2018, European Year of Cultural Heritage

Internal news

text: Maria MĂNESCU

The European Parliament of the Council of the European Union adopted, on May 17, 2017,
the decision proclaiming 2018 the European Year of Cultural Heritage, at the initiative of Germany. This thematic year will make it possible to promote heritage as a central element of cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue, to valorize best practices in ensuring the conservation and protection of heritage, as well as to develop knowledge of heritage among a broad and diverse public.
The European Commission is encouraging the Member States to select a variety of projects under this label and to mobilize all stakeholders to ensure the success of this thematic year. At the level of each Member State, the European Year of Cultural Heritage is not a financial program, but rather a European and national awareness-raising campaign on a specific theme.
All types of heritage (architectural, archaeological, industrial, cinematographic, natural, etc.) and all types of projects, at all scales (local, regional, national, international), are targeted.
The 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage label will thus make it possible to enhance the value of heritage in Romania and in Europe and to strengthen the link between the European Union and its citizens by recognizing and highlighting heritage activities.
At European level, cultural heritage has regained the interest of the European institutions in recent years, largely due to the work of the Reflection Group "Heritage and the European Union", which contributes to strengthening a common perception of heritage at European level.
In its resolution "Towards an integrated approach to European cultural heritage", adopted in September 2015, the European Parliament recommended that the European Commission "proclaim, preferably before 2018, a European Year of Cultural Heritage, tangible, intangible and numeric, with an appropriate budget", with the aim of encouraging "European citizens to discover and explore heritage in order to strengthen their sense of belonging to a common European space".
The European Commission has also updated the "Mapping of actions for the integration of cultural heritage in EU policies, programs and activities", which presents the European programs that allow the funding of heritage actions across all sectors.
The European Commission also launched in 2017 the 'Special Eurobarometer 466' on cultural heritage, the first EU survey on heritage. The document captures the attitudes and opinions of EU citizens towards cultural heritage, investigates citizens' personal links with European cultural heritage and the values that citizens attribute to it, and also addresses the impact of cultural heritage on tourism or jobs. The report and country results are available ^online1.

European Cultural Heritage Strategy for the 21st Century

On February 22, the Council of Europe adopted the "Recommendation on the Strategy for European Cultural Heritage in the 21st Century"², which was drawn up at the request of the European Ministers responsible for cultural heritage, meeting in Namur in April 2015 at the 6th Conference of European Ministers responsible for cultural heritage of the 50 States party to the European Cultural Convention, held in Namur in April 2015.
This Convention is a legal instrument of the Council of Europe adopted in 1954, which entered into force in 1955, ratified by Romania by Law No. 77 of December 17, 1991.
The European Cultural Convention has set itself the objective of developing mutual understanding between the peoples of Europe and mutual appreciation of their cultural diversities, protecting European culture, promoting national contributions to Europe's common cultural heritage and, while respecting the same fundamental values, encouraging the study of the languages, history and civilization of the countries party to the Convention.
The Strategy for European Cultural Heritage in the 21st ^Century3, launched in Limassol (Cyprus), 6-7 April 2017, redefines the place and role of cultural heritage in Europe and fosters good governance and participation in the identification and management of heritage, as well as the dissemination of innovative approaches to improving the setting and quality of life of European citizens.
The document is part of the evolution of the concept of heritage, which has its origins in the very history of Europe, in particular in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is worth mentioning some of the milestones in the complex history of this concept and of heritage policies, which reveal common but also markedly different trends in the countries of Europe, due to the specific features of each country and its particular relationship with heritage and history.

European landmarks in the development of the concept of heritage

Inheriting the values of Antiquity, which were reconsidered and rediscovered in the Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment, in particular through the Roman and papal traditions, heritage protection integrates the public, religious and private spheres, with the aim of preserving and passing on objects, rituals and relics to future generations. From the 17th century onwards, scholars - 'antiquarians' - built up collections of objects of various kinds all over Europe, created the first museums and founded learned societies. Some countries, such as Sweden, for example, have official instructions from the period. The French Revolution, with its contradictory, destructive and conservative measures and the upheavals it caused, including a series of nationalizations of property, marks a turning point.
Intellectuals speculate on the subject. Thus, in 1799, Goethe advocated the concept of collective ownership and protection of heritage: "All works of art belong to the universe of cultivated humanity, and their possession is bound up with the duty of caring for their preservation"^4. In his pamphlet "War on the Demolitionists", Victor Hugo declared in 1925: "There are two things in an edifice: use and beauty. The use belongs to its owner, the beauty belongs to the whole world: therefore he has no right to destroy it"^5.
Initiated in the Age of Enlightenment, museums of art, science and technology opened to the public in several countries.
In the 19th century, in a Europe fragmented into opposing nations, nationalist movements, then the revolutions of 1848, sought to justify and consolidate the existence of states, some of which were flourishing, others threatened. They appealed to the past to give them an identity of their own. Gradually, there was a shift from the monument (from the Latin monumentum, which is derived from monere, referring to the memory of a person or an event) to the monument of historical and artistic value. All over Europe, the foundations of a national heritage policy are emerging. Inventories are prescribed, followed by laws progressively framing protection, conservation and enhancement.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Austrian Aloïs Riegl proposed a typology of monuments according to a series of values which he attributed to them. He emphasized the concepts of protection, conservation and restoration, principles which were to be adopted by all the national legislations in Europe and inherited by all the Member States of the European Union.
In 1931, the First International Congress of Architects and Technicians of Historic Monuments, meeting in Athens, drew up a founding charter: the Athens Charter for the Restoration of Historic Monuments. The Athens Charter affirms principles already set out by Reigl. It recommends that the occupation of monuments should respect their historic and artistic character and the enhancement of the monument and its surroundings. It also emphasizes the importance of collaboration between conservation specialists, architects and scientists and calls for international cooperation, a first in the field of "artistic and archaeological heritage". The particular post-war context and the major projects led by UNESCO to protect the world's emblematic sites would spur these specialists and their heirs to set up, at the Second International Congress of Architects and Technicians of Historic Monuments held in Venice in 1964, at UNESCO's proposal, the International Council on Monuments and Sites ICOMOS and to adopt 13 resolutions, the first of which was the International Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites, better known as the Venice Charter.
In the 1970s, the term "cultural heritage" replaced the term "historic monument", henceforth reserved for a body of legally protected property. This operation, which heralded a significant broadening of the concept, took place in a socio-economic, political and cultural context coinciding with the 1973 oil shock and profound changes in lifestyles. Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (UNESCO, 1972), then European Heritage Year

Architectural Heritage with the theme "A future for our past" (Council of Europe, 1975), mark this development. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 brought about a change of frontiers and created new perspectives on history and, consequently, a reconsideration of heritage.
Following 40 years of reflection and exchanges between experts and political representatives, the Council of Europe, after their adoption, drew up and implemented several founding conventions which were transposed into the national legislation of European countries, creating the basis for a greater Europe of heritage:
European Cultural Convention (Paris, 1954)
Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe (Granada, 1985)
European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage (Valletta, 1992, revised)
European Landscape Convention (Florence, 2000)
Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (Faro, 2005)
All these Conventions refer to and are complemented by a range of declarations, recommendations and ^resolutions6.
The Strategy for Cultural Heritage in 21st Century Europe inherits the whole tradition of reflection, sharing and cooperation consolidated over the last 40 years. The questions that mobilize us at the beginning of the 21st century are no longer "why" or "how" to conserve, restore and enhance heritage, but "for whom should we do it?".

European Year of Heritage in Romania

In Romania, the official launch of the European Year of Cultural Heritage took place on 15 February 2017, organized by the Representation of the European Commission in Romania in collaboration with the National Heritage Institute, at the Bragadiru Palace in Bucharest. It brought together representatives of the Diplomatic Corps, representatives of Cultural Institutes, Museums and Research Institutes in the field of culture, as well as representatives of the projects to be carried out under the aegis of the Year. Speakers were Mrs. Angela Cristea, Head of the European Commission Representation in Bucharest, Mr. Mircea Diaconu, Member of the European Parliament, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) and Rapporteur for the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018, Mr. Alexandru Oprean, State Secretary at the Ministry of Culture and National Identity.
The presentation by the representatives of the National Heritage Institute, Mr. Ștefan Bâlici and Ms. Irina Iamandescu, addressed the technical components of the European Year of Cultural Heritage in Romania project. The objectives and initiatives being promoted at European level were presented, as well as the projects to be carried out under the aegis of the Year - the transnational projects selected by the European ^Commission7 and the national projects selected by the national coordinator, the ^INP8.
The Thematic Year will bring thousands of events and projects to bring Europe's cultural heritage to the general public. 2018 is the year in which the role of heritage will be highlighted in promoting cultural identity and building a more inclusive Europe.
In Romania in 2018, heritage projects will be developed through two components: the European one, represented by the European Year of Cultural Heritage, and the national one, represented by the Centenary of the Great Union of 1918.
The National Heritage Institute has the central role in organizing and coordinating all these events, supporting the involvement of as many actors as possible who can carry out actions with considerable impact, with results that reach a wide and diversified audience.
Thus, during 2018, other initiatives may be included in the program according to the European procedure, if they are in line with the objectives and priorities of the Year, according to Decision EU 2017/864, Article 2 and 3. Projects will be evaluated on a ^monthly basis9.

Transnational projects selected by the European Commission

Most of the transnational projects selected by the European Commission are part of the Danube transnational program 2014-2020, which brings together Romania, Hungary, Slovenia, Austria, Croatia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Germany, Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Austria, Bulgaria, Serbia, Czech Republic, Germany:
- ART NOUVEAU - Sustainable protection and promotion of Art Nouveau heritage in the Danube area;
- CultPlatForm_21 - Danube Culture Platform - Creative Spaces for the 21st Century10;
- Danube GeoTour11 - Valorization of geo-heritage for the development of sustainable and innovative tourism in the Danube Geo-parks;
- DANUrB12 - DANube Urban Brand;
- INSiGHTS13 - INtegrated Slow, Green and Healthy Tourism Strategies;
- LENA14 - Local Economy and Nature Conservation in the Danube Region/LENA - Local Economy and Nature Conservation in the Danube Region;
- NETWORLD15 - Networking in Preserving the First World War Multicultural Heritage in the Danube countries/Reseau de préserver la patrimoine multicultural de la First World War in the Danube countries;
- Modernization and protection of the Water Castle of Drobeta Turnu Severin16 (inaugurated in 1914).

National projects selected by the National Heritage Institute

- HerA - Local Heritage for Active Tourism in Banat;
- Romania of Creative Traditions;
- Stories and Aspirations of the Delta;
- The microbial origin of some chromatic changes in mural paintings;

Summer School at the Castle 2018 (third edition, ARCHÉ Association, Teleki Castle in Gornești);
- Pantheon 3D. Interdisciplinary valorization of Roman artworks depicting deities and mythological characters from the Pantheon 3D collection of the National Museum of the Union Alba Iulia;
- Restoration and reconversion of industrial heritage. Case studies from Romania and Wallonia (Belgium);
- Meeting at the Palace (exhibition presenting the activities carried out over three years at the Chrissoveloni mansion in Ghidigeni, Galați County - an incursion into the history of the place through photography, research and architectural projects);
- Lecture series. Patrimoniul cultural european - repere transilvănene (a series of six lectures on Transylvanian heritage, particularly German/Saxon);
- Mine of ideas Anina: A Monument/ An Event, 4th edition (highlighting practical ways to re-use industrial spaces in Anina, through cultural events such as photographic exhibitions, film screenings, guided tours and creative workshops);
- Primuveara of the Aromanians. Spring of the Aromanians (preservation and promotion of the intangible heritage represented by the Armenian/Aromanian language);
- Education for heritage (educational workshops for children in heritage sites in three localities: Neamțu mansion in the village of Olari, jud. Olt; Perticari-Davila mansion, in the village of Izvoru, jud. Argeș; and villa Golescu, in Câmpulung, jud. Argeș);
- Series of International Scientific Conferences on Theory and Practice of Built Heritage Rehabilitation - Tușnad (19th edition, discusses the relationship between cultural heritage and built heritage);
- Heritage Day for Children (interactive extracurricular activity for primary school students from Cluj County, Hungarian and Romanian sections);
- Modern architectural heritage in the Great Union Romania (The project presents to the general public and specialists, through a series of cultural events, heritage works of interwar Romanian architects, approached as a creative whole, which resonates with European architecture, while at the same time constituting a unifying element of architecture in the Great Union Romania);
- About earth. People and their houses in Banat;
- International Poetry Day - At the Water Plant No. 1 Timișoara;
- World Water Day - Industrial Water Plant Timișoara;
- Traditional Artistic Crafts Olympiad, 22nd edition;
- The European dimension of Dobrogea's heritage;
- Open Day at Bánffy Castle in Bonțida;
- The "Călușul" - world heritage. Characteristics of the Horse in Dolj;
- Animă ASTRA;
- Country Fair;
- Working Holiday (practical workshops for maintenance and repair works at two heritage sites: Conacul Neamțu, in Olari village, jud. Olt and Golescu Park in Câmpulung Muscel, jud. Argeș);
- SafetyArt2018. First International Conference on Heritage and Museum Safety;
- Landscape Observer (Promotion of simple peasant houses in rural areas - Enescu House in Mihăileni, Botoșani and Elisabeta Rizea House in Nucșoara, Argeș);
- Weekend at Bánffy Castle in Bonțida;
- Without Limits - Together for Tradition. Program of accessibility of the heritage of the ASTRA Museum. 10th edition;
- Conservation of Wooden Architecture in Northern Oltenia and Southern Transylvania;
- Balkanik: Bucharest World Music Festival, 8th edition;
- ASTREI Conferences: Restoration Workshop, 5th edition;
- Universal Day of the Jew, 5th edition;
- Heritage in Open Site. Biserici înlemnite din Banat (organization of a carpentry workshop for the woodworking necessary for the restoration of the wooden church, historical monument of Crivina de Sus);
- ASTRA Multicultural, 3rd edition;
- School of Archaeology (Ibida Association, Ibida site);
- Frumos. Ceramic. Useful. Ceramica de Bistrița. Fair. Practical pottery and cooking demonstrations, 6th edition;
- Iron at the manor! (Petre P. Carp Manor House in Țibănești, Iași - workshops in blacksmithing, metalwork, wood carving, restoration, thermal insulation with straw bales, traditional plastering with clay and dung, carpentry, pottery or handmade paper);
- Interdisciplinarity of restoration. Valorization of traditional crafts - international summer camp at Bánffy Castle in Bonțida; specialization in three workshops: masonry and mural techniques (fresco, sgrafito, marmorino, etc.), traditional carpentry and restoration of old furniture, and stonework;
- International Stone Sculpture Festival "Brâncușian Roads", 6th edition, Craiova, August 2018;
- Days of Armenian Culture 2018; Days of Armenian Culture 2018, Constanta;
- Creative residencies for artists and craftsmen (at Banffy Castle in Bonțida);
- URBAN CULTURAL DAYS at the Waterworks - Suceava, 7th edition;
- Rowmania FEST, 8th edition. International Row Rowing Boat Festival;
- Atelier Bánffy Bánffy - research workshop in archaeology and art history;
- Bánffy Day, 3rd edition;
- European Mountain Areas Convention, 11th edition;
- CoHeSION 2018 - Conferece on Heritage and Sustainable Innovation/Conferece on Heritage and Sustainable Innovation.

NOTES

1. Romania and Cultural Heritage. Summary data, at
http://culturainmiscare.ro/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/ebs_466_fact_ro_ro.pdf;
Europe and Cultural Heritage, at
http://culturainmiscare.ro/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/ebs_466_en_final.pdf.
2. https://www.coe.int/fr/web/culture-and-heritage/strategy-21.
3. https://www.coe.int/fr/web/culture-and-heritage/-/new-strategy-21-website-how-to-make-heritage-management-inclusive.
4. Goethe J. W. (von) (1799), Propyläen. Eine periodische Schrift, Tübingen, cited in Swenson A. (2013), The rise of heritage. Preserving the past in France, Germany and England, 1789-1914, Cambridge University Press, p. 278.
5. Hugo V, Sur la destruction des monuments en France (1825), in Guerre aux Démolisseurs, Revue des deux mondes, vol. 5 (1832), pp. 607-622.
6. www.herein-system.eu/fr/conseil-de-l-europe.
7. https://patrimoniu.gov.ro/images/lansare/180214_EYCH_RO_COMM.pdf.
8. https://patrimoniu.gov.ro/images/lansare/180214_EYCH_RO_INP.pdf.
9. https://patrimoniu.gov.ro/noutati/item/390-anul-european-al-patrimoniului-cultural-2018.
10. Danube transnational program 2014-2020, www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/cultplatform-21/gallery, Austria, Romania, Bulgaria, Germany, Germany, Hungary, Serbia.
11. Danube transnational program 2014-2020, www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/danube-geotour/gallery, Slovenia, Hungary, Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, Romania.
12. Danube transnational program 2014-2020, www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/danurb/gallery, Hungary, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Serbia.
13. Danube transnational program 2014-2020, www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/insights/gallery, Slovakia, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany, Romania, Serbia, Austria, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia.
14. Danube transnational program 2014-2020, www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/lena/gallery, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Germany, Romania, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia.
15. Danube transnational program 2014-2020, www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/networld/gallery, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Austria, Romania, Croatia, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
16. IPA Cross-border Cooperation Program Romania, Republic of Serbia 2007-2013 Drobeta Turnu Severin City Hall, Romania, www.ro.wikipedia.org www.youtube.com/watch.

Sumarul Revistei ARHITECTURA, NR.6/2017-1/2018
POST-RESTORATION