In the last decade Cultural Heritage moved more and more into the centre of attention of the European Commission. The Culture Programme stimulated and invested in European initiatives like Capitals of Culture, the European Year of Cultural Heritage, the European Heritage Label and other. A series of reports and strategies like the European Cultural Heritage Strategy for the 21st Century have been developed and issued. By now those give a rather clear picture, where Cultural Europe plans to be heading in the years to come.
The challenge at this point in time is to take action and put things suggested into practice. This pilot project is seen by partners as a perfect opportunity to continue several streams of action taken over the last five years: – building upon EU projects like MODI-FY, PRO-Heritage, RCIA as well as the European Heritage Label - awarded to the Union of Lublin 2014 and the Imperial Palace Vienna 2016.
Existing tools such as ESCO and EU SkillsPanorama will be supplemented and up-dated. This defines a strong sector that combines Cultural Heritage - primarily built - and Creative Industries for mutual benefit. As a result, a number of innovative training measures, such as highly developed digital competence modules, are developed and implemented.
At the same time a series of innovative educational measures like sophisticated digital skills modules are developed and implemented.
A structured peer-to-peer exchange programme and initiatives to preserve traditional craftsmanship by attracting young people to those shall guarantee the survival of skills at risk.
One highlight of the pilot project outputs will be a prototype of the European Competence & Community Centre for Heritage Assets, short EUComp-Centre, which is going to be implemented in Mauerbach, AT. In regards to competence the focus here will be on built heritage. It will demonstrate, how such centres can strongly contribute to the economic wealth of European Regions.
