Project “Museum in the Village” recognized by the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards SAMP
Within the framework of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards, the “Museum in the Village” project has emerged as the winner in the category of ‘Citizen Awareness and Engagement.’ This category aims to distinguish projects that utilize heritage and cultural heritage to promote social cohesion, inclusion, dialogue, and understanding. It also seeks to foster a sense of belonging, celebrate diversity, and encourage citizen involvement and civic responsibility.
According to the Awards Jury, “the variety and adaptation of activities for each participating group make the Museum in the Village a very special project. By responding to specific needs and interests of both the young and the elderly, they have ensured a superior and more meaningful impact. The project also undeniably demonstrates a clear relationship between well-being and cultural heritage.”
The “Museum in the Village” Project
The “Museum in the Village”, promoted by SAMP, brings together 13 museums and 13 communities from the 26 municipalities of the Culture Network. It offers a cultural program aimed at people over 65 years old living in rural areas with limited accessibility to cultural activities and events. Museum professionals, artists, communities, and local entities come together through this project with the purpose of appreciating art and culture while learning and revitalizing local heritages and traditions.
The participating museums and SAMP – Artistic and Musical Society of Pousos presented pieces to the elderly living in villages during the “The Museum Goes to the Village” phase. This project allowed art to become a meeting place for sharing, where the elderly were invited to articulate their memories and experiences, relate them to the piece, and transform them into a joint creative process, resulting in a new work. This new work was later presented in the museums by the participants during the “The Village Goes to the Museum” phase.
The Museum in the Village project is co-financed by PO ISE – Portugal 2020, through the Portugal Social Innovation Initiative, with the Municipal Council of Leiria as the Social Investor. It is also a partner of the Culture Network, bringing together Museums, Municipalities, Parish Councils, Associations, and Institutions from the 26 Municipalities in the network. Additionally, it is supported by the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Union of Parishes of Leiria, Pousos, Barreira, and Cortes, among many others who have joined this creative and innovative initiative.
Awards Ceremony
The awards ceremony will take place on September 26 at the State Opera in Prague and will feature the participation of Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education, and Youth, and Hermann Parzinger, Executive President of Europa Nostra. During the ceremony, the winners of the “Grand Prize” and the winner of the “Public Choice Award,” chosen from this year’s winning projects, will be announced.
We invite the entire community to support the Museum in the Village project by voting online between August and September. Together, let’s take the project even further!
The awards ceremony will be a highlight of the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2022, taking place from September 25 to 27 in Prague. The Summit, included in the program of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union, is organized by Europa Nostra with the support of the European Commission.
European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards
The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards were launched by the European Commission in 2002 and have been organized by Europa Nostra since then, supported by the Creative Europe program of the European Union. The awards highlight and disseminate excellence in heritage and best practices, encourage the exchange of knowledge across borders, and connect heritage stakeholders through broader networks. Moreover, the awards promote greater care for heritage among European citizens, serving as a fundamental tool for promoting the multiple values of cultural and natural heritage for the society, economy, and environment of Europe. For more information, you can visit here.
Europa Nostra
Europa Nostra is the voice of civil society dedicated to safeguarding and promoting Europe’s cultural and natural heritage. It is the pan-European federation of non-governmental heritage organizations, supported by a wide network of public entities, private companies, and individuals. Spanning over 40 countries in Europe, it is represented in Portugal by the National Culture Centre.
Founded in 1963, Europa Nostra is now recognized as the most representative heritage organization in Europe, collaborating with the European Union, the Council of Europe, UNESCO, and other international organizations. Europa Nostra acts to save the most threatened monuments, sites, and landscapes in Europe, particularly through the “7 Most Endangered” program. It celebrates excellence through the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards and contributes to the formulation and implementation of European strategies and policies related to heritage through structured dialogue with EU institutions and coordination of the European Heritage Alliance.
Europa Nostra is among the official partners of the European New Bauhaus initiative developed by the European Commission and is the Regional Co-President of the Climate Heritage Network (CHN) for Europe and the Community of Independent States.
