On 30 August 2016 the European Commission has put forward a proposal to the European Parliament and Council to designate 2018 as the European Year of Cultural Heritage.
FRH – Future for Religious Heritage has strongly supported this initiative from the beginning. It is now essential that this proposal be embraced quickly and that there be a designated and substantial budget to make the Year a success.
FRH is working closely with the other members of the European Heritage Alliance 3.3 (The European cultural heritage platform composed of 30 international networks and organisations active in the field of cultural heritage, coordinated by Europa Nostra) which has been asked to bring ideas and activities forward. We are seeking the views of members and supporters on what action the EU should take to protect and promote religious heritage.
FRH President Olivier de Rohan stated: “This proposal is a step in the right direction. I would like to congratulate the Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Mr Tibor Navracsics, Mrs Silvia Costa, Chair of Committee on Culture and Education at the European Parliament, other MEPs and all the stakeholders who contributed to this important achievement. We and our members present all over Europe look forward to contribute actively to the European Year of Cultural Heritage.
This will be an opportunity to raise awareness of the social and economic importance of religious heritage, but also of the threats it faces today.
It should stimulate the necessary cooperation between private and public bodies and European citizens to ensure this heritage will be handed on to future generations.
Religious heritage represents by far the largest single category of European cultural patrimony and is one to which Europeans remain highly attached. This does not only apply to all those magnificent huge cathedrals Europe owns, but also the potential of the treasures held in smaller buildings is still largely underexploited. They truly constitute ‘Europe’s Biggest Museum’.
The FRH Biennial Conference that will take place this November 8-12 in Vicenza, Italy, is an excellent opportunity to share, discuss and develop ideas to contribute to the 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage. We encourage experts and researchers to register and to apply to our call for presentations in order to put forward their most innovative ideas”.
This Year is important for all of us. By joining forces we can make the Year a great success.
FRH is interested in getting your ideas and sharing them with our colleagues and partners. Please contact us at: info@frh-europe.org
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