European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 (1st edition)

EUROPEAN YEAR OF CULTURAL HERITAGE 2018 Proposed by Germany and supported from the outset by France, then by other European countries and by the European Parliament, 2018 was finally proclaimed the European Year of Cultural Heritage. The Decision on this initiative was adopted on 17 May 2017. It aims to encourage “European citizens to discover and explore heritage in order to strengthen the sense of belonging to a common European space”. In this context, the European Commission encourages Member States to label various projects and mobilise all stakeholders to ensure the success of this Thematic Year. The European Years are not funding programmes but rather awareness-raising campaigns at both European and national level on a specific topic. All types of heritage (architectural, archaeological, living, cinematographic, natural, etc.) and all types of projects, at all scales (local, regional, national, international), are concerned. ****The European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 label will thus enhance the place of heritage in France and Europe and strengthen the link between the European Union and citizens, by recognising and highlighting their heritage activities. ****