Digital meets Culture

2021 winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards

In 2002 the European Commission launched the Awards programme European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards which is run by Europa Nostra and is supported by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union; the awards highlight and share heritage excellences and best practices, encourage the cross-border exchange of knowledge and connect heritage stakeholders in wider networks.
Each year, the Award winners are selected by independent juries composed of heritage experts from across Europe, upon evaluation of candidatures submitted by organisations and individuals from 30 European countries.

The 2021 winners, 24 exemplary achievements from 18 European countries, were selected in the four categories :

Conservation Projects
Research Projects
Dedicated Service to Heritage by Organisations & Individuals
Education, Training and Awareness-raising Projects

The announcement of the Award winners was made last 25th May at a live online event co-hosted by Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, and Hermann Parzinger, Executive President of Europa Nostra.

Furthemore, two ILUCIDARE Special Prizes will also be awarded from among the submitted applications to the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards. The shortlisted projects will be announced on June 10 and the winners will be unveiled in the autumn of this year.

The winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2021 for each category:

Conservation Projects:

Research Projects:

Dedicated Service to Heritage by Organisatio Individuals:

Education, Training and Awareness-raising Projects:

Congratulations to the winners!

More information:

online events series: 26 May, 10 June, 23 June

Europeana cafe on the New European Bauhaus

The European Commission has initiated a New European Bauhaus movement to shape future ways of living that answer the challenges we face today. Think green, sustainable and affordable, alongside accessible, inclusive and beautiful. Find out what it’s all about, what Europeana’s involvement is and how you can join the conversation today.

To support cultural heritage sector’s involvement, Europeana will promote awareness and discussion of New European Bauhaus activities and opportunities throughout the year. We’ll focus on highlighting how the cultural heritage sector can contribute, and collaborate with other sectors including, for example, education, smart cities and the creative industries, to rethink and reshape how we live, and how we can use digital heritage to support that.

Dates:

Wednesday 26 May 2021 – First Europeana Cafe on the New European Bauhaus for cultural heritage professionals! Please register here.
Theme: What is the New European Bauhaus all about and how can you get involved?

Thursday 10 June 2021 – Second Europeana Cafe on the New European Bauhaus for cultural heritage professionals! Please register here.
Theme: What is the role of the Cultural Heritage sector in the New European Bauhaus?

Wednesday 23 June 2021 – Third Europeana Cafe on the New European Bauhaus for cultural heritage professionals! Please register here.
Theme: How does the Cultural Heritage sector promote collaboration and innovation to support the goals of the New European Bauhaus?

online event, 23rd June 2021

Using AI to monitor historic towns and landscapes: #Connecting Archaeology

This webinar explores some of the ways that artificial intelligence is being used with aerial and satellite imagery to monitor landscapes.
Three speakers will give short presentations after which there will be time for questions and discussion.

“AI and satellite images to monitor historical (features of) landscapes”, Henk Alkemade

As satellites pass over Europe frequently, these satellite data are very useful for monitoring purposes. However, the amount of data concerned is enormous, so country-wide analysis and interpretation cannot be done by humans alone. This is where AI can help. AI can be trained to automatically recognize relevant changes in the satellite data of different wavelengths. Henk will discuss some examples of current work on this subject in the Netherlands.

“3D and AI technologies for the development of automated monitoring of urban cultural heritage”, Tadas Žižiūnas, Faculty of Communication of Vilnius University

New technological solutions for the effective, objective and cost-sensitive monitoring of cultural heritage are needed. Tadas will present a new methodological approach based on laser scanning, 3D photogrammetry, artificial intelligence and GIS interaction. The main goal is to develop software that can detect and compare architectural and urban elements using 2D and 3D data of objects and places at different times. Tadas will cover methodological and technical issues and discuss the potential for a breakthrough technological tool for governments to track the status of heritage and act in a timely and proactive manner.

” Monitoring of Immovable Cultural Heritage using 3D and Artificial Intelligence Technologies”, Rimvydas Laužikas, Faculty of Communication of Vilnius University

Preservation of the immovable cultural heritage is an important challenge for contemporary society. Organizations responsible for heritage management often lack the resources, which are crucial for proper heritage preservation, maintenance and protection. Automated heritage monitoring, based on the 3D and AI technologies, is a possible solution to these problems. Rimvydas will describe a solution realized by the Vilnius University project ‘Automated monitoring of urban heritage implementing 3D technologies”.

Registrations on Eventbrite >>>

Speakers’ biographies

Henk Alkemade, lead/enterprise architect at the Netherlands Cultural Heritage Agency (RCE). Trained as a physical geographer, Henk worked in IT in commercial and government organisations, for over 20 years. In 2007 Henk joined the RCE as head of the e-knowledge department. Since 2016 he has worked both as an IT/Business Architect and Cultural Heritage specialist at RCE. His main interest is where CH meets IT. Connecting data, storytelling, 3D, VR, AI.

Dr. Tadas Žižiūnas, Faculty of Communication of Vilnius University. Tadas is working in digital cultural heritage, researching and implementing technologies such as augmented reality, 3D scanning, photogrammetry and AI-based solutions.

Rimvydas Laužikas, Professor of Digital Social Science and Humanities in the Faculty of Communication of Vilnius University. Rimvydas’s research interests cover use of computers in the Heritage sector; Information and communication of cultural heritage; Medieval and Early Modern archaeology. He is one of the leading scientists in Lithuanian projects on uses of 3D and AI technologies for automated heritage monitoring.

Policy Round Table: May 25, 2021

DIALLS – Dialogue and Argumentation for Cultural Literacy Learning in Schools

The DIALLS research project (Dialogue & Argumentation for Cultural Literacy Learning in Schools), funded by the European Commission’s H2020 Programme (grant no 770045) has published its third and final policy brief entitled Dialogue, Argumentation, and Creative Practices as Tools in Cultural Literacy Learning in Europe.
The policy brief is based on DIALLS’ development of a Cultural Literacy Learning Programme for children and young people and the analysis of the Programme’s outcomes. The policy brief includes seven recommendations for the authors of future education policies in Europe about how to improve constructive interaction and mutual understanding. Its summary states:
“Cultural literacy learning is a key to advance tolerant, empathetic, and inclusive attitudes towards diversity and differences. It is important that the EU strengthens its current education initiatives and policies and creates new ones emphasizing cultural literacy learning based on dialogue and argumentation as core skills for participating in a pluralistic society. These initiatives and policies should recognize creative practices as an effective arena for teaching empathy. The EU’s education policies and initiatives could better acknowledge young children and early education.”
The DIALLS project organized an online policy round table on 25 May 2021 at 10:00-11:00 CEST in Zoom. In this round table, the project leader Dr. Fiona Maine from the University of Cambridge, UK, and Dr. Tuuli Lähdesmäki, Dr. Katja Mäkinen, and Dr. Aino-Kaisa Koistinen from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, will introduce the project and the core recommendations from its three policy briefs dealing with European education policies and cultural literacy.
Information about DIALLS can be found in the project’s flyer.
Further information about DIALLS activities is available on the project website.

organized by the Centre for Dance Research at Coventry University, taking place online on 27th May 2021

WEAVE presented at “Dance Research Matters” event

Co-hosted by C-DaRE and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), from the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, Dance Research Matters will include panel discussions on themes relevant for shaping the future of dance research.

WEAVE will be part of the presentations on panel 1 by Rosa Cisneros, with a focus on how to evidence work with communities.

The day will flow through four main panels, with an introduction and scene setting from the AHRC, and a conversation between Baroness Deborah Bull and Christopher Smith, Executive Chair, AHRC.

Panel Themes:

Panel 1 – Dance research: how do we evidence value and the public benefit of dance research?
Panel 2 – Why practice matters – if practice is part of dance research, then what needs to change, to reflect the value of practice as an epistemic system?
Panel 3 – Dance research beyond borders. What are the conditions and contexts in which dance research can flourish?
Panel 4 – Research futures – PGRs and the research pathway, emerging fields.

More information and registration accessible HERE

Further reflections about the event by professor Sarah Whatley (Coventry University) IN THIS BLOG

INnovative CULtural ToUrisM in European peripheries

Visiting the margins: the INCULTUM project

Tourism is more than travelling and consumption; it has great potential when it comes to culture, nature, knowledge and personal experiences. Travelling is a way to learn and improve oneself, to enrich one’s vision and improve mutual understanding.

The INCULTUM project deals with the challenges and opportunities of cultural tourism with the aim of furthering sustainable social, cultural and economic development. It will explore the full potential of marginal and peripheral areas when managed by local communities and stakeholders. Innovative participatory approaches will be adopted, transforming locals into protagonists, able to reduce negative impacts, learning from and improving good practices to be replicated and translated into strategies and policies.

Furthermore, INCULTUM fosters intercultural understanding through the implementation of bottom-up strategies that can have positive effects for both, locals and tourists. Ten pilot cases of living territories and communities will be investigated and on the basis of the findings innovative customised solutions will be co-created. Additionally, pilots will be used to identify and compare drivers and barriers that account for the success or failure of participatory models. Pilots will also enable us to assess outcomes and analyse the pre-conditions needed for a future full implementation and scaling up of potential solutions. Pilots will provide new quantitative and qualitative data that will be combined with official statistics and novel data gathered by the use of self-developed IT applications and the exploitation of previously untapped data sources.

The implementation of advanced econometric methods and the pioneering introduction of machine-learning tools into tourism research will push the boundaries of our knowledge. Findings will enable us to suggest recommendations for effective and sustainable policies, create new synergies among public and private stakeholders and new investments, including Structural Funds.

An interdisciplinary group of partners will effectively deploy knowledge and participate in the various project’s activities:

Coordinator: UNIVERSIDAD DE GRANADA, Spain
UNIVERZITA MATEJA BELA V BANSKEJ BYSTRICI, Slovakia
COPENHAGEN BUSINESS SCHOOL, Denmark
PROMOTER SRL, Italy
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN DENMARK – Syddansk Universitet, Denmark
UNIVERSITA DI PISA, Italy
UPPSALA UNIVERSITET, Sweden
G.A.L Elimos, Italy
EACHTRA ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECTS, Ireland
Bibracte, France
The Hish Mountains cooperative, Greece
CeRPHAAL, Albania
UNIVERSIDADE DO ALGARVE, Portugal
Patronato Provincial de Turismo de Granada, Spain
Municipality of Permet, Albania

3 June 2021 : 11 am BST (Portugal, UK) / 12 pm CET (France, Italy, Spain)

Free webinar:The paradox of accounting for cultural heritage

This on line seminar will the occasion to present and discuss the findings of the latest research conducted by Paolo Ferri (Department of Management, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Bologna, Italy), Shannon I.L. Sidaway(Department of Accounting, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia) and Garry D. Carnegie (Department of Accounting, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia).

““The paradox of accounting for cultural heritage: a longitudinal study on the financial reporting of heritage assets of major Australian public cultural institutions (1992–2019)” is a longitudinal study on the financial reporting of heritage assets of a selection of 16 major public, not-for-profit Australian cultural institutions examined over a period of almost three decades (1992–2019), with the purpose to understand how they have responded to the paradoxical tensions of heritage valuation for financial reporting purposes.

The Presentation will be followed by a Question and Answer session.
To register click here.
Link to the full document.

online, 18th May 2021 h. 16.00 CEST

Seminar about Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778)

PIRANESI
RITORNO AL FUTURO / DE VOLTA AO FUTURO

The Museo della Grafica in Pisa and the Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo di São Paulo organize a live event to discover the art of venetian engraver Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778).

Experts from Italy and Brazil will discuss about etching techniques, architecture, philology and imagination.

Witb participation of: Marco Buti (ECA USP), Franco Fanelli (Accademia Albertina di Belle Arti di Torino), Luigi Ficacci (former director of Istituto Centrale per il Restauro e autore del catalogo completo delle acqueforti di Piranesi), Maria Antonella Fusco (former director of Istituto Centrale per la Grafica), Ginevra Mariani (author of Piranesi’ works catalogue), Luciano Migliaccio (FAU USP), Federica Rossi (KHI/Università di Firenze), Alessandro Tosi (Università di Pisa, director of Museo della Grafica).

LIve streaming at:

The video registration is online

Presidency Conference on “Culture, Cohesion and Social Impact”

On May 5-6, 2021, in the framework of the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union Council, was held a high level Conference on the topic of Culture, education and youth, Employment and social rights. The two-day event was structured in a plenary session facing “The Social Impact of Culture” and in four principal panels:

1) Culture, Mental health and Well-being
2) Culture, Cohesion and Territory
3) Culture and Environmental Sustainability
4) Culture and Gender Equality

The event took place in Serralves Foundation, Porto, Portugal and brought together participants from diverse fields – academics, specialists, representatives of the artistic and cultural sectors and those with governmental responsibilities – to debate and advance the importance and impact of culture on social, economic and territorial cohesion and on democratic resilience.
By addressing a number of questions around the connection between culture and mental health, cohesion and the territory, environmental sustainability and gender equality, the conference aimed to highlight the potential of culture in managing the current social challenges and building a better future.
For those who were not able to attend the conference a full video registration is available in English and in Portuguese at this link.
Download the programme here.

Addressing the challenges of linking and presenting the connections between tangible and intangible heritage of diverse and dispersed cultural communities

WEAVE, a project of relevance for cultural communities

Açores, 2015 Tiago Pereira. Courtesy of PédeXumbo

There are many challenges faced during the digital transformation that cultural heritage institutions (CHIs) have embarked on, and more so when considering Intangible Cultural Heritage, most notably the fact that a solid methodology for documenting is missing. Capturing and documenting ICH is facilitated by audio-visual technologies, now transformed in the digital era, which is helping to build knowledge of our cultural traditions and the traditions of communities. But many important collections of ICH, which show the way in which communities come together in the streets and public spaces as part of festivals, processions, celebrations and other forms of popular cultural expression, are yet to be widely shared and are unfortunately underrepresented in Europeana too.

WEAVE plans to tackle these challenges developing and providing a framework (including innovative technologies and tools) for linking and presenting the connections between tangible and intangible heritage of cultural communities, bringing the rich and invaluable CH which they represent and guard from the periphery to the center of attention by making it accessible from Europeana. The project selects content that will build an understanding of the diversity of European communities and cultural practices that are popular, participatory and valuable for transmitting cultural identity. The content will thereby extend and build on ICH content in Europeana, and particularly that which is not yet represented. By disseminating, preserving and sustaining this valuable content, the project will promote new understandings of cultural communities (some of which are at risk), ICH and bring CHIs together with more local content providers to support the Europeana Initiative.

ph. Tiago Pereira. Courtesy of PédeXumbo.

WEAVE will collect and aggregate to Europeana new content related to different types of cultural communities, including 3D models and point clouds, videos and photos.The WEAVE framework will specify hand-on methodologies for communities to select the content and collections to be aggregated and to engage with the project activities and Europeana.
The methodological framework will also explore the ways in which ICH and TCH can be more closely interwoven and using the project Toolkit demonstrators will be created. Complementing these activities are capacity building actions for helping CHIs to navigate their digital transformation and their ability to manage intangible heritage and heritage of cultural communities, and to connect them to innovative SMEs, cultural communities and Europeana.

Accompanying and supporting the activities of cultural communities content aggregation, is the WEAVE Toolkit. This consists of several open and reusable tools and technologies employing a mix of AI techniques, machine learning, natural language processing, big data analysis and innovative interface engineering. Tools will allow professionals to more effectively store, manage and access 3D assets that have been digitised, annotate videos more efficiently. Additionally by using 3D information, users can curate easily virtual galleries and virtual exhibitions that can contain a diverse mix of content (including 3D), and can in this way showcase the connection between tangible and intangible heritage. The curated galleries and virtual exhibitions can be accessed by end-users on different devices in more immersive and interactive ways (e.g.using mobiles, or using VR headsets).