The European Commission and Europa Nostra today announced the winners of the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra 2017 Awards, the most important European prize in the field of heritage.
The 29 winners from 18 countries were distinguished for their “exemplary contributions in conservation, research, heritage service, and education, training and awareness”.
Among the winners are two Portuguese initiatives: the rehabilitation of the Church and Torre dos Clérigos in Porto and the Master in Structural Analysis of Monuments and Historical Constructions, a European program coordinated in Guimarães.
Juries made up of independent experts analyzed a total of 202 entries, submitted by organizations and individuals from 39 countries across Europe, and selected the winners.
From now on, citizens around the world can vote online for the Audience Award and raise support for the project(s) in your country or in another country in Europe.
Voters can win a trip for two to Finland and be a special guest at the European Heritage Awards Ceremony to be held in the historic city of Turku on 15 May.
During the ceremony, the seven winners of the Grand Prix will be announced, each receiving 10.000 euros, as well as the winner of the Audience Award, chosen from among the 29 winners this year.
“I congratulate all the winners. Their initiatives demonstrate once again how committed many Europeans are to protecting and safeguarding their cultural heritage. His projects highlight the significant role of cultural heritage in our lives and in our society. Today, especially, with a Europe facing major societal challenges, culture is vital in helping us to raise awareness of our common history and values, and to promote tolerance, mutual understanding and social inclusion. The European Year of Cultural Heritage in 2018 will be an ideal opportunity to focus on what unites us as Europeans – our common history, culture and heritage. The European Commission will continue to support this award and other heritage projects through our Creative Europe programme”, said Tibor Navracsics, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport.
“I warmly congratulate this year's winners and pay tribute to all those who made these exceptional initiatives possible, thanks to their formidable talent, passionate commitment and great generosity. They are now among a select group of approximately 450 notable initiatives awarded by Europa Nostra and the European Commission over the past 15 years. All our winners demonstrate that heritage is a key instrument for sustainable economic development, social cohesion and a more inclusive Europe. EU leaders must seize the historic opportunity of the European Year of Cultural Heritage in 2018 to recognize the multiple benefits of heritage and its fundamental value to bring countries, communities and cultures together in Europe and beyond”, added Plácido Domingo, the singer of renowned opera and President of Europa Nostra.
The winners of the EU Cultural Heritage Prize/Europa Nostra 2017 Prize will be celebrated during a high-level event, featuring EU Commissioner Tibor Navracsics and Maestro Plácido Domingo, in the late afternoon of 15 May at Church of St. Michael in Turku.
The European Heritage Awards Ceremony will bring together around 1.200 people, including heritage professionals, volunteers and supporters from across Europe, as well as high-level representatives from the EU institutions, the host country and other Member States.
Winners will also present their exemplary initiatives during the Excellence Fair, on May 14th, at Sala Sigyn of Turku Conservatory of Music, and will participate in various events at the European Heritage Congress in Turku (11-15 May).
Organized by Europa Nostra, the Congress will provide an inspiring platform to debate the latest European heritage-related developments, with a special focus on the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018.
Applications for the 2018 edition of the Awards can be submitted from 15 May to 1 October 2017 through the website dedicated to the Awards.
Church and the Clérigos Tower in Porto
Before the start of the important interventions, this unique Baroque complex, located in Porto, did not guarantee the safety of visitors and its employees.
A comprehensive restoration project, both inside and out, was therefore necessary to preserve and dignify the city's most visited monument, recognized by many as its ex libris.
The entire restoration project, from preliminary investigation to conclusion, was carried out in just two years, in an exemplary collaborative effort between the Irmandade dos Clérigos, owner of the complex and several institutions in the city: Diocese of Porto, Porto City Council, University do Porto, Catholic University, Porto Commercial Association, Santa Casa and regional services of the Ministry of Culture.
The restoration extended not only to architectural heritage, but also to mobile and integrated heritage, which includes centuries-old collections of sculpture, painting, vestments, books and documents.
An extended conservation project that, to address a wide range of subjects, was carried out in several areas: architecture, painting, sculpture, furniture, metals, textiles and paper.
This project, in the breadth of its experience, is an extraordinary example of a complex and multifaceted intervention. It was highly appreciated by the jury, commenting that “the interdisciplinary approach applied to this project was exemplary and remarkably restored this important landmark in the historic center of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for present and future generations. The project team achieved a balance between research and high-quality traditional restoration techniques, and this was undoubtedly a complex task.”
The conservation and restoration works were complemented with the musealization of the site and its heritage. This was achieved by creating new exhibition spaces, establishing an exhibition path, restoring the collection and placing signage for interpretation. “The project enhanced the whole ensemble and created cohesion between the building and its collections”, observed the jury.
In addition, the restoration project allowed the Clérigos Church and Nossa Senhora da Lapa Chapel to reopen for regular worship. “The project revitalized the complex's infrastructure and also enlivened the surrounding area, as well as significant efforts to promote the site and increase the number of visitors after the restoration. The social restoration of this historic building, with the reopening of the Church and Chapel for religious services, is also an important example for other places, as these, in the first place, are social buildings,” added the jury.
Finally, the project allowed the building to be inclusive today, with 87% of the visit route being accessible to people with disabilities, which in a century building. XVIII is an excellent brand.
Advanced Master in Structural Analysis of Monuments and Historical Constructions, European program coordinated in Guimarães
The Advanced Master in Structural Analysis of Monuments and Historical Constructions is a one-year master's program jointly organized by partner universities from four countries: University of Minho (Portugal), Czech Technical University in Prague (Czech Republic), Polytechnic University of Catalonia / Barcelona Tech (Spain) and University of Padua (Italy). The Masters also involves the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics of the Czech Academy of Sciences as an associate partner.
This initiative offers “an advanced education program on the conservation of cultural heritage structures, centered on the application of scientific principles and methodologies in analysis, innovation and professional practice”. Started in 2007, so far, 300 students have participated in the program, who have completed their academic part in one country and their dissertation in another country. This Masters program has been made possible thanks to funding provided by Erasmus+.
In addition to its clear European significance, this Master's program is impressive for its global reach, with students from 62 countries across the world. The international diversity of students ensures that the knowledge gained has a far-reaching effect, with the awareness that the culture and experience necessary to protect this heritage goes far beyond the immediate surroundings of the four partner universities.
This was highlighted by the jury, who stated: “This project has great international value and its global reach is a notable model for other similar initiatives. The program allows students to observe structural systems in different cultural contexts, encouraging them to create and develop their knowledge with an international perspective that is increasingly relevant”.
The program takes a multidisciplinary approach including conservation elements in civil engineering and architecture. “This advanced program, based on the scientific principles of engineering, conservation and restoration, and architecture, allows for a better understanding of building systems, which in turn helps to prolong their existence”, highlighted the jury.
The Master's program is the only international program that specifically addresses the conservation of historic structures. This Masters effectively creates professionals who have the ability to protect our shared heritage from the various threats it currently faces, such as natural deterioration, human interventions, climate change and natural hazards.
“The multidisciplinary aspect of this project responds to the current economic and societal needs of heritage. The Masters program creates the expertise needed to promote the protection of our built cultural heritage, an increasingly important niche area,” stressed the jury.
2017 winners
(listed alphabetically by country)
Conservation Category
▪ St. Martin's Chapel in Stari Brod, near Sisak, CROATIA
▪ Baroque Complex and Gardens in Kuks, Hradec Králové region, CZECH REPUBLIC
▪ Ancient city of Karthaia, Island of Kea, GREECE
▪ Bastion of the Grand Master's Palace in Rhodes, GREECE
▪ White Pyramid in Rome, ITALY
▪ The King's Road across Filefjell, NORWAY
▪ The Clérigos' Church and Tower in Porto, PORTUGAL
▪ Cultural Palace in Blaj, Transylvania region, ROMANIA
▪ Cap Enderocat Fortress, Mallorca, SPAIN
▪ Roof for the ruins of the San Juan Monastery in Burgos, SPAIN
▪ Cromford Mills: Building 17, Derbyshire, UNITED KINGDOM
Research Category
▪ Rotate Altarpiece Research and Conservation Project, Tallinn, ESTONIA
▪ 'Carnival King of Europe', San Michele all'Adige, ITALY
▪ Museum Piranesi', Milan, ITALY
▪ Bosch Research and Conservation Project, 's-Hertogenbosch, THE NETHERLANDS
Category Service Dedicated to Heritage
▪ Mr. Ferdinand Meder, Zagreb, CROATIA
▪ Mr. Jim Callery, County Roscommon, IRELAND
▪ The Norwegian Lighthouse Society, NORWAY
▪ Mr. Zoltán Kallós, Transylvania region, ROMANIA
Category Education, Training and Awareness
▪ Erfgoedplus: Online heritage platform, Hasselt, BELGIUM
▪ Center of Visual Arts and Research, Nicosia, CYPRUS
▪ Educational program for Czech cultural heritage, Telc, Vysočina region, CZECH REPUBLIC
▪ Paavo Nurmi Legacy project, Turku, FINLAND
▪ Heritage Crafts Initiative for Georgia, Tbilisi, GEORGIA
▪ Cultural Heritage and Barrier-free Accessibility project, Berlin, GERMANY
▪ ilCartastorie: Storytelling in the archives, Naples, ITALY
▪ Jewish Cultural Heritage: Educational program, Warsaw, POLAND
▪ Advanced Master in Structural Analysis of Monuments and Historical Constructions, European program coordinated in Guimarães, PORTUGAL
▪ SAMPHIRE: Maritime heritage project in western Scotland, UNITED KINGDOM
Europa Nostra Awards were also awarded to outstanding projects from two European countries that are not part of the Creative Europe programme.
Conservation Category: Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamam in Istanbul, TURKEY
Research Category: Philippe Stern's Collection of Timekeepers, Geneva, SWITZERLAND
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