Inaguration of the regional Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Nicosia.
On February 27, 2025, the Athens Hub had the honor of witnessing the official inauguration of the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Nicosia. After Kraków and Athens, Nicosia became the third city in Europe where a regional Europa Nostra Heritage Hub is established. The new regional Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Nicosia will cover the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. Hosted at the University of Cyprus, the inauguration event brought together cultural leaders, policy makers and heritage advocates across Europe and the Middle East, to celebrate the power of heritage in fostering unity and cooperation.
The Athens Hub was represented by Lydia Carras, president and founder of Elliniki Etairia – Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage. In her speech, Mrs. Carras highlighted ELLINIKI ETAIRIA’s support for the creation of the regional hub in Nicosia.
As she stated, “Cyprus, being at the edge of Europe and closest to the Eastern Mediterranean countries, has a long history of sharing cultural heritage. The establishment of the regional hub of Europa Nostra in Nicosia is not only a recognition of its historical and geographical significance but also a step toward fostering greater collaboration, knowledge exchange, and joint initiatives in cultural heritage preservation in the region.”
Mrs. Carras further emphasized ELLINIKI ETAIRIA’s strong belief in the power of cross-border cooperation to safeguard and celebrate the region’s rich history. She concluded her speech by calling upon everyone to seize the opportunity to work together in making the Nicosia hub a beacon of cultural unity and resilience.
HRH Dana Firas of Jordan, President of the Petra National Trust, delivered a keynote address emphasizing the significance of the Nicosia Hub as a link between Europe and the Middle East. She highlighted Cyprus’s close proximity to the Levant and the ongoing challenges in safeguarding the region’s diverse cultural heritage. Cyprus’s Deputy Culture Minister, Dr. Vasiliki Kassandiou, also addressed the audience, highlighting the importance of building bridges between the EU and the Middle East to strenghthen cultural heritage preservation and climate resilience.
1st Public Forum ‘Citizents’ Engagement in Preserving Cultural Heritage’
On 28 February, the Nicosia Hub hosted its first Forum at the Cyprus Institute, titled “Citizens’ Engagement in Preserving Cultural Heritage.” Participants learned about the initiatives of the regional hubs of Europa Nostra in Athens and Kraków, along with contributions from Din l-Art Ħelwa National Trust of Malta and the Turathuna Foundation in Homs, Syria. Additionally, projects recognized with Europa Nostra awards were featured during the session on citizen involvement, including Acta Vista from Marseille (France), the La Paranza Cooperative in Naple (Italy) and the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage of Cyprus.
During the two-day event, attendees visited the Cyprus Museum and the Leventis Municipal Museum, took part in a walking tour near the UN Buffer Zone, and explored the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation to gain insights into the island’s rich history.
Congratulations to the Cyprus team for hosting such a significant and enriching event! The Athens Hub is eager to foster collaboration with the Nicosia Hub, reinforcing the connection between these two regional centers and contributing to peacebuilding and unity.
Launch-Nicosia-Hub-Invitation-Programme
Forum-Nicosia-Hub-Programme 28-02-25
