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The winners of the 2022 European Heritage Awards \/ Europa Nostra Awards, Europe\u2019s top honour in the field, were celebrated 26 September with a ceremony at the State Opera of Prague.<\/h3>\nThe winners of the 2022 European Heritage Awards \/ Europa Nostra Awards, Europe\u2019s top honour in the field, were celebrated 26 September with a ceremony at the State Opera of Prague.<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Europa Nostra writes:<\/p>\n
….The European Heritage Awards Ceremony was held in the presence of Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Hermann Parzinger, Executive President of Europa Nostra, and Ond?ej Chr\u00e1st, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic, on behalf of Minister Martin Baxa.<\/p>\n
The ceremony assembled some 600 heritage professionals, volunteers, lovers and supporters from across Europe, including a large group of young people. The ceremony was the highlight of the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2022 that is taking place in Prague from 25-27 September, as part of the official programme of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union.<\/p>\n
During the ceremony, the high representatives from the European Commission and Europa Nostra proudly announced the\u00a0five Grand Prix laureates\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0Public Choice Award winner. These top winners were selected from among this year\u2019s\u00a030 outstanding heritage achievements from 18 European countries<\/a>….<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The\u00a02022 Grand Prix laureates\u00a0are:<\/p>\n SILKNOW, FRANCE \/ GERMANY \/ ITALY \/ POLAND \/ SLOVENIA \/ SPAIN<\/a> Symphony, SPAIN<\/a> Rivers of Sofia, BULGARIA<\/a> Va\u2019 Sentiero, ITALY<\/a> Costa Carras \u2020, Athens, GREECE<\/a>\u00a0(posthumously)<\/em> The Grand Prix laureates were chosen by the\u00a0Board of Europa Nostra<\/a>\u00a0on recommendation by an independent\u00a0jury of experts<\/a>\u00a0and will receive a monetary award of \u20ac10,000 each.<\/p>\n The\u00a02022 Public Choice Award<\/strong>\u00a0went to the initiative\u00a0World Vyshyvanka Day, UKRAINE<\/a>, an annual holiday celebrated internationally that helps preserve the iconic Ukrainian embroidered shirt (vyshyvanka<\/em>) as an important element of the heritage of the Ukrainian people. This impressive initiative received the largest number of votes, cast via an online poll with the participation of almost\u00a011,000 citizens<\/strong>\u00a0from all over Europe. This year, for the first time ever, the winner of the Public Choice Award winner will receive a monetary award of \u20ac10,000.<\/p>\n Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, stated: \u201cThe EU prize for cultural heritage honours individuals and communities for their outstanding commitment to preserve our rich European heritage. It is thanks to their restless work that future generations will still be able to enjoy it and be inspired by it. All of the award winners stand for excellence, and I am delighted to share my warmest congratulations with them.\u201d<\/p>\n In a congratulatory message,\u00a0Cecilia Bartoli, the recently appointed President of Europa Nostra, emphasised: \u201cEach of this year\u2019s Award winners bring us hope and inspiration as we join our voices and forces to build a better future for all. Their achievements are creative, innovative and truly exemplary. As such, these winners are compelling ambassadors of how best to restore, revitalise and enhance Europe\u2019s shared cultural heritage\u201d.<\/p>\n Prof. Dr.\u00a0Hermann Parzinger, Executive President of Europa Nostra, said: \u201cAt a particularly trying time for Europe and the world, while warmly congratulating all our Award winners, we wish to convey a special message of support and solidarity to the people of Ukraine and to the many heritage professionals and volunteers who continue to work there in spite of the deplorable invasion of their country by Russia. We are particularly proud that two of this year\u2019s winners come from Ukraine: the outstanding restoration of St. Andrew\u2019s Church in Kyiv and the remarkable initiative World Vyshyvanka Day, which also won the much sought-after Public Choice Award\u201d.<\/p>\n In a congratulatory message,\u00a0Martin Baxa, Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic, stated: \u201cI am extremely happy to learn that the World Vyshyvanka Day initiative has won the Public Choice Award. This iconic Ukrainian embroidered shirt is an element of the heritage of the Ukrainian people. I am very glad that the World Vyshyvanka Day is being presented also here in the Czech Republic. Enhancing cultural heritage is our common European task, and one which we are continuously working on. Support to the protection and preservation of cultural heritage is also an integral part of the current Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union, particularly at a time when the European continent is experiencing military aggression in Ukraine. Solidarity with Ukraine is reflected in this year\u2019s programme of the European Cultural Heritage Summit, and I believe that together, we will contribute to helping Ukrainian cultural heritage.\u201d<\/p>\n The European Heritage Awards Ceremony was enhanced by musical performances performed by the Prague Conservatory Chamber Orchestra conducted by\u00a0Chuhei Iwasaki. The Secretary General of Europa Nostra,\u00a0Sne\u0161ka Quaedvlieg-Mihailovi?, acted as master of ceremonies.<\/p>\n The ceremony was one of the main events of the\u00a0European Cultural Heritage Summit 2022<\/a>\u00a0that is being held from\u00a025 to 27 September in Prague, marking the 30th anniversary of the inscription of the historic centre of the city on the World Heritage List. The Summit is organised by\u00a0Europa Nostra<\/a>\u00a0and Europa Nostra\u2019s Representation in the Czech Republic in cooperation with, and with the support of, the European Commission and the\u00a0Czech Ministry of Culture<\/a>, as part of the official programme of the\u00a0Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union<\/a>. It is also a contribution to the\u00a0European Year of Youth 2022<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0New European Bauhaus<\/a>\u00a0initiative. The Summit is partially funded by the\u00a0Creative Europe<\/a>\u00a0Programme of the European Union.<\/p>\n The Call for Entries for the European Heritage Awards \/ Europa Nostra Awards 2023 will be launched next week. Applications can be submitted online via\u00a0www.europeanheritageawards.eu<\/a>\u00a0by 18 November 2022.<\/p>\n
\nGrand Prix laureate for\u00a0Innovation<\/strong>
\nThis Horizon 2020 research project produced a comprehensive, intelligent computational system that goes beyond current technologies to improve our understanding and knowledge of Europe\u2019s silk heritage.<\/p>\n
\nGrand Prix laureate for\u00a0Digital Transformation<\/strong>
\nWith an immersive audiovisual experience, Symphony raises greater awareness and appreciation for the heritage of classical music among new generations using state-of-the-art technologies.<\/p>\n
\nGrand Prix laureate for\u00a0Social Cohesion and Well-being<\/strong>
\nBy means of pop-up architectural interventions and cultural and educational events, this initiative made the artificial river beds of Sofia publicly accessible spaces for the first time in 80 years. By increasing the visibility of the river in Sofia, this initiative has helped create a socially cohesive environment in the city.<\/p>\n
\nGrand Prix laureate for\u00a0Sustainability and Climate Action<\/strong>
\nThis three-year grassroots expedition was undertaken by a group of young enthusiasts who walked and documented the entire 8000km length of the Sentiero Italia, the longest hiking route in the world. 3000 participants from 10 countries and many local communities took part. This initiative is a powerful and inspiring example of how to encourage slow, sustainable engagement with natural heritage and landscapes.<\/p>\n
\nGrand Prix laureate for\u00a0International Relations<\/strong>
\nFor over 50 years, Costa Carras worked tirelessly in favour of Greece\u2019s and Europe\u2019s cultural and natural heritage to create a more sustainable, inclusive and beautiful world for present and future generations. He was a visionary conservationist, an eminent historian and a true European leader who connected and inspired people across the world through heritage.<\/p>\n