European Year of Cultural Heritage

 The coming year will be  the European Year of Cultural Heritage

Article 1

Subject matter

1.   The year 2018 shall be designated as the ‘European Year of Cultural Heritage’ (‘European Year’).

2.   The purpose of the European Year shall be to encourage the sharing and appreciation of Europe's cultural heritage as a shared resource, to raise awareness of common history and values, and to reinforce a sense of belonging to a common European space.

Article 2

Objectives

1.   The general objectives of the European Year shall be to encourage and support the efforts of the Union, the Member States and regional and local authorities, in cooperation with the cultural heritage sector and broader civil society, to protect, safeguard, reuse, enhance, valorise and promote Europe's cultural heritage. 

with regard some of the ideas expressed in the preamble, see also: 'Culture as Driver for EU Unity'. The European Commission has launched a communication campaign for the Year, including a slogan ‘Our Heritage. Where the past meets the future’, a logo, which is available in all EU languages, and the official hashtag #EuropeForCulture. It must be commented though that the whole campaign seems focused more on the present uses of the cultural heritage for our own ex tempore needs, and seems to play merely lip service to the idea that future generations should be receiving it in a form usable for theirs.

Cultural heritage creates growth and jobs in cities and regions and is central to Europe's exchanges with the rest of the world. 7.8 million jobs in the EU are indirectly linked to heritage (e.g. in tourism, interpretation and security). Over 300,000 people are employed in the EU cultural heritage sector, and with 453 inscribed sites, Europe as a region accounts for almost half of UNESCO's World Heritage List.