Welcome to the February newsletter!
This month's feature article reflects on the educational potential of Jewish cemeteries for high school students, based on the insights and experiences of scholars, professors and directors of Jewish heritage organisations in different European countries.
In our FRH & members news, we inform you about our next masterclass and our satellite event to be held during the NEB Festival 2024. We also encourage you to check out the transHeritage project, the guide "Beyond Cultural Tourism" and the map produced by Scotland Churches Trust on the status of the churches of the Church of Scotland according to the presbytery plan.
The European news section introduces you to the newly unveiled spire of Notre Dame, the official theme for the European Heritage Days 2024 and the recent ICOMOS-ICCROM publication for the management of cultural heritage in post-disaster and post-conflict scenarios.
Finally, we invite you to a virtual tour of the religious heritage of Bad Ischl, one of the three European Capitals of Culture for 2024, in our Religiana section.
See you next month!
Jordi Mallarach
FRH Executive Officer
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THE JEWISH CEMETERY AS AN IMPORTANT EDUCATIONAL AND HISTORICAL RESOURCE
The EU-funded pilot project "Preserving Jewish Cemeteries" ended last year after many activities and talks to raise awareness of Jewish cemeteries in local communities, advocate their potential as an educational resource and encourage local communities to protect them in seven Eastern European countries. The experiences and lessons learned were reflected in a series of reports. This feature article presents an excerpt from the report "The Jewish Cemetery as an important educational and historical resource" written by Prof. Joanna Beata Michlic. READ MORE >>
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REGISTER FOR OUR TWO-DAY FREE MASTERCLASS ON 7-8 MARCH 2024
We are pleased to invite you to this two-day masterclass, which will examine the influence of religious buildings on reconstruction plans and the shaping of cultural identities after World War II, and foster debate on the current and future role of religious buildings in an urban context marked by the rise of secularisation, radical changes in social structures, and a growing divide between a lay society and religious communities. Check out the programme and register on our website. READ MORE>>
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TRANSFORMATIVE RELIGIOUS HERITAGE. BRIDGING NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN EUROPEAN APPROACHES
TransHERITAGE is a new initiative focusing on underused religious heritage sites in two largely rural European regions: Alentejo (southern inland Portugal) and Vestland (western Norway). The aim is to build bridges for the exchange of knowledge and experiences, mainly through co-creation workshops that will explore the potential of this heritage to drive innovation as well as social, economic and cultural transformation. TransHERITAGE is coordinated by FRH member Rolando Volzone through the DINÂMIA'CET- Iscte - Centre for Socioeconomic and Territorial Studies (Portugal). Visit the project's website to learn more about its activities and ambition. READ MORE >>
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"BEYOND CULTURAL TOURISM", A GUIDEBOOK TO REGENERATIVE TOURISM AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY
After three years of work in 6 pilot regions in Europe, the Be.CULTOUR project, of which FRH is an advisor, has published the guide "Beyond Tourism", which collects lessons learned and recommendations to support sustainable and circular tourism. This guide aims to encourage local governments, tourism agencies and other stakeholders to join forces in the development of sustainable cultural tourism and circular economy strategies and to foster a global discourse on regenerative tourism. Download the guide and learn from inspiring experiences in Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Sweden, Serbia and the Romania-Moldova border region. READ MORE >>
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UPDATED MAP OF THE CURRENT DISPOSAL/RETENTION STATUS OF OVER 1,000 CHURCH OF SCOTLAND CHURCHES
Our member Scotland Churches Trust has recently updated its map on the current disposal/retention status of Church of Scotland churches. According to this map, 55 churches have closed, been sold or are on sale since 2020. The map also shows that 677 churches are classified as “A” in the presbytery planning, 542 churches are classified as "B", and 1 church has been demolished since 2020. You can see the map and read the Scotland Churches Trust's view on this issue on their website. READ MORE >>
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THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION IS CONSIDERING A PROPOSAL TO CREATE A JEWISH HERITAGE AWARD SCHEME
The European Commission is considering the creation of an awards scheme focused on Jewish cultural heritage, after the proposal presented in October 2023 by our member, the Foundation for Jewish Heritage (UK). The award would aim to "promote and expand understanding of Jewish cultural heritage" as stated in a Joint Communication of the European Commission to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union titled "No place for hate: a Europe united against hatred". READ MORE >>
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JOIN OUR SATELLITE EVENT OF THE NEW EUROPEAN BAUHAUS FESTIVAL 2024
FRH is delighted to invite you to the online event “Religious Heritage: an overlooked driver for a more sustainable and inclusive society”, which will showcase a series of innovative projects to make religious heritage sites more sustainable and inclusive by fostering adaption to climate change challenges, becoming more environmentally-friendly and connecting the local communities to these places to ensure their future. This event is organised in collaboration with COMECE (Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union) and the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) and is a satellite event of the New European Bauhaus Festival 2024 (9-13 April). Register now! READ MORE >>
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FRH INVITED TO A MEETING ON THE "ETATS GÉNÉRAUX DU PATRIMOINE RELIGIEUX" (EGPR) IN FRANCE
Our network was invited last week to a meeting on the Etats Généraux du Patrimoine Religieux (EGPR), an ambitious plan initiated by the Conference of Bishops of France to address the state of the country's over 100,000 churches, their contents and intangible heritage linked to them, and make recommendations to ensure their future. The purpose of this meeting was to learn about the evolution of the plan and to offer our expertise to support its development and successful results. The meeting was attended by Pilar Bahamonde, president of FRH; Lilian Grootswagers, chair of the Advisory Board; and Sarah de Lencquesaing, our representative for France; as well as Père Gautier Mornas, Priest of the diocese of Périgueux and Sarlat, head of the Sacred Art Department of the Conférence des évêques de France (CEF) and secretary of the EGPR; and Solange Tassan, project assistant of the EGPR. If you are not familiar with this plan, we tell you what it is all about on our website. READ MORE >>
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THIS SECTION IS FOR MEMBERS ONLY. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER, MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE. READ MORE >> |
FRH EVENTS
>7-8 March 2024 - The Churches and the City. More information >>
>11 April 2024 - Religious Heritage: an overlooked driver for a more sustainable and inclusive society. More information >>
>22-24 September 2024 - FRH Conference in Krakow, Poland. More information >>
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT UPCOMING EVENTS?
MORE EVENTS>>
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THE NEW SPIRE OF NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL UNCOVERED AFTER THE REMOVAL OF SCAFFOLDING
Almost five years after the infamous fire that consumed the spire of Notre Dame, the cathedral unveils its new spire, identical to the old one, and now visible as the scaffolding is being removed. The official reopening of Notre Dame is scheduled for 8 December 2024. The celebrations will continue with numerous events until June 2025. Take a look at the new spire, rooster and cross! READ MORE >>
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EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS 2024: ROUTES, NETWORKS AND CONNECTIONS
The shared theme for the 2024 edition of the European Heritage Days has been announced as the ‘Heritage of Routes, Networks and Connections’. This joint initiative of the European Commission and the Council of Europe encourages cultural organisations to organise events to invite European citizens to celebrate tangible and intangible cultural heritage. The next edition will take place in September 2024. If you want to organise an event, take a look at the brochure for inspiring stories and practical tips. READ MORE >>
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NEW ICOMOS-ICCROM "GUIDANCE ON POST-DISASTER AND POST-CONFLICT RECOVERY AND RECONSTRUCTION"
This new ICOMOS and ICCROM publication aims to assist experts working in heritage conservation and all those with responsibility for the protection and conservation of these sites by providing a framework for establishing decision-making processes for recovery and reconstruction, overcoming the trauma associated with destruction and loss. READ MORE >>
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A tour of the religious heritage of Bad Ischl (Austria), European Capital for Culture 2024
The small Austrian spa town of Bad Ischl is known for its beautiful nature and peaceful atmosphere. Despite its humble appearance, it has a reputation as an imperial city, as the summer retreat of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Habsburg, who described it as an "earthly paradise". Listed below are some of the best religious heritage sites you need to see.
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FRH is an independent, non-faith, not-for-profit organisation working to promote religious heritage buildings and their contents across Europe. It currently has more than 80 full members and 120 associate members from over 35 countries.
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