Conservation of the Bac Fortress, the 1907 Pavilion of Prince Milos in Bukovicka Banja and the project of Research and Cataloging of the State Art Collection werw named laureates of the 2018 EU Prize for the Cultural Heritage and Europa Nostra Award
The construction of Bac Fortress began in the 14th century with additions made in the 15th and 16th centuries and is a listed national monument. The project “Centuries of Bac” was initiated in 2006 to research and increase knowledge about the area of Bač; to implement key conservation principles in its preservation; to find a sustainable use for the site; and to raise awareness of its value among the wider community. The project received financial support from regional, national and international sources including EU funding and is named a winner of the Award in the category of conservation.
“This project is an exceptional example of heritage preservation based on interdisciplinary collaboration. To achieve this, the project leaders have made use of European resources to research and carry out necessary preliminary investigations, which in turn have led to the implementation of a correct management strategy. A sustained effort has been made to maintain the aspect of the ruin through careful conservation. In addition there is a strong educational component relevant to the entire region”, the jury said.
Built in 1907, the Pavilion of Prince Milos in Bukovicka Banja is located at the site of one of the oldest mineral water sources in Serbia and was the first bottling plant in the country. The project has been named a laureate in the conservation category as well.
In the reasearch category, one of the Awards went to the project Reasearch and Cataloguing of the State Art Collection. The Award for this 12-year project went to Jelena Todorovic and Biljana Crvenkovic.
“I warmly congratulate this year’s “heritage champions” who have been selected as winners of the EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards. We are deeply impressed by the exceptional skills, creativity, commitment and generosity of so many heritage professionals, volunteers and supporters from all over Europe. They deserve every praise and further support. Our Award winners are living proof that our cultural heritage is far more than the memory of our past; it is key to understanding our present and a resource for our future,” said Plácido Domingo, the renowned opera singer and President of Europa Nostra.
“Cultural heritage in all its different forms is one of Europe’s most precious assets. It builds bridges between people and communities as well as between the past and the future. It is central to our identity as Europeans and also has a vital role in driving social and economic development,” said Tibor Navracsics, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport.
The winners will be awarded on 22 June in Berlin – on the occasion of the first European Cultural Heritage Summit – by European Commissioner Tibor Navracsics and opera singer and President of Europa Nostra Plácido Domingo.
The winners were selected among a total of 160 applications submitted by organisations and individuals from 31 countries across Europe. The jury selected 29 laureates from 17 countries for their accomplishments in cultural heritage conservation, research, dedicated service and education.
