EVoCH Expert Seminar. Brussels, April 11th, 2012.

Content:

The 29th June 2009 was celebrated the first Forum on Economics of Cultural Heritage in Brussels, an international meeting organized by the Junta de Castilla y León to promote European cooperation in Cultural Heritage with the aim of generating wealth, economic development and social cohesion through this cultural industry.

Rather than considering it as an economic burden for countries, cultural heritage is instead a resource and driving force for development that creates stable, quality and non-delocalisable employment.

One of the most relevant results of the meeting was the establishment of proposals and work plans for all those involved in cultural heritage at the international level and that materialized with the signing of the Charter of Brussels on the role of Cultural Heritage in the economy, and the creation of a European network for recognition and dissemination by all participants of the Forum.

The concern expressed by all members regarding the need for progress both in scientific and institutional terms lead to the creation of the EVoCH Project, which was approved by the European Commission within the framework of the Culture 2007-2013 programme.

This project is led by the Junta de Castilla y León, and has formed a partnership with the German Culture and Work association, ASSORESTAURO, the Association of Italian Restoration Companies, the Norwegian General Directorate of Heritage and the Technological centre Tecnalia Research and Innovation.

The general aim of this project is to create a European organism for the study, analysis and promotion of the economic value of cultural heritage, as well as establishing a common space in which to share knowledge, know-how and top quality experiences, with the added value of sharing knowledge, thus stimulating cooperation at European level.

Since the project first got off the ground back in 2010, a total of five forums have been held: the first in Castilla y León, Spain, the second in Koblenz, Germany, the third in Rome, Italy, the fourth in Helsinki, Finland, the five in Vienna, Austria, and to finish the project the last forum is celebrated where this idea was conceived in 2009, in Brussels.

Throughout all these forums the global objective has been to share knowledge and best practices and exchange experience in Europe about what the cultural heritage reports as driving force for development and social cohesion. what progress there in each country and examines how each return of cultural heritage, whether or not data and what data exist.

Numerous specialists in this field have joined us to contribute their vision and experience.

Themes for Discussion

1. Data Collection
   Is there an adequate data collection methodology? Does existing data allow for relevant comparison and evaluation process?
2. New ways of financing and managing Cultural Heritage
   The effects of the current financial crisis are speeding up the process of reducing public funding directly aimed at supporting cultural heritage. Most European countries are reaching the limits of their budgets, and should therefore show an increasing willingness to experiment with systems of private support to culture. Public-private cooperation should increase in the management of cultural heritage assets, and different approached such as like tax reductions, bureaucracy reductions, technical assessment, training, fostering foundations or private sponsorship, should be explored.
3. Heritage-Urban networking in Europe
   How to strengthen the link among different European networks dealing with issues such as cultural heritage management and urban regeneration, territorial development, territorial competitiveness, etc..

Registration is already possible:

Registration deadline: April 3th, 2012