Deadline for call for proposals in the area of cultural heritage, launched within European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018, closes on 22 November, said participants in an info session organised by the EU Info Centre and Creative Europe Desk Serbia.

The goal of European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 is to encourage people to explore and celebrate the rich and diverse European cultural heritage, to deepen the understanding of cultural heritage and foster the preservation of its unique value as well as to make people think about the impact of cultural heritage on their lives.

Head Creative Europe Serbia Desk Dimitrije Tadic said that projects should be conceived so as to promote and highlight European unity through cultural heritage.

“Projects should demonstrate European and Serbian citizens’ perception of cultural heritage and what it means to us in this day and age,” Tadic said.

Project Manager of Creative Europe Serbia Desk Nina Mihaljinac said that applications for projects in the area of cultural heritage should be submitted by 22 November, whereas project proposals in the area of European cooperation, which also includes the cultural heritage-related cooperation, closes on 18 January.

She said that the EU paid great attention to promotion of intercultural dialogue and the idea of unity; to bringing different groups of citizens together; and to development of culture of understanding and the sense of belonging to one and the same European community.

“Promotion of European values and European cultural identity is at the top of priorities supported by Creative Europe programme,” she said.

Project Manager of Culture Desk Serbia Milan Djordjevic said that maximum duration of projects is 24 months.

Paul-Henri Presset of the EU Delegation to Serbia said that “being part of the EU posed no threat to Serbian identity,” adding that Europe promotes cultural diversity.

He said that Europe wanted to know more about Serbian culture and create a connection between tourism, culture and economy.

“Main message from the EU is that Serbia is part of Europe,” Presset said.

He stressed that Creative Europe strived towards raising the awareness of cultural values and the common European cultural space.