Young Europeans continue to show incredible enthusiasm for cultural heritage exploration. Over the past few weeks, over 80 inspiring stories have been submitted for European Heritage Makers Week, each bringing spotlight to hidden heritage treasures, unique traditions, and historic symbols of Europe.

The storytellers from eight participating countries have gone up and beyond in their efforts to depict their heritage experiences. Offering unique views on heritage, their stories represent an invaluable testimony to European values and carry a special meaning in the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018.

The originality of the stories has inspired the international jury of European Heritage Days National Coordinators to pick five stories from each country and send 26 stories in total to the EHD Secretariat for the European Panel for the final selection. In the following weeks, they will announce ten stories whose authors will be invited to a cultural visit to Strasbourg.  

What are the next steps?

The diversity of formats and perspectives presented by the European Heritage Makers Week storytellers unveil inovative perspectives on Europe. Those that gave the most creative representations of the concepts of European heritage, cultural diversity, and shared Europe will be contacted by the end of the month with details about their trip to Strasbourg.

While all the submitted stories will be uploaded to the portal as of next week, ten authors will also get an opportunity to travell to Europe’s symbolic capital of democracy and explore its heritage. With its historic and cultural landmarks that witness the centuries of Europe’s history and development, Strasbourg is one of the best places for the exploration of European history, democracy, and culture.

This trip is another way in which European Heritage Makers Week will empower the young for heritage exploration. Over the past few weeks, it enabled every interested storyteller in Europe to present his or her views to the entire Europe and become a part of the pan-European mission to preserve and enhance our heritage. This is why the collection of the European Heritage Makers Week stories is one of the most significant contributions to the celebrations of shared European values in this important year for cultural heritage.