Castilla y León’s Heritage as a creator of economic wealth is strengthened

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During the last three years, activities related to Heritage created almost 4,000 jobs in Castilla y León, in a sector with at least 100 companies working directly in the field, with hundreds of qualified professionals.

Heritage Territorial Systems and comprehensive restorations converted into Cultural Projects are the very base of the Regional Government R+D+I policy related to Heritage and are already a reference model for other European countries.

Heritage claims its importance as a motor for economic growth.

This is the central topic of AR&PA 2010, the seventh Biennial of Heritage Restoration and Management, opened in Valladolid by the President of the Junta de Castilla y León (regional government), Juan Vicente Herrera. The Economics of Cultural Heritage will be the main topic for the Biennial event, supported for the first time by UNESCO and the European Commission. This support is crucial to the growing prominence that Castilla y León is enjoying at international level due to Heritage management.

In Castilla y León, the economy has been driven by the Cultural Heritage sector for the past few years: at least 100 companies are directly working in the Heritage sector with hundreds of qualified professionals and several thousands of direct jobs. Furthermore, it is an out-sourced sector, linked to territories and wealth creators in rural areas. Since 2007, the almost 1,700 actions related to Heritage carried out by the regional government in the restoration, conservation and promotion fields have made it possible to preserve or create almost 4,000 jobs.

Even so, aware of the fact that Heritage influence on the economy is becoming more and more relevant, the Junta is preparing a survey via the Treasury Department and the Department of Culture and Tourism to become aware of the statistical details regarding this influence. At the same time, the Junta is leading the European Network of Heritage project which will also quantify, assess and promote the significant role of Cultural Heritage at European level.

According to a survey by the COTEC Foundation, which will be presented in AR&PA, the economic impact of cultural activities on the Spanish economy represents 10% of the GDP and 89% of cultural tourism motivations are related to heritage tourism.

The R+D+i policy related to actions in Heritage restoration and management developed by the regional government of Castilla y León, which is also a reference model for other European countries, has its base in projects such as the Territorial Systems and the comprehensive actions. A good example of Territorial Systems is the Romanesque Project, with an investment of more than 20 million euros since 2007 in order to carry out 240 actions in 70 regional temples. These systems include territories such as the North Romanesque, Soria Románica (Romannesque Soria), Zamora Románica (Romanesque Zamora), the recently Románico Atlántico (Atlantic Romanesque), approved by the RESOE Macroregion (Southeastern European regions), or the foreseen South Romanesque. Other examples are the 17 Cultural Projects developed by the Junta in emblematic places such as the Cathedral of León, the church of San Pablo in Valladolid, the Cathedral and the Cartuja de Miraflores in Burgos, or the landmarks of the Camino de Santiago.

The European Commission support to the AR&PA Biennial is mainly through this R+D+i policy related to territory. The institution believes that this event, organised by the Junta, is the best place to hold one of the six Forums that are taking place in Europe, within the Economic Value of Cultural Heritage in Europe project. The project belongs to the 2007-2013 Cultural Program, adopted and co-funded by the European Commission, instigated by the Department of Culture and Tourism with the collaboration of other entities from Italy (Assorestauro), Germany (Culture & Work) and Norway (Directorate for Cultural Heritage), as well as the Spanish Labein-Tecnalia technology centre.

The Seventh Biennial of Heritage Restoration and Management (AR&PA) has gained important international representation, with18% of the stands and 11 countries, coming from countries other than Spain. The number of exhibitors (280) has increased by 12% in relation to the previous event. There has also been an increase in the number of stands (by 4%, reaching 110) and participants.