The Commission presents a report on the implementation, results and overall assessment of the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 (EYCH 2018).
The overall purpose of the European Year was to encourage the sharing and appreciation of Europe's rich and diverse cultural heritage and to reinforce a sense of belonging to a common European space.
Organisation and implementation at EU level
A decentralised approach was adopted to implement the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018. At national level, the European Year was coordinated by “national coordinators”, representing the participating countries - all 28 Member States, as well as nine associated countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of North Macedonia, Iceland, Montenegro, Norway, Switzerland, Georgia and Serbia).
The implementation of the European Year was a joint effort of the European Commission (up to 15 DGs), the European Parliament, the Council of the EU, the Committee of the Regions, and the European Economic and Social Committee. The Commission ensured the coordination of the European Year at the Union level. The European Commission was assisted by a group of 38 civil society organisations, selected through an open and transparent process, following an open call for participation. UNESCO and the Council of Europe also took part.
The European Parliament also organised a dedicated high-level conference and an interparliamentary committee meeting on European cultural heritage.
Resources
The European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 was allocated a budget of EUR 8 million. A major part of the budget allowed the funding of a dedicated call for cooperation projects under Creative Europe (EUR 4.8 million). In addition, the Commission used this budget to support projects at European level.
Key activities
The European Year 2018 was successful in:
- strengthening the European dimension of cultural heritage;
- initiating a large-scale effort to foster the emergence of innovative and cutting-edge solutions to the challenges of the cultural heritage sector;
- organising a communication campaign targeting school children and young people;
- developing numerous cross-border European initiatives initiated by stakeholders and national coordinators;
- organising over 23 000 events organised in 2018, reaching more than 12.8 million participants.
The 2018 EYCH label was awarded to over 13 000 events (including 2 300 in Ireland alone).
EU funded projects and ten European Initiatives
The Commission launched a dedicated call for proposals
under the Creative Europe programme. As a result, 29 transnational
cooperation projects were selected out of 77 applications, for a
total amount of EUR 4.8 million.
The European Year was a horizontal priority of the 2018 Erasmus
+programme and Erasmus+ awarded close to EUR 92 million to 965
cooperation and mobility projects dealing with cultural heritage.
An estimated amount of EUR 6 billion was initially made available
for cultural heritage in the 2014-2020 period under the Cohesion
Funds. In 2018 and 2019, Horizon 2020 devoted up to EUR 100 million
to research projects on cultural heritage.
Lastly, in 2018, the Commission continued its political and funding support to Europeana, the pan-European online cultural platform.
Conclusion
The report noted that the European Year of Cultural Heritage has had a positive impact on the perception of Europe’s cultural heritage as a powerful resource for Europe. Through highlighting Europe’s cultural heritage on EU and national agendas and a broad mobilisation of actors, the Year contributed to an inter-cultural conversation about what Europe has in common.
The European Parliament was very supportive of the European Year and of further actions at EU level in favour of heritage. It praised the integrated management model, the multi-stakeholder cooperation spirit, and called for an ambitious follow-up.
The Commission together with the Member States and cultural heritage stakeholders will continue implementing a longer-term vision for the management, safeguarding and enhancement of Europe’s cultural heritage.