The European Commission has selected 29 projects to receive a share of a total €5m in funding for projects celebrating European cultural heritage.
This commission has designation 2018 as the European Year of Cultural Heritage, and has undertaken a number of events and celebrations to emphasise the impact that a deeper understanding of cultural legacies of different member states can have on European cohesion. By funding 29 projects celebrating European cultural heritage, the EU aims to promote discussion of Europe’s common history and values.
Funding for the projects will be allocated through Creative Europe, an EU programme which supports the European cultural and creative sectors with a budget of €1.46bn for the period 2014-2020, which is set to increase in 2021. The programme also supports the EU Prize for Cultural Heritage and the European Heritage Label as part of its broader mandate.
How were the winning projects selected?
The projects that will receive were chosen from a total of 77 applications covering a broad range of collaborations between organisations in different member states. They were selected based on their overall quality, as well as their relevance to the theme of the European Year of Cultural Heritage.
Another important factor was the potential impact that the project could have, and a desire to maximise this by trying to reach and engage citizens from all member states at all levels, local, national and European.
What projects were chosen?
Ultimately, a total of 29 celebrating European cultural heritage were chosen, with a broad range of elements being explored. For example, one project will examine the production of folk costumes from different regions, and construct some using traditional methods and skills. Another project will use multimedia artwork to explore European food heritage.
European Commissioner for Culture, Tibor Navracsics, hailed the projects, and the European Year of Cultural Heritage, as valuable opportunities to bring people together across the continent. He said: “These transnational projects will showcase and promote cultural heritage in all its different forms. They will be a source of inspiration for contemporary artistic creation and help to build bridges between people from all backgrounds. In the spirit of the European Year of Cultural Heritage these inspiring projects will help reinforce a sense of belonging to a common European space.”
