‘High quality design and well-considered interventions can sustain the life and authenticity of cultural assets and prevent the adverse loss of their cultural significance’. This is one of the conclusions brought up by the Open Method of Coordination group of Member States’ experts focusing on high-quality architecture and built environment for everyone.

OPEK is an old customs building in Leuven where different art disciplines meet in dance, theatre, visual arts, music, literature and photography. This heritage building has been repurposed to host around eight cultural organisations that offer performances and participation in the arts.

The joint action ‘European Heritage Days’ between the Council of Europe and the European Commission has opened 2 calls to support the European Heritage label projects and the European Heritage Days events. The deadline for submission of the project proposals is Monday 17 January 2022. 

In its second phase (2021-2023), the peer learning programme Cultural Heritage in Action will continue to empower European cities and regions to strengthen their cultural heritage policies and initiatives as well as develop innovative solutions to preserve cultural heritage assets.

In a new publication “Cultural heritage: a powerful catalyst for cities and regions”, we present the key findings from Cultural Heritage in Action. The publication captures the main trends identified during the project (identification of good practices and peer-learning visits) and articulates key learning points, for both policies and projects.