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News & Statements Archive 2008
2008 European Year of Intercultural Dialogue
January 2008
The main objective of the Year is to promote Intercultural Dialogue as an instrument to assist European citizens, and all those living in the EU, in acquiring the knowledge and abilities to deal with a more open and more comlex cultural enviornment. It alos aims to raise the awareness of European citizens of the importance of developing an active European citizenship which is open to the world, respectful of cultural diversity and based on common values in the EU.
Official website of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue
European Capitals of Culture 2008
January 2008
In 2008 Liverpool (UK) and Starvanger (NO) will be the European Capitals of Culture. They assume the title from the cities Luxemburg (LU) and Sibiu (RO), which were European Capitals of Culture in 2007.
Launch of the Europeana Website
January 2008
The European digital library developed awebsite, branded EUROPEANA, which will break new ground by bringing together millions of digitised resources from Europe’s archives, museums, libraries and audio visual collections through a single portal.
The European digital library project began to develop the Europeana web portal in autumn 2007 with funding from the European Commission. This is the first public showing of the look and feel of the site and its potential functions and content.
Europeana is developing practical, user-defined tools for exploring and sharing content in a multilingual interface.
Further information: www.europeana.eu
The European Agenda for Culture: Involving Civil Society
19 February 2008
NEMO took part in the Information event organised in Brussels by the European Commission about the Civil Society shall be involved more in questions concerning Europe´s cultural policy. Through the OMC (Open method of coordination) the civil society (organisations, individuals, associations e.g.) shall be organized in platforms to exchange views and ideas in certain fields in the European culture and find a joint strategy and formulate political recommendations for topics relevant within the EU policy. The results of the platforms shall be presented to the Commission in Cultural forums, who will consider and analyse these inputs and factor them into their decisions.
Timetable:
- March 2008: Commission will publish call for stakeholders interested in engaging in the OMC.
- June 2008: constituent Assembly of the invited organisations having manifested their interest in the OMC. In this course the different fields of action will be determined.
- First half 2009: Presentation of first results of the platforms
- 2010: in the cultural forum the member states, the civil society (organisations), and the commission will come together and present their results.
Culture Programme 2007-2013: Results of proposals under Strand 2
25 February 2008
The Executive Agency (EACEA) has published the results of the selection process of the proposals under Strand 2 (Support for Organiations active at European level in the field of culture) for funding. NEMO is on the list of selected organisations for co-funding in 2008.
This is the link to the results: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/culture/calls2007/results/call_22_2007/index_en.html
The European Forum for the Arts and Heritage (EFAH) becomes Culture Action Europe
May 2008
EFAH, The European Forum for the Arts and Heritage becomes "Culture Action Europe". The new name and visual identity were launched at the 65th Trans Europe Halles meeting in Brussels on 24th April 2008.
Visit the new website: www.cultureactioneurope.org
SHARING DIVERSITY: National Approaches to Intercultural Dialogue in Europe
June 2008
From January to December 2007, the European Institute for Comparative Cultural Research (ERICarts Institute) worked together with a group of 12 key experts / special advisors and 37 national correspondents to investigate concepts of intercultural dialogue, their challenges do different sectors such as culture, education, sports or youth, and main actors involved in their promotion.
The Study includes 50 recommendations to European and national actors. This webspace (www.interculturaldialogue.eu/web/index.php) provides information about the project, its results and information resources.
2009 EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards
June 2008
In 2009 the Europa Nostra prize will be awarded in the following field of Cultural Heritage:
- architectural heritage
- cultural landscapes
- works of art and collections of artistic and historic significance
- archaeological sites
- industrial and engineering heritage
Categories:
Outstanding achievements in the field of heritage conservation and enhancement will be awarded in the following categories:
1. Conservation
2. Research
3. Dedicated Service by Individuals or Organisations
4. Education, Training and Awareness-Raising
Entry Forms are available from 30 May 2008 at www.europanostra.org.
Closing date is 1 October 2008.
Further information: awards@europanostra.org
Info Days on Culture Programme (2007 – 2013)
June 2008
On June 24, 2008 (Brussels) and June 27, 2008 (Budapest) the Commission has organised Info Day on funding opportunities under the Culture Programme. Conditions have been simplified with the introduction of a Programme Guide, which will be published mid June 2008. The Programme Guide contains a fixed calendar and fixed conditions, which remain valid up to 2013, application forms have been shortened, financial conditions simplified.
Communication on Europe’s cultural heritage at the click of a mouse
August 2008
The Commission adopted a Communication on Europe’s cultural heritage at the click of a mouse - Progress on the digitisation and online accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation across the EU. The Communication describes progress towards the creation of the European digital library as well as the actions deployed by Member States to address organisational, financial, technical and legal issues, essential for making cultural material available on the internet. It calls on Member States and stakeholders to step up their efforts to make our common heritage more accessible, and confirms the Commission’s commitment to support this goal through its policy actions and funding programmes. A Staff Working Paper accompanies the Communication.
Read the accompanying Commission's press release.
European Commission's proposal for reduced VAT rate regarding repair, renovation and maintenance services provided to cultural heritage sector
August 2008
On 7 July 2008 the European Commission published its Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 2006/112/EC as regards reduced rates of VAT so as to provide Member States with the flexibility to apply reduced VAT rates for some specified labour-intensive services on a permanent basis from 2010. It is now proposed that the category of services eligible to a reduced VAT rate be broadened to include the repair, renovation and maintenance services provided to places of worship, cultural heritage and historical monuments, as recognised by Member States.
The decision of the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers (ECOFIN) is expected in mid-2009. However, even if the proposed amended Directive is agreed on in Brussels, the possibility to apply these reductions will still remain only optional for EU Member States. It is therefore important for the heritage sector to advocate the implementation of this Directive both at national level and at European level.
Read the Commission's proposal (pdf version)
Results Culture Programme: Strand 1.1 - Multi annual cooperation projects and Strand 1.2.1 - Cooperation measures
September 2008
The following institutions have been selected for funding in 2008:
Strand 1.1 - Multi annual cooperation projects
Organisations selected for co-funding
Strand 1.2.1 - Cooperation measures
Organisations selected for co-funding
European Heritage Label
November 2008
The Council of the European Union has approved the creation of the European Heritage Label, inviting the European Commission to develop the label into an official EU action, which will be open for participation of all Member States who wish to participate.
The "Label “European Heritage” was first launched in March 2007. It has already been awarded to important sites in Europe, such as the Rundale Palace in Latvia, the Capitol Square in Rome/Italy (Italy), or the Acropolis in Athens/Greece among others. The label is granted to historic monuments, historic or natural sites, cultural landscapes or places that reflect the shared history, common values and/or our common European heritage. The label shall help to raise awareness of our shared history and heritage and to foster a sense of European citizenship.
Further information: www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/en/educ/104185.pdf
Launch of EUROPEANA
November 2008
On 20 November 2008 the EUROPEANA was launched successfully in Brussels. It was created in the scope of the European Commission’s i2010 digital library initiative with the idea to create a European Digital Library to give open online accessibility of Europe’s cultural material. Europeana is a common multilingual access point which will make it possible to search Europe’s digital cultural heritage online.
Due to the 10 million hits in its first hour the Europeana website had to be taken off-line until mid-December. From then on, EUROPEANA will be available at: www.europeana.eu
NEMO Statement on the EU Green Paper - Copyright in the Knowledge Economy
November 2008
The EC has prepared a Green Paper on the topic of Copyright in the Knowledge Economy. Stakeholders were invited to submit comments and other issues that are addressed or touched upon in this Green Paper until 30 November 2008.
With its statement NEMO adverts to the European museums' efforts to digitise their collections in order to make them available to the public. In this context NEMO wants to make sure that the new legislation will put the public interest before the interest of the copyright holders/publishers.
Read NEMO Statement on the Green Paper - Copyright in the Knowledge Economy
NEMO Annual Meeting in Ljubljana, Slovenia
November 2008
NEMO's Annual Meeting this year took place in Ljubljana, Slovenia. For the first time the meeting opened it doors to the wider public and welcomed museum professionals from Slovenia to the first day, which was dedicated to the topic "Lifelong Learning in Museums". Many museums in Europe lead and have led adult learning-projects already and are becoming increasingly important as active partners for educational matters in Europe.
On Saturday, 29 November, various NEMO issues were discussed. Additionally, presentations of the topics "Sustainability and Museums", "Audience Development", "Disposal" and "European and International Museum Statistics" led to fruitful discussions among the participants of the meeting.
SAVE THE DATE! In 2009 the Annual Meeting will take place from 27 - 29 November in Linz, Austria.
Download Annual Meeting Programme 2008
Download Participant List 2008
Research report “Volunteers in Museums and Cultural Heritage: A European Overview” now available
December 2008
The research gives an insight into cultural volunteering in numerous European countries, looking at background information (legislative context, organisational models, volunteering infrastructure) and analysing case studies.
Website of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009 is online
December 2008
The homepage of the European Year for Creativity and Innovation is available online at www.create2009.europa.eu, informing the interested audience and stakeholders about projects and events that will be carried out during the year and providing information on this topic.
Website of the Czech Presidency is available online
December 2008
The website of the Czech presidency http://eu2009.cz/en, starting on 1 January 2009, is now available online. From January onwards it will inform about the Czech presidency programme and EU policies during the first six months of the new year.
News & Statements Archive 2008
Winners of the 2008 "European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards"
8 May 2008
The six winners are outstanding projects in the Czech Republic, Greece, the Netherlands, Spain and Romania. The prizes are awarded jointly by the European Commission and Europa Nostra, the pan-European Federation for Cultural Heritage.
The European Heritage Awards were jointly launched to celebrate outstanding initiatives among the many facets of Europe's cultural heritage in categories ranging from the restoration of buildings and their adaptation to new uses, to urban and rural landscape rehabilitation, archaeological site interpretations, and care for art collections. Also awarded are prizes for research and, for the first time in 2008, education projects related to cultural heritage, and dedicated service to heritage conservation by individuals or organisations.
This Awards Scheme aims to promote high standards and high-quality skills in conservation practice, and to stimulate the trans-frontier exchanges in the area of heritage. By spreading the "Power of Example”, the Prize also aims to encourage further efforts and projects related to heritage throughout Europe.
Six Prizes have been awarded, in the following categories:
Category 1 — Conservation:
The conservation of the Southern façade of Horní Hrad (Upper Castle) of the Český Krumlov State Castle, Czech Republic: Awarded for establishing new standards in the Czech monument care and appreciated as an excellent example of a respectful conservation.
The conservation of the archaeological site of Skarkos on the Island of Ios in Greece: Awarded for the outstanding quality of conservation work and above all the minimal and extremely sensitive character of the interventions, having no detrimental impact on a unique landscape.
The restoration and adaptive re-use of the Van Nelle Factory in Rotterdam, the Netherlands: Honoured as an exemplary approach to the restoration of, and finding new uses for, an iconic building of European and world importance.
Category 2 — Research:
The Inventory of the Fortified Military Architecture in Spain by the Asociación Española de Amigos de los Castillos, Spain: Appreciated as an excellent example of raising awareness of Spain's military heritage that is not only important to Spain, but highly significant on a European level as well.
Category 3 — Dedicated service:
Stichting Stadsherstel Hoorn, the Netherlands: A very successful example of civil society's involvement in safeguarding Europe's historic city centres and in highlighting the importance of volunteers.
Category 4 — Education, training and awareness-raising:
The International Built Heritage Conservation Training Centre at Bánffy Castle in Bonţida, Romania: Highly valued for its double approach: training for conservation and conservation through training. It is an excellent example of cross border exchange of knowledge and a worthy winner of this award in the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue.
Further information: www.europanostra.org/awards2008.html
NEMO patronage of the international conference "Heading Towards a Modern Museum"
The aim of the international conference entitled: “Heading Towards a Modern Museum”, which will take place on March 6th-7th, 2008 in The National Library in Warsaw, is for Mazovia and its partner regions to present good museum practices in the area of innovative museum solutions such as international museum cooperation, gaining external funds, promotion, museums’ social initiatives, new technologies in museums, new ideas in the museum profession. The conference will also provide a welcoming space for initiating partnerships between museums in the Mazovia region, and museums from other cities and regions in Europe. Such cooperation may in the future lead to realisation of joint projects.
The conference will be held under the patronage of The Marshal of the Mazowieckie Voivodship, The President of The Polish National Committee of ICOM, The Minister of Culture and Heritage (tbc.) and NEMO - The Network of European Museum Organizations.
The representatives of Mazovian museums: public, local, and private and representatives of museums from the European regions will be among the conference participants. We did our best to ensure that experts of international renown will have an active voice in the conference “Heading Towards a Modern Museum”. The representatives of Mazovian local and private museums, the representatives of Mazovian and European museums and museum experts from Poland and other European states will present their papers. The conference program will be composed of the plenary session and thematic workshops.
The conference will contribute to working out appropriate solutions and also will lead to exchange information and experience between individual museums, presentations, discussion, conclusions.
Project coordinator:
Marcin Śliwa – International Cooperation The Mazovia Region Centre of Culture and Art, m.sliwa@mckis.waw.pl
Anna Walczak – International Cooperation The Mazovia Region Centre of Culture and Art, zagranica@mckis.waw.pl
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