deadline 26 August 2021)
  •  Framework Partnership agreement under CERV-2021-DISA-OG-DISABILITY (deadline 28 September 2021)
  •  Town Twinning (deadline 26 August 2021)
  •  Specific Grant Agreement under FPA CERV-2021-DISABILITY (deadline 30 September 2021)

 

Further information:

Info sheet on the CERV program

CERV program PPT

Programme and Performance – Citizenship, Equality, Rights and Values

ERASMUS+

 

Erasmus+ is the EU's programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe.
The international arm of Erasmus+ will offer mobility and cooperation in education, training, youth and sport around the world.

 

MEPs approve new, more inclusive Erasmus+ programme

In May 2021, MEPs adopted ERASMUS+, the 2021-2027 edition of the EU’s flagship programme for education, training, youth and sports. The programme, which has demonstrated that it plays a significant role in fostering European identity, will have almost double the funding in 2021-2027 (over 28 billion EUR from different sources) when compared to the previous seven years (14.7 billion EUR). MEPs managed to secure an additional 2.2 billion EUR during the final stages of negotiations with the Council. In the plenary debate ahead of the approval of the programme, most speakers said that young peoples’ lives have been affected by COVID-19 and stressed the importance of Erasmus+, evaluated by citizens as the most successful EU programme, for Europe’s future generations. You can watch the debate again here.

The programme is planning to focus on more inclusion, mobility for adult learners, Simplified access to a ‘greener’ Erasmus+ and innovative models for education.

Next steps

In order to ensure a smooth transition from the previous programme period, retroactivity provisions in the regulation ensure that the new Erasmus+ enters into effect from 1 January 2021. Application processes and calls for proposals have already been set in motion by the Commission and in many member states.

Find out more here.

 

Open Calls:

  •  Alliances for Education and Enterprises (deadline 7 September 2021)
  •  Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills (implementing the ‘Blueprint’) (deadline 7 September 2021)
  •  Partnership for Excellence - Centres of Vocational Excellence (deadline 7 September 2021)
  •  Partnership for Excellence - Erasmus+ Teacher Academies (deadline 7 September 2021)

 

Find out more about Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme’s main features

 

For More Information

Factsheet on new Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme

2021 annual work programme for the implementation of "Erasmus+": the Union Programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport

Calls for proposals for 2021 Erasmus+ programme

 

UK's participation in Erasmus+ after Brexit

The UK government has published a statement regarding the Turing scheme, a new programme to replace the UK’s participation in Erasmus+, which will provide funding for placements and exchanges starting in September 2021. The new scheme will be administered by the same partnership of British Council and Ecorys which has been delivering Erasmus+ in the UK for a number of years. More information can be found on Erasmus+ Brexit update webpage and UK and Erasmus+ page.

 JPI ON CULTURAL HERITAGE AND GLOBAL CHANGE 

"Charter for Mega Events in Heritage Rich Cities" Launched

How can heritage-rich cities host mega-events so that they take full advantage of their heritage without putting it at risk? The Charter aims at solving this kind of question for city decision makers and event organisers by providing principles and recommendations on how to avoid pitfalls and engage heritage resources whilst safeguarding their values. The development of the Charter has been based on a literature research and extensive case studies, with the conclusions validated by experts in the field through a series of workshops. Find out more here.

 

There are no open calls at the moment.

HORIZON EUROPE

Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation with a budget of €95.5 billion. It tackles climate change, helps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and boosts the EU’s competitiveness and growth. The programme facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting and implementing EU policies while tackling global challenges. It supports creating and better dispersing of excellent knowledge and technologies, creates jobs, fully engages the EU’s talent pool, boosts economic growth, promotes industrial competitiveness and optimises investment impact within a strengthened European Research Area. Legal entities from the EU and associated countries can participate.

 

A noteworthy part of the seven-year programme is the first time inclusion of a dedicated cluster budget for the cultural (heritage) and creative sector. The new Horizon Europe programme is structured around three pillars that are divided into specific subjects. For the first time ever, the authors of the programme included a cluster dedicated to Culture, Creativity and Inclusivity.

 

Presentation outlining Horizon Europe in 23 languages

How the Horizon Europe programme was developed

International cooperation in the programme

 

Strategic plan

The content of work programmes for Horizon Europe is prepared by strategic planning and the resultant strategic plan.

 

Work programmes

Funding opportunities under Horizon Europe are set out in work programmes. Download available work programmes.

 

Horizon Europe programme structure

 

Pillar I

Excellent Science

 

  • European Research Council
  • Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions
  • Research Infrastructures

 

Pillar II

Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness

 

Clusters

  • Health
  • Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society
  • Civil Security for Society
  • Digital, Industry and Space
  • Climate, Energy and Mobility
  • Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Non-nuclear direct actions of the Joint Research Centre

 

Pillar III

Innovative Europe

 

  • European Innovation Council
  • European Innovation Ecosystems
  • European Institute of Innovation and Technology

 

Part: Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area

  • Widening participation and spreading excellence
  • Reforming and enhancing the European Research and Innovation system

 

Find out more here.

 

Open Calls:

 

European Innovation Council

  •  Green Deal innovations for the Economic Recovery (deadline 06 October 2021)
  •  Facing Societal Challenges Award (deadline 29 July 2021)

 

Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness – Culture, creativity and inclusive society

  • Coordination of European cultural heritage research and innovation among Member States (deadline: 7 October 2021)
  • Green technologies and materials for cultural heritage (deadline 7 October 2021)
  • Cultural and creative industries as a driver of innovation and competitiveness (deadline 7 October 2021)
  • Preserving and enhancing cultural heritage with advanced digital technologies (deadline 7 October 2021)
  • New ways of participatory management and sustainable financing of museums and other cultural institutions (deadline 7 October)
  • Gender and social, economic and cultural empowerment (opens 20 January 2022, deadline 20 April 2022)
  • Protection of artefacts and cultural goods from anthropogenic threats (opens 20 January 2022, deadline 20 April 2022)
  • The New European Bauhaus – shaping a greener and fairer way of life in creative and inclusive societies through Architecture, Design and Arts (opens 20 January 2022, deadline 20 April 2022)
  • Europe’s cultural heritage and arts - promoting our values at home and abroad (opens 20 January 2022, deadline 20 April 2022)
  • Effects of climate change and natural hazards on cultural heritage and remediation (opens 20 January 2022, deadline 20 April 2022)
  • Traditional crafts for the future: a new approach (opens 20 January 2022, deadline 20 April 2022)
  • Public policies and indicators for well-being and sustainable development (opens 20 January 2022, deadline 20 April 2022)

 

UK participation in Horizon Europe

U.K. researchers will remain eligible for European research funding despite the country having left the European Union, thanks to a long-term trade and cooperation agreement struck on 24 December 2020. In exchange for a contribution to the EU budget, the United Kingdom will join the forthcoming Horizon Europe research program, which will spend €85 billion over the next 7 years. More information here.

Read also Horizon Europe: help for UK applicants

 

For More Information

  • Horizon Europe, general overview (factsheet)
  • Coronavirus research and innovation
  • Horizon Europe webpage
  • Recovery plan

EUROPEAN TERRITORIAL COOPERATION PROGRAMMES “INTERREG”

With a budget of €8 050 million, the 6th generation of Interreg will support cooperation between regions, citizens and economic stakeholders over their respective land and maritime borders. The new legislation will also cover the cooperation between regions at transnational level in the framework of the Macro regional and Sea basin Strategies: Baltic, Ionian/Adriatic and Black seas, Danube and Alps. For the first time, a specific allocation will be dedicated to strengthening the cooperation of outermost regions with their neighbouring environment, such as the Caribbean regions, to stimulate economic exchanges among regional partners and their mutual development.

Interregional cooperation will also continue to promote exchange of expertise, good practices and capacity building through a dedicated set of programmes: Interreg Europe, Urbact, Interact and ESPON.

 

Final version of Interreg Europe cooperation programme approved

Interreg have reached an important milestone in the preparation of the next edition of the Interreg Europe programme. On 23 June 2021, their programming committee approved the final version of the cooperation programme 2021-2027. After some editing and adding the correct references to the recently published EU regulations, they will make the final text available in this folder.

On the basis of this final version, representatives of our 29 Partner States will launch a signature process of their partnership agreements with Interreg Europe. The programming process will end with the submission of the cooperation programme to the European Commission for final approval. It is expected the new programme to come into effect in early 2022. Read more about this here.

 

For More information

Interreg - European Territorial Co-operation

EU cohesion policy action against coronavirus

Cohesion Open Data Platform and COVID-19 dashboard

Recovery plan

2021-2027 long-term EU budget & Next Generation EU

 

OTHER CALLS

Call for tenders for consultancy services in arts, culture, heritage, artificial intelligence, environment and videos/films making

The Council of Europe’s Culture and Cultural Heritage Division is currently looking for Suppliers for the provision of policy work and follow-up activities on its conventions in the field of culture and cultural heritage also related to the subject of artificial intelligence and on combined culture, nature, environmental and sustainable heritage-related activities, as well as work on the CoE exhibition “Free to Create – Create to be Free”, and visibility/creative work for various projects including the preparation of promotional material, provision of articles and interactive features, promotional shoots and trailers, hand-drawn or animated videos/films on culture and cultural heritage, interviews and video recordings from the conferences and meetings held within the framework of Culture and Cultural Heritage Division activities.

The purpose of this call is to create a pool of international consultants with the relevant background and professional experience to support the implementation of activities. Selected consultants will be commissioned on an ‘as-needed’ basis.

Deadline for tendering: Tuesday 7 September 2021. Find out more here.

 

HELPFUL SOURCES ON EUROPEAN FUNDING

  • Mapping of Cultural Heritage actions in European Union policies, programmes and activities (updated August 2017)
  • A Guide to EU Funding (2017 edition)
  • How EU funding works (Information on the different types of EU funding available, the application process, eligibility and rules)

EVENTS

Young People & Europe’s Cultural Heritage: A roundtable discussion (4 August, UK, online event)

Join Europa Nostra Young Members on Wednesday 4 August at 18:00 – 19:00 CEST, for the final virtual roundtable discussion of 2021 with Sara Crofts, Chair of Europa Nostra UK and Chief Executive of the Institute of Conservation (ICON) and Lorena Aldana, European Policy Coordinator at Europa Nostra. Find out more here.

 

The ICOM Prague International Symposium 2021 (26 August 2021, hybrid event)

The ICOM Prague International Symposium 2021 will take place both online and in person on August 26, 2021. Every year preceding an ICOM General Conference, an International Symposium is held in the host city to introduce the main themes. For the first time, this pre-conference will be hybrid, opening the doors for a wider, international participation. ICOM Prague International Symposium 2021 will provide an overview of the upcoming ICOM Prague 2022 General Conference, from the axis of the scientific programme to the new hybrid infrastructure. Find out more here.

 

27th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) (7-11 September 2021, online event)

‘Widening Horizons’ is the motto of the 27th EAA Annual Meeting, focusing on environmental sustainability and climate change. One year after the start of the pandemic, ‘widening horizons’, is still a great motto, which has developed new and pertinent meanings. It is hard not to imagine that our unsustainable resource use of the Earth has in some way caused the current rampant world pandemic. We will need intellectual, political and cultural horizons wide open to re-establish the balance of global society with its environment. Find out more information about the annual meeting and conference here.

 

15th annual EHHF meeting (8-10 September, Tallinn, Estonia)
The 15th anniversary, initially planned in 2020, unfortunately had to be postponed twice due to the sanitary crisis. The members will thus gather in Tallinn-Estonia on 8-10 September 2021. Attendance in strictly by invitation only. Find out more here.

 

Interpret Europe conference: Recreating tourism through heritage interpretation (1-4 October 2021, online event)

The IE conference was due to take place in Sigüenza, Spain, but the organisers decided to hold it as an online conference which will offer access to attendees from all parts of the world. Under the theme ‘Recreating tourism through heritage interpretation’, heritage interpretation will merge with sustainable tourism in order to offer unique opportunities along the tourist service chain to both local people and visitors. Everything you have come to expect from an IE conference – inspiring speakers, hands-on workshops, thematic discussions and networking – can be taken for granted! We need to rethink tourism’s success, both at the destination and visitor level, by encouraging heritage interpretation. Closer cooperation between tourism and heritage interpretation could lead to new approaches from which especially smaller communities might benefit. More information here.

 

European Week of Regions and Cities (11 to 14 October 2021)

The #EURegionsWeek organisers are glad to announce the dates of the next edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities: 11 to 14 October 2021 (save the date!). The following 4 themes emerged very clearly out of the 819 replies received to the post event survey, and will therefore constitute the focus of the 19th edition: Green, Cohesion, Citizens, Digital. More information here.

 

2021 ENCATC Digital Congress (19-22 October, 2021, online event)

The theme of the 2021 ENCATC Digital Congress on Cultural Management and Policy is "Artists in the spotlight! In search of new agendas for education and research in the cultural management and policy field" and it will be held online from 19-22 October 2021. Find out more here.

 

Conference on Regenerating European Tourism through Culture, Heritage and Creativity (20-23 October 2021, Athens, Greece)

The 14th ECTN conference with main theme ‘Regenerating European Tourism through Culture, Heritage and Creativity’ will discuss the latest trends in the field of culture, heritage and sustainable tourism, including innovation, digitalisation, creativity and cultural tourism product development. The emphasis will be on the important role of culture, heritage and creativity in regenerating the European tourism, following the pandemic crisis in 2020 and 2021. It is aimed to have a real event in Athens, but depending on the situation if necessary there may be a hybrid event with limited physical presence in Athens and digital streaming facilities for online participation. More info here.

 

CHNT 26 “The World's Heritage in the Digital Age”, International Conference on Cultural Heritage and New Technologies, Vienna, Austria (2-4 November 2021, Vienna, Austria, hybrid)

More info here.

 

Europeana 2021 (10-12 November, 2021, online event)

As the cultural heritage sector looks to recover, rebuild and grow in post-pandemic times, Europeana 2021 - taking place from 10 -12 November - will aim to raise voices from across the sector to empower digital transformation and explore the role digital cultural heritage plays in today and tomorrow’s world. Building on the success of last year’s virtual conference, we are excited to be creating another designed-for-digital event to inspire and inform you. Call for proposals is open until 22 August 2021. Find out more here.

 

OTHER UPDATES

New publications and reports on culture and heritage

Please find below a list of reports, publications, briefings and studies on culture and cultural heritage related topics that have been published in the past months by EU and Council of Europe organs, UNESCO and European networks and projects.

  • Creative Europe programme 2021-2027 (European Parliament, 2021)
  • European Cultural Foundation Annual Report 2020 (ECF, Amsterdam, 2021)
  • Cultural Heritage Leading Urban Futures: Actions and Innovations from ROCK Project (Giovanni Leoni, Andrea Boeri, Danila Longo, Valentina Gianfrate, Martina Massari, Saveria Olga Murielle Boulanger, Rossella Roversi (Volume editor), Delft University of Technology,June 2021)
  • The cultural dimension of inequality (MONTALTO Valentina, PANELLA Francesco, European Commission, 2021)
  • The Situation of Artists and Cultural Workers and the post-COVID-19 Cultural Recovery in the European Union : Policy Recommendations (European Parliament, 2021)
  • Getting to know the EU’s cultural heritage sites (European Parliament, 2021)
  • Digital cultural diversity (European Parliament, 2021)

 

 

Call for Nominations for the 7 Most Endangered Programme 2022 open

Launched in 2013 and currently in its 6th edition, the 7 Most Endangered Programme is a civil society campaign to save Europe’s endangered heritage. It raises awareness, makes independent expert assessments, proposes recommendations for action and seeks to rally support to save the selected endangered sites. Being on the 7 Most Endangered List often serves as a catalyst for positive change and as an incentive for mobilisation of the necessary public or private support. Moreover, the 7 Most Endangered Programme includes the possibility for the seven selected sites to be eligible for an EIB Heritage Grant of up to 10.000 euros to start the implementation of actions, studies or assistance measures for the threatened site.

Do you happen to know an endangered heritage gem in Europe – such as an historic monument or an ensemble of historic monuments, an archaeological site, a place of worship, an industrial complex, a historic park, a museum, a movable or an intangible heritage asset? Then nominate it for the 7 Most Endangered programme 2022 – deadline is 17 September 2021. Find out more here.

 

11th Conference on the European Landscape Convention

Organised in the framework of the Presidency of Hungary of the Committee of Ministers, the Council of Europe 11th Conference on the European Landscape Convention (26-27 May 2021 - online) was to present to the member States of the Organisation the state of progress of the Work Programme of the Convention and to deal with questions concerning its implementation. The European Landscape Convention was adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 19 July 2000 in Strasbourg and opened for signature of the Member States of the Organisation in Florence (Italy) on 20 October 2000, with the aims to promote landscape protection, management and planning, and to organise international co-operation. It is the first international treaty to be exclusively devoted to all aspects of landscape. It is the first international treaty exclusively dedicated to all dimensions of landscape: environmental, social, cultural and economic. The Convention applies to the entire territory of the Parties and concerns both remarkable and everyday landscapes and degraded landscapes. It makes an important contribution to the implementation of the Council of Europe’s objectives in the field of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and to the search for solutions to major societal issues.

To date, 40 Council of Europe Member States have ratified the Convention. Opened for signature by the member States of the Council of Europe and for accession by the European Union and the European non-member States, the Convention will also be open for accession by non-European States in a near future (following the entry into force of a Protocol amending the Convention, on 1st July 2021). Read more here.

 

Europa Nostra and the Erasmus Student Network officialise partnership and launch the ‘Cultural Heritage on Erasmus’ project

On 28 June, Europa Nostra and the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) came together in an online event to formalise their partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and to launch their pilot project ‘Cultural Heritage on Erasmus’, which received the endorsement of Themis Christophidou, Director-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture of the European Commission, and Sabine Verheyen, MEP and Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education. Joined by over 50 students, young professionals and experts from around Europe and beyond, the event not only celebrated this exciting new initiative but additionally gave attendees the opportunity to share why cultural heritage and Erasmus were important to them. More info here.

 

ILUCIDARE Special Prizes 2021: 9 projects in heritage-led innovation and international relations shortlisted

The ILUCIDARE Consortium including Europa Nostra and the European Commission are delighted to present the shortlisted projects for the 2021 edition of the ILUCIDARE Special Prizes, awarded within the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards. These projects are compelling demonstrations of heritage-led innovation and international relations.

The 9 shortlisted projects were undertaken by heritage practitioners from eight countries in Europe and beyond. Although the areas and range of their activities are diverse, they all show how heritage has the potential to create meaningful links across countries and communities and to develop exciting new solutions and spur social change. More info here.

 

Citizens Debates on the Future of Europe in Heritage Sites

On Europe Day, 9 May 2021, Europa Nostra – in association with other 50 member organisations of the European Heritage Alliance (which celebrates this year its 10th anniversary)launched a wide call to organise during 2021 inspiring and engaging citizens debates on the future of Europe in cultural heritage sites across Europe. This grassroots initiative is a meaningful contribution both to the Conference on the Future of Europe and to the New European Bauhaus, of which Europa Nostra and some other members of the European Heritage Alliance are proud official partners. All citizens and organisations are encouraged to organise a debate in selected heritage sites (including sites that have received a European Heritage Award / Europa Nostra Award or a European Heritage Label) across the European continent. To maximise the impact of these debates, their outcomes will be collected and shared on the relevant platforms of the Europa Nostra Agora, the Conference on the Future of Europe and the New European Bauhaus. Interested partners can find detailed guidelines on how to participate and submit their events via the Europa Nostra Agora digital platform. Find out more here.

 

EU guidelines for the safe resumption of activities in the cultural and creative sectors

The European Commission proposes coordinated measures aimed to ensure both the safe reopening and the sustainable recovery of cultural activities across the EU, in line with the specific national, regional and local conditions of the Coronavirus pandemic. The EU guidelines aim to provide a coordinated approach to orient the design and implementation of measures and protocols in EU countries to cover both the safe reopening as well as the sustainable recovery in the cultural and creative sectors.

The European Commission publishes these guidelines at a time when the epidemiological situation is improving and COVID-19 vaccination campaigns are speeding up, Member States are gradually reopening cultural venues and activities. Find out more here.

 

European Heritage Awards/Europa Nostra Awards 2021 announced

The European Commission and Europa Nostra have announced the winners of the 2021 European Heritage Awards/Europa Nostra Awards, funded by the EU’s Creative Europe programme. More about the winning projects here.

 

Member States pre-select 21 sites for European Heritage Label

The European Commission received 21 proposals from 15 Member States participating in the European Heritage Label action, 2021. The goal of the European Heritage Label is to raise awareness of European shared history and to highlight education opportunities. The award strengthens people’s sense of belonging to the European Union’s values and identification with Europe’s cultural heritage. Sites which have played a significant role in the history and culture of Europe are eligible for the European Heritage Label award. Read more about this here.

 

EAC 22nd Heritage management Symposium “Climate Change and Archaeology”

The 22nd EAC Heritage management Symposium “Climate Change and Archaeology” took place on 1-2 July 2021 as an online event and hosted some very thought-provoking talks and discussions. 28 speakers and more than 130 attendees explored what archaeologists can do to support society in adapting to a changing climate and a low carbon future.  Over the two days archaeological heritage managers and specialists across the continent discussed issues and possible solutions around three main topics:

  • The impact of the climate crisis on the conservation of archaeological sites
  • Archaeology, carbon mitigation and climate adaptation
  • The role archaeologists can play in communicating and engaging with climate change

 

The recorded talks can still be viewed if you register on the event website here.

 

EU is building a cloud-based hub for all things research

The EU is developing a dedicated cloud repository for all the scientific research happening in Europe. To ensure easy access to and reuse of this information, the EU-funded EOSC-hub project developed an intuitive user interface and other tools. Researchers can now take advantage of the wealth of information already stored on the cloud, ultimately benefiting citizens as science becomes more open. Find out more here.

 

A call for an inclusive Conference on the Future of Europe

On June 18 over 50 civil society organizations across Europe, including Culture Action Europe, joined Citizens Take Over Europe in signing an open letter to the Co-Chairs and Executive Board of the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE), calling for the inclusion of marginalised communities in the Conference. The letter, which was sent in advance of the inaugural plenary of the CoFoE on June 19 in Strasbourg in hybrid format, highlights a key concern that the Conference will lead to the further marginalisation of citizens and residents that are already sidelined given the process and plans that are currently in place. Read more about this here.

 

£5m Investment for Wales’ Largest Castle

Caerphilly Castle in Wales is to receive a £5m investment. Cadw, the Welsh government’s historic environment service, wants to strengthen the castle as a “world-class heritage attraction” by 2023. The project will include the installation of a new visitor centre and a makeover of the medieval Great Hall. At the heart of the project is a new interpretation, which will help visitors to explore and understand the story of the castle, Cadw announces. Find out more here.

Joint initiative of European Archaeological Council (EAC)

and

European Association of Archaeologists (EAA)

 

Prepared by Desislava Gradinarova, EAC Assistant (Desislava.Gradinarova@e-a-c.org)

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