AaE

Six of the best: European cultural heritage projects

The six winners of the 2008 "European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards" are outstanding projects in the Czech Republic, Greece, the Netherlands, Spain and Romania. The prizes announced today serve as recognition of exceptional conservation, research and education efforts and are each worth € 10 000. The prizes are awarded jointly by the European Commission and Europa Nostra, the pan-European Federation for Cultural Heritage. They will be presented at the European Heritage Awards Ceremony on 12 June 2008 in Durham Cathedral in the United Kingdom.
The European Heritage Awards were jointly launched in 2002 by the European Commission and Europa Nostra, in the framework of the Commission’s Culture Programme, to celebrate outstanding initiatives among the many facets of Europe's cultural heritage in categories ranging from the restoration of buildings and their adaptation to new uses, to urban and rural landscape rehabilitation, archaeological site interpretations, and care for art collections. Also awarded are prizes for research and, for the first time in 2008, education projects related to cultural heritage, and dedicated service to heritage conservation by individuals or organisations.
This Awards Scheme aims to promote high standards and high-quality skills in conservation practice, and to stimulate the trans-frontier exchanges in the area of heritage. By spreading the "Power of Example”, the Prize also aims to encourage further efforts and projects related to heritage throughout Europe.
This year, a total of 109 applications and nominations from 29 countries were received in the various categories and assessed in situ by independent experts. The most outstanding of these were selected by the Heritage Awards Jury in a series of meetings which took place over the past months.
Six Prizes have been awarded, in the following categories:
Category 1 — Conservation:
The conservation of the Southern façade of Horní Hrad (Upper Castle) of the Český Krumlov State Castle, Czech Republic: Awarded for establishing new standards in the Czech monument care and appreciated as an excellent example of a respectful conservation.
The conservation of the archaeological site of Skarkos on the Island of Ios in Greece: Awarded for the outstanding quality of conservation work and above all the minimal and extremely sensitive character of the interventions, having no detrimental impact on a unique landscape.
The restoration and adaptive re-use of the Van Nelle Factory in Rotterdam, the Netherlands: Honoured as an exemplary approach to the restoration of, and finding new uses for, an iconic building of European and world importance.
Category 2 — Research:
The Inventory of the Fortified Military Architecture in Spain by the Asociación Española de Amigos de los Castillos, Spain: Appreciated as an excellent example of raising awareness of Spain's military heritage that is not only important to Spain, but highly significant on a European level as well.
Category 3 — Dedicated service:
Stichting Stadsherstel Hoorn, the Netherlands: A very successful example of civil society's involvement in safeguarding Europe's historic city centres and in highlighting the importance of volunteers.
Category 4 — Education, training and awareness-raising:
The International Built Heritage Conservation Training Centre at Bánffy Castle in Bonţida, Romania: Highly valued for its double approach: training for conservation and conservation through training. It is an excellent example of cross border exchange of knowledge and a worthy winner of this award in the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue.
In addition to the six top Prizes, twenty-one 2nd prize Medals will be awarded. More details on the Europa Nostra Website: http://www.europanostra.org/awards/2008/laureates.html
More information on the Culture Programme and the European Commission’s awards in the field of culture: http://ec.europa.eu/culture