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Description
Financed from EEA FM
Programme outcome the project contributes to: “Historic town centres revitalised through heritage-based local development”
The project will support new and sustainable uses of cultural heritage buildings in small towns across Estonia, through capacity-building for municipalities and cultural heritage professionals as well as cooperation with vocational schools, restoration centres, local governments and local communities.
Project activities shall include:
Raising awareness:
- Guidebooks focusing on 9 targeted Estonian heritage conservation areas
- Thematic publication ‘Reuse of buildings and revitalisation of urban space’
- Exhibitions in public space in 9 target towns
- Information boards and plaques
- Walking tours in target conservation areas
- Photo competition and an exhibition
Capacity building:
- Public knowledge exchange seminar in Tallinn
- Restoration workshops in restoration projects funded through the Open Call
- Training programme for local municipalities and communities in clusters
- Training seminar for targeted Estonian and Norwegian municipalities in Norway
- Heritage-led development focused summer school
- Final conference/closing event
Summary of project results
The project aimed to support new and sustainable uses of cultural heritage buildings in small towns across Estonia, through capacity-building for municipalities and cultural heritage professionals as well as cooperation with local communities and sustainable restoration practicioners.
The project activities and outputs brought out the value and unique characteristis of 9 Estonian small towns - Paide, Rakvere, Võru, Valga, Lihula, Pärnu, Kuressaare, Haapsalu and Viljandi.
For all towns, special walking maps of heritage protection areas were created as well as comprehensive brochures "Vibrant old towns" were compiled for all 9 towns (priont run 9 x 500 ex). Local communities were attracted with exhibitions (on-sporty as well as virtual) in the towns, discussion seminars, videos pondering on the future possibilities in these communities. 8 restoration workshops were carried out in Kuressaare, Võru, Valga, Lihula and Haapsalu. A special edition of architectural magaine "MAJA" was published on heritage protection and renovation (print run 1200 ex). Information boards were put on notable buildings in Pärnu and Lihula. 11 tours were carried out for local communities in the towns engaged into the project. Altogether 256 specialists were informed and trained on heritage protection and sustainable renovation issues.
Project raised the importance of historic town centres as a part of local identity in 9 Estonian small towns - Paide, Rakvere, Võru, Valga, Lihula, Pärnu, Kuressaare, Haapsalu and Viljandi. Working with local communities has become an organic part of the work in Heritage Board.
It generates ideas and ways to use the historic town centre heritage protection areas as opportunities for cultural and economic growth of the towns. Important study materials for the future are comprehensive brochures "Vibrant old towns" ("Elavad vanalinnad" in Estonian) of all 9 small towns depicting the heritage areas as contemporary and vibrant environments.
Summary of bilateral results
Bi-lateral cooperation with Riksantikvaren was great. Partner attended project events and shared practices regarding environmental topics in heritage preservation as well as management of heritage. Study vist to Norway enabled to discuss and learn from each other, the partner shared valuable experience on sustainable development activities in Norwegian towns, the representatives of towns gave practical insight to the issue. The contacts with Riksantikvaren were built stronger.