Brussels, 07/09/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 4 September, the European Commission and Council of Europe launched the Spotlight on Europe's Industrial Heritage for European Heritage Days (EHD) 2015.
This year, the organisers sought to give a boost to promoting Europe's industrial heritage. As in previous years, participating countries (more than 30 European countries) will be opening the doors of a wide variety of industrial sites and buildings to the public during the weekend of their choice throughout September.
“Europe's vast industrial heritage has untapped potential to contribute to our economic development... This event, the largest in Europe in the cultural field, is a great way of helping to ensure that our common heritage is understood, treasured and protected for future generations, while at the same time bringing economic benefits to local communities through tourism,” said Tibor Navracsics, European commissioner for culture.
Snezana Samardzic-Markovic, director-general of Democracy, Council of Europe, explained: “The focus this year on industrial heritage provides a timely opportunity to consider the economic links of Europe's history as experienced by communities… It is the perfect time to find out more about this fascinating, but often neglected, aspect of our past”.
Launched in 1985, the European Heritage Days have been organised since 1999 as a joint initiative of the European Commission and the Council of Europe. The European Heritage Days receive €200,000 in European Commission support from Creative Europe and €200,000 from the Council of Europe; most events are funded with national or regional backing.
Throughout September, people across Europe will be able to visit thousands of sites for free, most of them only open to the public during European Heritage Days. More than 20 million people are expected to participate in over 50,000 heritage events. The public will be able to explore, for example the historic shipyard of Belfast's Titanic quarter or participate in an archaeological dig in Dublin's Swords Castle; climb the lighthouses of Normandy or descend an iron ore mine in Portugal's Torre de Moncorvo.
Visiting heritage sites is the number one cultural activity enjoyed by Europeans outside their home according to the most recent Eurobarometer on Cultural Access and Participation, with 52% of people polled having visited a heritage site in the previous year, followed by 37% visiting a museum. The EHD proves a hit every year and 2015 is not expected to buck this trend at all. (Isabelle Lamberty)