The projects of the two winners have been funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the Culture programmes in Slovakia and Romania under the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021.
Photo: Pro Monumenta
Pro Monumenta: sustainable heritage upkeep
Pro Monumenta is a decade-long initiative for the sustainable upkeep of built heritage in Slovakia. Through inspections, craft training, and public engagement, it demonstrates how working with owners and local communities, early intervention and skilled maintenance can reduce costs of safeguarding heritage and improve conservation results.
The Europa Nostra Awards’ jury highlighted “the project’s environmentally sustainable and cost-effective approach to monument maintenance,” noting “its scalability across diverse heritage contexts and its contribution to making a convincing business case for prioritising maintenance.”
Read about the award to Pro Monumenta
Photo: ASTRA Museum, Silviu loan Popa
ASTRA Museum: revitalisation of traditional crafts
The ASTRA Museum is one of Europe’s largest open air museums in a medieval guildhall in Sibiu, Romania, revitalised as a vibrant training, certification and cultural hub created a national example for recognising and promoting traditional crafts, professionalising artisans, and linking heritage, education, and community resilience.
“The official certification scheme, developed as part of this project, marks a significant advance in formalising standards of traditional craftsmanship and the educational activities are empowering local building owners to repair their own heritage,” the Europa Nostra Awards’ jury stated. “By responding to national heritage policy recommendations and expanding the ASTRA museum’s role into practical training and community engagement, the ASTRA Center demonstrates its wider economic and sector impact,” the jury commented.
Read more about the Astra Museum.
Read about the award to the ASTRA Museum.
The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards
The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards were launched by the European Commission in 2002 and have been run in partnership with Europa Nostra ever since. The Awards are supported by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union. Countries associated with the Creative Europe programme receive the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards.
After winning Europe’s top heritage award, our projects are now shortlisted for the Public Choice Award — where the public gets to decide what inspires them most. Vote by 12 September and help bring well-deserved recognition to these inspiring achievements. Cast your vote here.