Winners of 2012 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards announced

The official announcement of Winners of 2012 EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards

The Hague/ Brussels 20 March 2012- The winners of the 2012 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards are announced today by the European Commission and Europa Nostra (see list below). The awards will be presented on 1 June during a ceremony at the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon in the presence of Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, and Plácido Domingo, the world-renowned tenor and President of Europa Nostra. The event is taking place under the patronage of Aníbal Cavaco Silva, President of Portugal, who will also be present, and José Manuel Barroso, President of the Commission. Of the 28 winning projects from 15 different European countries, six will be named as 'grand prix' laureates as 2012's most outstanding heritage achievements.

"Europe's cultural heritage is unique in the world. The European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage highlights excellence in conservation, research, education, training and awareness raising, as well as dedicated service by individuals and groups. I would like to warmly congratulate this year's winners for reminding us of our wonderfully rich and varied heritage that we should never take for granted. It is in our trust for future generations," said Commissioner Vassiliou.

"I am very pleased that the European Commission is once again Europa Nostra's partner in celebrating outstanding work in the field of cultural heritage. I also wish to congratulate the Commission for having confirmed its commitment to supporting our shared objectives through the proposed 'Creative Europe' programme. European funding is vital: it boosts creativity and innovation, which helps us to bring our past alive and to safeguard our treasures for the future," added Europa Nostra's President, Plácido Domingo.

Contacts : For Europa Nostra Elena Bianchi +31 70 302 40 58 Giuseppe Simone +31 70 302 40 59 , Twitter: @europanostra

For the European Commission: Dennis Abbott +32 2 295 92 58, Twitter: @DennisAbbott Dina Avraam +32 2 295 96 67

NOTE TO THE EDITORS

The 28 winners were selected from among 226 submitted projects from 31 countries. The awards are split into four categories - conservation, research, dedicated service, and education, training and awareness-raising. Each category has its own specialist jury, composed of independent experts from across Europe. All the winners receive a plaque or trophy. The six 'grand prix' winners also receive €10,000 each. The 2012 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards ceremony in Lisbon on 1 June is part of Europa Nostra's annual European Heritage Congress. The deadline to apply for the next awards is 1 October 2012. The awards ceremony is expected to take place in Athens on 13 June 2013.

Chairmen of the Juries:

Category 1: Mr. José-Maria Ballester (ES)

Category 2: Prof. Gianni Perbellini (IT)

Category 3: Alexander Fürst zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn (DE)

Category 4: Prof. Emil Hädler (DE)

To find out more:

http://www.europanostra.org/laureates-2012

http://ec.europa.eu/culture

Social Media:

http://flickr.com/photos/europanostra

http://www.youtube.com/europanostrachannel

http://twitter.com/europanostra

http://twitter.com/VassiliouEU

Europa Nostra is a pan-European NGO which acts as the voice of cultural heritage. It brings together and represents 250 non-governmental and non-profit organisations from more than 50 European countries, with a combined membership of at least 5 million citizens. It also counts on the support of over 150 associate public authorities and corporations and more than 1500 individual members. Its vast network of professionals and volunteers is committed to safeguarding Europe's cultural heritage for present and future generations.

Cultural heritage brings a significant - and often underrated - contribution to job creation and growth. The sector represents an important part of the cultural and creative industries, which provide jobs for 8.5 million people in the EU and contribute up to 4.5% to Europe's GDP. Spending on conservation of cultural heritage by public and private bodies is worth an estimated €5 billion a year. Figures published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) show that 40% of worldwide tourism has a cultural dimension. Cultural heritage is also a key resource for sustainable development and social cohesion.

The awards are supported by the Culture Programme of the European Union, which has invested around €30 million in co-financing heritage-related projects since 2007. Other EU-funded programmes also provide support: the European Regional Development Fund has allocated for €6 billion for culture in 2007-2013. Of this, €3 billion supports the protection and preservation of cultural heritage, €2.2 billion aids the development of cultural infrastructure and €775 million co-funds cultural services such as vocational training, arts and heritage education, promotion of heritage routes, etc; a further €150 million has been made available through EU Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development since 1998.

2012 Award Winners (listed alphabetically by country)

Category 1 - Conservation

· Institut de Sociologie Solvay, Brussels, BELGIUM

· "Second Temple Cycle'' painted wall panels of Kunststätte Bossard, Jesteburg, GERMANY

· The Averof building - School of Architecture, National Technical University, Athens, GREECE

· Windmills of the Monastery of St John the Theologian, Chora, Patmos, GREECE

· Ancient Citadel at Aghios Andreas, Siphnos, GREECE

· The Royal Spanish College, Bolonija, Bologna, ITALY/SPAIN

· Liubavas Manor Watermill Museum, Vilnius, LITHUANIA

· The Portuguese Synagogue Complex Amsterdam, THE NETHERLANDS

· The Six Historical Organs of the Basilica of Mafra, PORTUGAL

· Golia Monastery, Iaşi, ROMANIA