Challenges for Creating Visibility of European Cultural Heritage

Abstract


 
 
 The European Heritage Label (EHL) is a recent flagship heritage action of the European Union and focuses on the European dimension of Europe’s histo- ry and heritage as part of the Union’s cultural policy. One of the central con- cerns of the EU’s cultural policy is to generate a sense of belonging and iden- tity among European citizens. While efficient promotion of the visibility of the EHL among European audiences could be expected corresponding to the political objectives, the EHL continues to struggle with broader public recog- nition. Based on fieldwork findings, the article discusses the visibility of the EHL action as a network of heritage sites that challenges national narratives by promoting a European dimension of heritage. The article identifies diverse shortcomings in creating public visibility, such as the missed opportunity of the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 for creating useful synergies. The findings suggest that the EHL has potential to initiate public debate of what is European heritage, which may result in enhancing social cohesion in Europe. However, the label would benefit from the development of a joint strategy for improving the visibility of the EHL network at the local, nation- al and European levels.
 
 

Dialogue in and as European heritage

“…Between 2013 and 2019, the Commission has awarded the Label to 48 sites for their European significance, the role they played in European history and their commitment to implement activities that contribute to the EHL’s objective of bringing the EU and its citizens closer together (Lähdesmäki et al, 2020a, 2021). Sites are pre-selected at national level every 2 years; a European panel of international experts, responsible to the Commission, then makes the final selection (EU, 2011; see also Čeginskas, 2019).…”

“…The EHL network is a membership organization that is open to all awarded sites. It is considered as a ‘very distinctive’ element of the Label (EU, 2011) and the sites are required to strengthen partnerships and cooperative activities through it (Čeginskas, 2019; EHL, 2017: 26–27). The emphasis on a transnational and transcultural perspective of European heritage in the EHL offers the opportunity to question the national interpretations of the past in European countries.…”