Introduction to the Project

Across the European Union, culture and cultural heritage constitute important assets for regional competitiveness and social cohesion, while shaping identities of cities and regions as well as affecting citizens’ well-being and quality of life. Cultural Heritage in Action with its peer learning for regional and city-level policymakers to promote knowledge transfer in the field of cultural heritage, is one of the actions of the European Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage of the European Commission.

In the first round running from January 2020 until April 2021, implemented by EUROCITIES, KEA EU Affairs, ERRIN, Europa Nostra and ACE-CAE, the peer-learning project allowed over 100 local and regional policymakers to exchange knowledge on cultural heritage, with a focus on participatory governance, adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, and quality of interventions.

In its second phase (2021-2023), the project will continue to empower cities and regions to strengthen their cultural heritage policies and initiatives as well as develop innovative solutions to preserve cultural heritage assets, focusing on recovery and resilience in a post-pandemic world, local sustainable development, and governance and financing.

Project Objectives

Topics of focus in the current second phase of the project:

1. Recovery and resilience through cultural heritage in a post-pandemic world

The focal point of cultural heritage as a vector of sense of place and local identity makes it a central instrument to build resilient cities and regions in a post-pandemic world. The cultural heritage sector has an opportunity and an important role to play in building back cities and regions better.

2. Cultural heritage for local sustainable development

To safeguard natural and cultural heritage, decision-makers and practitioners in cities need to bring environmental sustainability and action on climate change into their work. Doing so will unlock the potential of cultural heritage to be a driver for new green and sustainable economy; enhance economic, social, and cultural value in cities and regions; and contribute to all key areas of the European Green Deal.

3. Governance and financing: new roles for local and regional authorities

Culture and cultural heritage have often been at the forefront of citizens participation and engagement, as artistic intervention is a good trigger to have citizens interested and willing to shape their environment in a co-designed manner. Investing in culture and local cultural heritage can create opportunities to engage and empower citizens through a strong participatory approach.

Topics of focus in the first page of the project:

1. Participatory governance of cultural heritage
Participatory governance of cultural heritage is about participatory and people-centred approaches that involve the public sector, private stakeholders and civil society to: co-design cultural heritage policies and programmes; share management and safeguarding of cultural heritage; increase the valorisation of cultural heritage in communities; use cultural heritage as a resource for the community and territorial development.

2. Adaptive reuse of built heritage
Adaptive re-use of heritage buildings is the act of giving new use to an obsolete, underused or misused building. In adaptive reuse approach, rather than continuing the building’s existing use through upgrades or restoring it to a specific time period, the new use is defined and adapted to the building while preserving and respecting its value and significance.

3. Quality of interventions on cultural heritage
Interventions on cultural heritage are actions that impact or can impact places or sites of heritage interest and put heritage in danger. Quality interventions are the outcome of multiple factors including aesthetics, habitability, environmental friendliness, accessibility, integration into the surrounding environment and affordability. 

ERRIN's Role

ERRIN contributes to all actions of the project as one of its partners. The activities target cities and regions e.g. through peer-learning visits.

  • Ryan Titley
  • Project Manager
  • Francesca Pozzebon
  • Project Officer
  • Teresa Vio
  • Project Support

Benefit & Links

During the first round of the project in 2020-2021, 30 local practices that are innovative, inspiring for other cities and regions and have a real impact on the ground were selected for a catalogue of good practices. 12 of them were a focus of peer-learning visits, organised in a form of online sessions from March to May 2021.

In the second phase in 2021-2023, the project will widen its catalogue with 30 more good practices and will organise a set of peer-learning activities, including five onsite peer learning visits to take place between February and November 2022.

Project in Action

News

News

Cultural Heritage in Action concludes with valuable outcomes for cities and regions

The Creative Europe peer-learning scheme for cities and regions on cultural heritage, implemented by Eurocities, KEA, ERRIN, Europa Nostra, and the Architects Council of Europe presents now a digital toolbox, a catalogue of good practices and a thematic analysis as its outcomes.

Cultural Heritage in Action: call for good practices

The Cultural Heritage in Action project call for good practices is currently open for submissions until 15 October 2022. Representatives of regions, cities and rural areas in the EU and the UK are invited to participate in the call to highlight their public administrations’ work in cultural heritage.

Call for Participants - Cultural Heritage in Action Peer Learning Visit in Zaragoza

Cultural Heritage in Action, project in which ERRIN is partner, is organising a peer learning visit to Zaragoza from 26 to 28 October. The call for participants is open until 2 September for a visit to take place from 26-28 October 2022. Selected applicants (24 per visit) will be informed by the end of September. The Cultural Heritage in Action project is covering for participants’ travel and stay in Zaragoza.

Cultural Heritage in Action: Call for Participants in peer learning visit in Cantabria

Cultural Heritage in Action is organising a peer learning visit to Cantabria from 21 to 23 September. Anyone working on culture and cultural heritage for a regional, city or rural administration from the EU and the UK can apply to take part in the visit by 15 June.

Cultural Heritage in Action: Call for participants in peer learning visit to Krakow

Krakow: Sustainable cultural heritage development in practice Our Cultural Heritage in Action programme of peer learning visits continues to unfold! A new call for participants in a peer learning visit to Krakow just opened, deadline to answer is 6 June.

Cultural Heritage in Action - Call for Participants in Peer Learning Visit in Helsinki

With its second phase in full swing, the peer learning programme Cultural Heritage in Action has launched a call for participants for the peer learning visit in Helsinki, taking place on 13-15 June 2022.

Latest Updates

  • By Francesca Pozzebon

Peer Learning Workshop on Sustainable Pathways for the Tourism Industry in Malta

On the 30th of May, ESPON will host a Peer Leaning Workshop on "Sustainable Pathways for the Tourism Industry in Malta", in collaboration with the Ministry for Tourism of Malta and Malta Tourism Authority, with the goal of inspiring and empowering sustainable tourism routes in Malta to help overcome the country's post-COVID-19 challenges and cope with the accelerated effects of climate change.

  • By Francesca Pozzebon

Cultural Heritage in Action: Call for participants in peer learning visit to Krakow

Krakow: Sustainable cultural heritage development in practice Our Cultural Heritage in Action programme of peer learning visits continues to unfold! A new call for participants in a peer learning visit to Krakow just opened, deadline to answer is 6 June.

  • By Francesca Pozzebon

Cultural Heritage in Action - Call for Participants in Peer Learning Visit in Helsinki

With its second phase in full swing, the peer learning programme Cultural Heritage in Action has launched a call for participants for the peer learning visit in Helsinki, taking place on 13-15 June 2022.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

Cultural Heritage in Action: call for good practices & peer learning visit in Leeds

With its second phase in full swing, the peer learning programme Cultural Heritage in Action now offers opportunities for regional and local public administrations and their representatives to take part in the call for good practices by 30 April and apply to participate in a peer learning visit in Leeds by 25 March.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

Cultural Heritage (back) in Action!

ERRIN's peer learning programme Cultural Heritage in Action continues with the second phase in 2021-2023. The project will now widen its catalogue with more good practices and will organise a set of peer-learning activities on three enlarged topics. Two calls are already open.

  • By Hilary Webb

CHA key findings - Cultural heritage: a powerful catalyst for cities and regions

The key findings from ERRIN's Cultural Heritage in Action project have been compiled into a publication capturing the main trends of cultural heritage management in European cities and regions.