The European Commission and Europa Nostra revealed today the winners of the 2017 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards, Europe’s top honour in the heritage field. The 29 laureates from 18 countries are being recognised for their notable achievements in conservation, research, dedicated service, and education, training and awareness-raising. Among this year’s winners are two outstanding accomplishments from Czech Republic: the rehabilitation of the Baroque Complex and Gardens in Kuks, Hradec Králové region, and the Educational programme for Czech cultural heritage, Telč, Vysočina region. Independent expert juries examined a total of 202 applications, submitted by organisations and individuals from 39 countries across Europe, and chose the laureates.
Citizens from around the world can now vote on-line for the Public Choice Award and rally support for the winning project(s) from their own or another European country. Voters have the chance to win a trip for two to Finland and be a special guest at the Awards Ceremony that will be held in the historic city of Turku on 15 May. During the ceremony, the seven Grand Prix laureates, each of whom will receive €10,000, and the Public Choice Award winner, chosen from among this year’s winning projects, will be announced.
“I congratulate all the winners. Their achievements demonstrate once again how engaged many Europeans are in protecting and safeguarding their cultural heritage. Their projects highlight the significant role of cultural heritage in our lives and our society. Especially today, with Europe facing many big societal challenges, culture is vital in helping us to raise awareness of our common history and values and to foster tolerance, mutual understanding and social inclusion. The European Year of Cultural Heritage in 2018 will be an ideal opportunity to focus on what binds us together as Europeans - our common history, culture and heritage. The European Commission will continue to support this prize 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 achievements possible, thanks to their formidable talent, passionate commitment and great generosity. They are now among a select group of some 450 remarkable accomplishments awarded by Europa Nostra and the European Commission in the past 15 years. All our winners demonstrate that heritage is a key tool for sustainable economic development, social cohesion and a more inclusive Europe. EU leaders should seize the historic opportunity of the European Year of Cultural Heritage in 2018 to recognise the multiple benefits of heritage and its fundamental value in bringing countries, communities and cultures together in Europe and beyond,” stated Plácido Domingo, the renowned opera singer and President of Europa Nostra.
The winners of the EU Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards 2017 will be celebrated during a high-profile event co-hosted by EU Commissioner Navracsics and Maestro Plácido Domingo commencing in the late afternoon on 15 May at St. Michael’s Church in Turku. The European Heritage Awards Ceremony will assemble some 1,200 people, including heritage professionals, volunteers and supporters from all over Europe as well as top-level representatives from EU institutions, the host country and other Member States.
The winners will also present their exemplary heritage accomplishments during the Excellence Fair on 14 May at the Sigyn Hall of the Turku Music Conservatory, and participate in various events at the European Heritage Congress in Turku. Organised by Europa Nostra, the Congress will provide an inspiring platform for networking and debating the latest European developments related to heritage with a special focus on the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018.
The Kuks - Pomegranate project was initiated and coordinated by the National Heritage Institute in the Czech Republic and with support from the European Regional Development Fund. The site, built in the early 18th century, is comprised of the residence of Franz Anton von Sporck, built close to the medicinal springs of the nearby river Elbe as well as a spa, a hospital, a church, a cemetery, a pharmacy and sprawling gardens with herb garden, follies and fountains found within. Much of the complex was in an unfortunate condition with the vast majority of the buildings completely unsuitable for use.
The complex represents an outstanding example of Baroque architecture and interior decoration and embodies Baroque ideals in its symbolic physical arrangement. The Baroque fascination with opposites, life and death is evident in the way in which those buildings dedicated to youth and life, that is the chateau, the theatre and spa are located on one side of the valley while those devoted to spirituality, aging and death such as the hospital, church and cemetery are located on the opposite bank.
The hospital and pharmacy have had a remarkable history, having functioned as such from 1743 until the occupation of Czechoslovakian territory in 1938. After 1938, a district penitentiary was established there for German juvenile boys. In the second half of the 20th century, the building was a hospital for the chronically ill as well as a branch of the regional archives. The Kuks - Pomegranate project, its name taken from the pharmacy, was undertaken for the purpose of building an educational centre focused on this fascinating history of the complex, for hospital activities, the presentation of a historical and contemporary pharmacy and the cultural and artistic aspects of the building.
“The restoration work of the Kuks hospital, an integrated project of building and landscape conservation, is of the highest quality. Its multi-, interdisciplinary approach is commendable and should serve as a strong example for conservation projects across Europe,” said the jury.
“The building and its history are important in a European context as the site tells a story which is conveyed through its educational program. Its continued use in a pharmaceutical function is significant. Hospitals frequently present a complicated set of issues in conservation as they are continually in need of restoration and technological advances. The Kuks – Pomegranate project presents a solution which is well adapted to the new demands of the building while preserving what is present of its history,” commented the jury.
This research based project, through determined and diligent work, has created a comprehensive system of programmes aimed at experiential educating various target groups in immovable and movable cultural heritage. They achieved this in close cooperation with partners from pedagogical faculties of two universities in the field of informal education at all levels and with a strong methodological approach, the results of which have been widely disseminated both nationally and internationally.
The project was funded by the Ministry of Culture in order to establish a quality system of heritage education and learning in the Czech Republic. The educational programmes have enabled the optimum use of many of 100 heritage sites and objects in state property with most of the programmes were realised in the authentic environment of heritage properties. So far, the programmes have reached approximately 31 000 participants from diverse backgrounds. The project was realised using several methodological approaches. In particular, the use of pilot projects which relied on the participation of all involved parties, that is, the researchers and the target groups of the projects themselves, creating a space of interaction essential to the programme’s development. This resulted in the researchers collaborating intensively with participants from schools and other educational institutions to implement the project.
The programme has had considerable success in raising awareness and appreciation of Czech cultural heritage, which in turn contributes to a deepened understanding among the participants and a greater desire to protect this heritage. The jury noted this aspect of the project stating that “the overarching approach to enhancing cultural heritage by using educational projects is truly impressive”. The project reflected foreign trends in heritage education but was equally successful at creating their own innovative strategies which were positively received abroad and in academic circles.
“This is the first national, systematic approach to connecting different centres of cultural activity and educational centres in the Czech Republic and its tailored programmes for specific target audiences has set an exceptional example for countries facing similar issues throughout Europe, especially for the way in which they have worked to connect experts with amateurs and to include children with a different range of abilities”, stressed the jury.
