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 Ilaria d'Auria

Cultural Heritage in Action launch

We are thrilled to launch Cultural Heritage in Action, a peer-learning programme for local and regional policymakers to exchange knowledge on cultural heritage, with a focus on participatory governance, adaptive reuse and quality of interventions.

  • By Teresa Vio

ENCATC Members Talk - Towards a closer cooperation with Regions

On 12 April, ERRIN will take part in the upcoming Members Talk hosted by ENCATC (the European network on cultural management and policy). The online event will focus on regions and their role in strengthening and advancing culture.

  • By Teresa Vio

Cultural Heritage & Tourism WG Meeting - Labels for Cultural Heritage and Tourism

The Cultural Heritage & Tourism WG invites its members to a meeting, on 15 February from 14:15-16:00, with Gabrielle Bernoville and Maria Castillo (DG EAC- Education, Youth, Sport and Culture/ Unit D2 Creative Europe) to learn more about available EU labels in the sector and discuss experiences and opportunities for potential applications in regional Research and Innovation.

  • By Francesca Pozzebon

Cultural Heritage in Action deep-diving session following the peer-learning visit in Cantabria

Cultural Heritage in Action invites you to a webinar on November 28 on the topics of cultural heritage management, regional development, and community involvement in rural areas.

  • By Teresa Vio

Smart Tourism Destinations Project - Webinar #2

Smart Tourism Destinations is a European Commission initiative to support EU cities to facilitate access to tourism and hospitality products and services through technological innovation. The initiative is hosting a series of webinars addressing a range of topics related to innovative digital solutions for tourism. the next one will take place on 17 November and will focus on the deployment of data management and technological solutions for innovation in smart destinations.

  • By Teresa Vio

OURWAY Final Conference “Greenways, a must to sustainable tourism’

Save the date for the OUR WAY Final Conference 'Greenways, a must to sustainable tourism’ that will be held on 28th September 2022, at the European Committee of the Regions, in Brussels.