The European Cultural Heritage Summit 2024, a significant event in Romania

This year, Romania marks a landmark moment in the protection of cultural heritage, hosting for the first time the European Summit of Cultural Heritage. The Minister of Culture, Raluca Turcan, emphasized that 2024 brings "representative successes" in the promotion of national heritage. The event, which will take place between October 6 and 8 in Bucharest, is an opportunity to highlight Romania's progress in this field and its role within the European cultural heritage. The summit will include the awarding ceremony of the European Heritage Awards, with two projects from Romania awarded: the Saxon Church in Alma Vii and the Church of Saint Michael in Cluj-Napoca. At this event, renowned experts and cultural leaders from across Europe will participate, and the discussions will focus on future policies on the preservation of cultural heritage.

• Recent achievements

Raluca Turcan recalled that Romania has recorded notable successes, such as the inclusion of the monumental Ensemble made by Constantin Brâncuşi at Târgu Jiu and the "Frontiers of the Roman Empire - Dacia" in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Also, in recent months, the Domnesti foundations of Wallachia and Moldova, along with former communist prisons, were included on the indicative list for world heritage: "It is an honor for Romania to host next month, for the first time, the European Heritage Summit Cultural. 2024 is a representative year for the national cultural heritage, and this summit also confirms Romania's interest and progress in protecting and promoting its own heritage, part of the European cultural heritage. We are here in a space with a special symbolism for identity which now enjoys special recognition at the European level. I remind you that, this spring, the Romanian Athenaeum received the European Heritage Mark for the significant role it played in the history and culture of Europe The Europa Nostra Gala at the Athenaeum is a happy occasion to emphasize this beautiful recognition". Another important project is the restoration of some emblematic buildings, such as the new headquarters of the Romanian Opera in Iasi and the rehabilitation of the National Theater in Craiova. Investments in memorial houses and digitization of immovable heritage through the E-patrimony program reflect current concerns for the protection of national values. "I come from Sibiu, where culture was and remains a pillar of community development. I am extremely happy that the project of the Ministry of Culture for the rehabilitation of the Saxon Church in Alma Vii, Sibiu county, has given this heritage building the opportunity to be among the winners of the Awards European Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards 2024, next to the Church of Saint Michael in Cluj-Napoca. Transylvania and Romania have an extraordinary multicultural heritage, which is waiting to be discovered by as many Europeans as possible," Turcan pointed out.

• International recognition

The general secretary of Europa Nostra, Sneska Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic, emphasized that the organization of this summit in Bucharest is a tribute to the diversity and richness of Romanian heritage, but also a sign of respect for Romania's continuous efforts in its preservation. The event will bring to the fore the role of heritage in urban and rural regeneration, as well as the importance of applying clear principles of quality in its restoration. The summit will culminate with the elaboration of the "Manifesto from Bucharest", an essential document for future heritage protection policies, which will be presented to European leaders. Romania continues to be an example of good practices in the field of heritage conservation, offering a successful model for other countries in the region.

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• The role of cultural heritage in urban development

Nicusor Dan, the general mayor of the Capital, highlighted the importance of built heritage in creating a city's identity and its economic value. Bucharest, which hosts many heritage buildings, must become a fair market for investors, where the restoration and preservation of historical monuments are treated with respect and professionalism. The European Cultural Heritage Summit 2024 represents not only a recognition of Romania's efforts, but also an opportunity to lay the foundations for sustainable policies to protect cultural heritage at the European level. It reaffirms the crucial role of culture in developing communities and strengthening European identity.