“Let the dialogue begin between the world of the EU Green Deal and the world of heritage” said Francisco de Paula Coelho, Dean of the EIB Institute, during the European cultural heritage summit 2021, organised in the World Heritage City of Venice (21 to 24 September)  by Europa Nostra, the voice of cultural heritage in Europe.

Cultural heritage can “be the link to a common and greener future for European citizens, particularly through the citizen-driven initiatives launched by the EU institutions, the New European Bauhaus and the Conference on the Future of Europe”, he added. “Economy without culture is what has given us climate change,” said Andrew Potts (ICOMOS) author of the “Cultural heritage Green Paper” supported by the Institute. Discussions focused on the threats of climate change and mass tourism and terminated by the launch of a “Venice appeal for a renewed urban culture”.

Held in a hybrid format (online and in-person) the Summit took place under the patronage of the European Parliament, the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU and the Italian Ministry of Culture. Both the Italian and Slovenian ministers of culture attended the event which was supported by the Creative Europe and Horizon 2020 EU programmes. It gathered representatives of the wider heritage community from across Europe and beyond; civil society organisations; local, regional, national and European authorities; international organisations…

The Dean of the EIB Institute spoke at four events; “Endangered Venice and its Lagoon: How to build back better” on 22 September; “Mobilising the transformative power of European foundations for the benefit of cultural heritage” and a high level event on the dissemination of the Davos Baukultur Quality Principles (2018) on 23 September,  and during the main conference “From the New European Bauhaus to the New European Renaissance” on 24 September.

The Institute has been partnering with Europa Nostra since 2013 to safeguard cultural heritage in danger under the 7 Most Endangered Programme. It is a partner of the New European Bauhaus initiative.