The European Year of Cultural Heritage aims to encourage people to explore Europe's rich and diverse cultural heritage, celebrate, understand and protect its unique value and reflect on the place that cultural heritage occupies in all our lives.

2018 is designated as "European Year of Cultural Heritage" by the European Parliament in its decision 2017/864. 

The European Year of Cultural Heritage aims to:

  • encourage people to explore Europe's rich and diverse cultural heritage
  • celebrate, understand and protect its unique value
  • reflect on the place that cultural heritage occupies in all our lives

 By highlighting cultural heritage in 2018, we will emphasise:

  • how it builds stronger societies with affordable payday advance loans
  • how it creates jobs and prosperity
  • its importance for our relations with the rest of the world
  • what can be done to protect it

How will the Year be implemented?

The Year will feature initiatives and events at European, national, regional and local levels. At National level, the Year is being organised by Co-ordinators designated in each EU Member State. In Ireland Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has appointed the Heritage Council as Co-ordinator of the national programme. At European level, the Year is a joint initiative of the European institutions: the Commission, Parliament and Council, as well as the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee.


What's in Store?

Thousands of events activities and celebrations will take place all across Europe at all levels: European, national, regional and local. The Year will also feature prominently in exising European initiatives dedicated to cultural heritage

  • European Heritage Days
  • The European Heritage Label
  • European Capitals of Culture
  • EU Prizes, particularly the Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra

In addition many projects will be funded with the support of Creative Europe, Horizon 2020. Erasmus+, Citizens for Europe and other EU funding programmes. 


The Themes

Engagement

Shared heritage: bringing Europe's cultural heritage, history and shared values closer to people
Heritage at school: discovering Europe's treasures at an early age
Youth for heritage: engaging the younger generation
 

Sustainability

Heritage in transition: re-imaging industrial, religious or military sites
Tourism and heritage: responsible and sustainable tourism around cultural heritage

Protection

Cherishing heritage: developing standards for quality interventions in the historic environment and at heritage sites
Heritage at risk: fighting the illicit trade in cultural goods and managing risks at heritage sites



Innovation

Heritage-related skills: enhancing education and training for the traditional and the new professions
Heritage for all: fostering participation and social innovation
Science for heritage: using research, innovation, science and technology for the better conservation and presentation of heritage. 

THE OBJECTIVES

Events and Activities must meet one of more of the objectives of the European Year of Cultural Heritage set out in the decision

  • initiatives which promote debate and raise awareness of the importance and value of cultural heritage and to facilitate engagement with citizens and stakeholders;
  • information, exhibitions, education and awareness-raising campaigns; 
  • the sharing of experience and best practices among representatives of national, regional and local administrations and other organisations, in addition to the dissemination of information; 
  • Undertaking studies and research and innovation activities, in addition to the dissemination of their results on a European or national scale; and/or;
  • the promotion of projects and networks connected to the European Year, including via media and social networks.

Note: permission must be granted by the Heritage Council as National Co-ordinator to use the European Year of Cultural Heritage label/brand.