“Cultural heritage is at the heart of the European way of life.

It defines who we are and creates a sense of belonging. Cultural heritage is not only made up of literature, art and objects but also by the crafts we learn, the stories we tell, the food we eat and the films we watch.

We need to preserve and treasure our cultural heritage for the next generations.”

With these words, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport, Tibor Navracsics introduced the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018, which was launched at the recent European Culture Forum in Milan.

Announcing a year full of heritage initiatives, conferences, and discovery activities, he recalled the key ideas behind the celebrations. As stated in the press release, the primary goal is to “raise awareness of the social and economic importance of cultural heritage.” With thousands of events across Europe, the initiative will provide new opportunities for citizens, especially young people and local communities, to get involved with cultural heritage.  

The celebrations will take place in various forms and you can get a glimpse of what will be available in the video below!

The event in Milan was just the first in the series of meetings that will take place across Europe to promote the Year. In the following months, a number of countries will host national launches and many of them already announced calls for project proposals!

Calls for Projects

Ireland’s calling all cultural institutions and heritage communities to join the celebrations with the theme Make a Connection. Coordinated by a National Steering Committee established by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the events aim to deepen the connection between people and heritage, and help increase public engagement in heritage.

Sweden also recently invited anyone with an idea for a heritage conference or project to submit their applications to the Swedish National Heritage Board. Netherlands launched a website dedicated to the initiative, where all events and projects will be announced and updated throughout the year. Similar resources are also available in Lithuania, Austria, and Spain, and many other countries are yet to follow.

The key themes revolve around the art of sharing, which will also be the common theme of European Heritage Days 2018!

By putting this aspect of heritage into spotlight, next year’s events will celebrate shared European values and the intrinsic links between people and heritage. It will be a grand reminder of Europe’s shared stories, cross-border histories, and diverse traditions, and everyone is invited to join!

For all the news and event details in the European Year of Cultural Heritage, visit this page and choose your way to get involved!  

Photo credits: https://europa.eu/cultural-heritage/