ICOM South East Europe is a partner with Europa Nostra in organizing a conference CULTURAL HERITAGE COUNTS FOR (SOUTH-EAST) EUROPE to be held in Belgrade, 15 – 17 June 2017.

ICOM SEE members may apply for travel grants provided by ICOM SEE by sending their application to the email of the president (goranka.horjan@gmail.com) by the 26 May 2017 at the latest.

In your application you have to mention: first name, last name, contact of the applicant, motivation to attend the meeting travel itinerary and the amount of travel costs needed.

ICOM SEE will support up to three grants depending on the travel costs indicated.

BELGRADE CONFERENCE

“CULTURAL HERITAGE COUNTS FOR (SOUTH-EAST) EUROPE”

Belgrade, Serbia, 15-17 June 2017

From June 15 to June 17 Belgrade will host the conference entitled “Cultural Heritage Counts for (South-East) Europe” and capacity building days entitled “Education and Citizen Engagement” organized by Europa Nostra, Europa Nostra Serbia and South East European Heritage Network in partnership with the Creative Europe Program and European Commission.

The event will gather international experts and stakeholders from SEE region in discussing Cultural Heritage Counts for Europe report, the first research implemented on European level that analysed the impact of cultural heritage on cultural, social, environmental and ecological development. Reflecting on experiences and data from Western, Central and Eastern Europe, the conference aims to initiate a discussion about integrated approach to heritage in relation to sustainable development among practitioners, researchers and policy makers taking into account the examples, approaches and specificities of Serbia and wider Southeast Europe. By sharing new perspectives and innovative practices from the Southeastern part of Europe, the organizers also wish to stimulate a stronger presence and input from heritage stakeholders from South-East Europe to Europa Nostra activities and European programs and policies.

The Conference is organised on three important occasions.

1.     The Public presentation of the Serbian edition of the Executive Summary & Strategic recommendations of the above mentioned European Report “Cultural Heritage Counts for Europe (CHCFE)” prepared by Europa Nostra Serbia with the support of the EU Delegation in Serbia together with inspiring lectures on methods and approaches in measuring heritage impact, and discussions on the significance and implications of ideas and findings from the CHCFE report in the context of South-East Europe.

2.     Celebration of a Grand Prix 2016 of the EU Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards for the outstanding Conservation Study for the Revitalization of the Stone Village of Gostusa in the Pirot District (Serbia). Together with this example, the conference will feature additional selected projects and actors awarded by the EU Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards since 2005, as well as other exemplary heritage initiatives from the SEE in discussing the impact that their work has on environmental, social and economic development of the region.

3.     Preparations for the European Year of Cultural Heritage in 2018, with focus on the possibilities of participation within South East Europe and potential cooperation among EU Member States and EU Candidate Members.

4.     The Capacity-Building Days for Europa Nostra members and partners focussing on Education and Citizen Engagement in the field of cultural heritage, will create space and inspiring content for outreach and education managers of heritage organizations to share their experiences, discuss and learn together.

During the first day of the Conference (afternoon of Thursday, 15 June) participants will focus on wider European developments related to cultural heritage, the presentation of the outcomes of the European Report “Cultural Heritage Counts for Europe” with lectures and discussions about different approaches in evaluating heritage impact on society and to the preparations for the European Year of Cultural Heritage in 2018. This part of programme will involve lecturers from Belgium, UK and Montenegro, heritage stakeholders from Serbia and other countries of the South-East Europe, together with the representatives of the European Commission. On the second day (Friday, 16 June): the focus will be on exemplary and innovative initiatives from South-East Europe which have contributed to one of the following areas: Heritage, Environment and Sense of Place; Heritage, Traditional Skills, Training and Creativity; and Heritage, Education and Social Issues. These inspiring presentations and discussions will end in the evening with a very special Participatory Theater Performance “KoTo(r) o Kotoru” prepared by citizens and heritage activists of the World Heritage City of Kotor (Montenegro), followed by a panel discussion dedicated to Heritage Activism and Public Engagement. Finally, the third day (Saturday, 17 June) is reserved for creative exchanges of good practices and concerns between Europa Nostra members and partners from all parts of Europe with regard to heritage education and citizen engagement.

PROGRAMME

The draft programme will be composed of three parts:

a. Day 1 (afternoon of Thursday, 15 June) will focus on wider European developments related to cultural heritage, namely the presentation of the outcomes of the European Report “Cultural Heritage Counts for Europe” with lectures and discussions about different approaches in evaluating heritage impact on society and to the preparations for the European Year of Cultural Heritage in 2018. This part of our programme will involve lecturers from Poland, UK and Montenegro, heritage stakeholders from Serbia and other countries of the South-East Europe, together with the representatives of the European Commission.

In the evening we shall gather at the 19th century historic house and museum “Dom Jevrema Grujica”, upon kind invitation of its owner, Lazar Secerovic. Europa Nostra and the European Historic Houses Association look very much forward to welcoming you at this historic house for a lively evening dedicated to the celebration of “heritage & friendship without borders” as key vehicles for cultural diplomacy!

b. Day 2 (Friday, 16 June): will focus on exemplary and innovative initiatives from South-East Europe which have contributed to one of the following issues (i) Heritage, Environment and Sense of Place; (ii) Heritage, Traditional Skills, Training and Creativity; and (iii) Heritage, Education and Social Issues. We will use these examples and their insights and experiences in order to discuss the potentials and implications of the key ideas promoted in the Report “Cultural Heritage Counts for Europe” in the context of South-East Europe.

These inspiring presentations and discussions will end in the evening with a very special Participatory Theater Performance “KoTo(r) o Kotoru” prepared by citizens and heritage activists of the World Heritage City of Kotor (Montenegro), followed by a panel discussion dedicated to Heritage Activism and Public Engagement.

c. Day 3 (Saturday, 17 June): will be reserved for creative exchanges of best practices and concerns between Europa Nostra members and partners from all parts of Europe with regard to heritage education and citizen engagement.

REGISTRATION

Due to the financial support of the European Commission through its Creative Europe Programme, and the partnership with South-East Heritage Network supported by the Headley Trust from UK, the whole program is free of charge and open to participants from all around Europe.

You are kindly asked to register by filling in the registration form (please contact Louise van Rijckevorsel lvr@europanostra.org) at the latest by 20 May 2017, and by sending it directly to Louise van Rijckevorsel (lvr@europanostra.org), at our Brussels Office.

Louise van Rijckevorsel remains at your disposal for answering any questions you might have.

We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming some of you in our native city Belgrade where we guarantee you a great heritage experience and fruitful heritage exchanges.

Conference info (SERBIAN)

More info: URL

Application form (ENGLISH)

Application form (SERBIAN)