European Year of Cultural Heritage

European Year of Cultural Heritage
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Name	European Year of Cultural Heritage
Year	2018
Proclaimed by	European Commission; European Parliament
Theme	Heritage across Europe
Key events	European Cultural Heritage Summit; European Heritage Awards; European Heritage Days
Main organisers	European Commission; Council of the European Union; Europa Nostra
Budget	€8 million (Commission) plus national co-funding

European Year of Cultural Heritage

The European Year of Cultural Heritage was a European Union initiative proclaimed by the European Commission and endorsed by the European Parliament to celebrate and promote cultural heritage across the European Union, its member states, and associated countries. Conceived with contributions from institutions such as Europa Nostra, the Council of the European Union, and national ministries like the Ministry of Culture (France), the Year aimed to mobilise cultural networks including the European Heritage Alliance and the European Cultural Foundation. It sought to connect heritage stakeholders from the European Economic Area to the Council of Europe and international partners such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Background and Origins

The initiative emerged from policy discussions in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education and Culture and preparatory work by advisory bodies including the European Cultural Foundation, Europa Nostra, and the Creative Europe programme. Origins trace to prior pan-European events like European Heritage Days and milestones such as the European Year of Citizens, the European Year of Languages, and national commemorations by states including the French Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, and the Italian Republic. Political endorsement involved institutions such as the European Council, the Committee of the Regions, and national parliaments including the Bundestag and the Assemblée nationale.

Objectives and Themes

Primary objectives referenced frameworks from the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, the Convention for the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage of Europe (Valletta 1992), and the European Landscape Convention. Themes included preservation of tangible sites like the Colosseum, the Acropolis of Athens, and the Alhambra; safeguarding intangible traditions exemplified by the Flamenco tradition, Sardinian canto a tenore, and the Balkan brass band heritage; and enhancing access through projects associated with the European Capitals of Culture, the European Routes of Cultural Heritage, and the European Year of Cultural Heritage-linked festivals hosted by cities such as Bologna, Vienna, Paris, and Lisbon.

Organising Bodies and Governance

Governance combined the European Commission’s cultural directorates, the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education, and the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union—notably presidencies held by countries including Bulgaria, Austria, and Romania during preparatory periods. Stakeholder coordination involved heritage NGOs like Europa Nostra, research networks such as the European Network of Cultural Administration Training Centres, museums including the British Museum, the Louvre, and the Rijksmuseum, and institutions such as the Council of Europe and the International Council on Monuments and Sites. National cultural ministries and agencies—e.g. the Heritage Lottery Fund (UK), Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali (Italy), and the Instituto Cervantes—co-operated through memoranda and steering groups.

Major Events and Activities

Major activities included the European Cultural Heritage Summit, awards ceremonies like the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards, and grassroots initiatives within European Heritage Days coordinated by national bodies such as English Heritage and the Kultuurkapitaal (Netherlands). Pilot projects linked to the Year were undertaken by institutions including the Smithsonian Institution (through exchange programmes), the Bibliothèque nationale de France, and the European Investment Bank for restoration financing. Festivals and exhibitions took place in capitals and regions such as Berlin, Rome, Barcelona, Prague, and Brussels, alongside academic conferences at universities including University of Cambridge, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, and Università di Bologna.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding combined the European Commission allocation, co-financing from national governments (for example Poland’s Ministry of Culture), and partnerships with philanthropic bodies such as the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, corporate sponsors like Iberdrola and Siemens, and cultural foundations including the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Financial instruments engaged institutions such as the European Investment Bank and grants from the Creative Europe programme, while implementation relied on networks including Europa Nostra, the European Cultural Foundation, and regional development agencies like the European Regional Development Fund intermediaries.

Impact and Evaluation

Evaluations referenced reports by the European Parliament’s research services, impact assessments produced by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, and independent studies from think tanks like the European Policy Centre and the Bertelsmann Stiftung. Reported outcomes included increased visitor numbers at sites such as the Palace of Versailles, expanded volunteer engagement with organisations like National Trust (United Kingdom), and enhanced cross-border projects linking museums such as the Musée d'Orsay with the Hermitage Museum. Academic analyses appeared in journals affiliated with institutions including Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press; evaluations also cited follow-on initiatives by bodies such as the Council of the European Union and the European Commission’s cultural agendas.

Criticism and Controversies

Critiques emerged from NGOs and commentators including Greenpeace (on tourism impacts), heritage professionals associated with the International Council on Monuments and Sites (on authenticity debates), and political actors within the European Parliament and national legislatures who questioned fund allocation and prioritisation. Controversial cases involved disputes over restoration practices at sites like the Sagrada Família and tensions between development interests represented by corporations such as Acciona and conservationists linked to Icomos. Debates also extended to cultural representation controversies involving festivals in cities such as Zagreb and Belgrade and legal disputes in courts including the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Category:European Union cultural policy