As part of the Athens Heritage Hub’s efforts to better understand the needs and challenges faced by cultural heritage organizations on the ground, an on-site visit to Izmir, Türkiye took place on February 1st.
Local stakeholders, along with representatives from the civil society and public administration, participated in the Forum titled “Cross-Border Dialogues and Solidarity for Heritage”, organised in collaboration with Europa Nostra Türkyie. Keynote speeches were delivered by Abdüllaziz Ediz, Site Manager of The Historical Port City of İzmir, Yiğit Ozar, President of Europa Nostra Türkiye and Lydia Carras, President of Elliniki Etairia – Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage, as well as a member of the advisory committee of the pilot project European Heritage Hub.
Mrs Eleni Maistrou, Scientific Coordinator of the Athens Heritage Hub and Professor Emeritus of NTUA, presented the objectives and initiatives of the Athens Heritage Hub to bring together cultural heritage and environmental organisations in SouthEastern Europe, Turkyie and the Caucasus (Armenia and Georgia).
Furthermore, local organizations, including KORDER (Association of Restoration and Conservation Experts in Turkey) and TARKEM (Historical Kemeraltı Construction Investment Trade Inc.), presented their efforts in preserving and promoting both tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Roundtable discussions sparked ideas for future cross-border cooperation.
The activity was organized as part of the pilot project European Heritage Hub, funded by the European Union, in which Elliniki Etairia participates as an affiliated partner.
On the same day, the gala night “A Story of Belonging” was held at Ahmed Adnan Saygun Arts Center to celebrate the European Union / Europa Nostra 2022 Award in the category of Citizen Participation and Awareness, which was presented to the Kenan Yavuz Ethnographic Museum. Mrs Lydia Carras represented Europa Nostra and highlighted in her speech the vital need to adopt multiperceptiveness in the recognition of heritage, as the safeguard of cultural heritage and the environment is vital for the well-being of all peoples. Throughout the event, discussions and presentations highlighted the challenges of rural depopulation in Turkyie, delivering a powerful message on rootedness and the preservation of rural values to an audience of 1000 people.
The Kenan Yavuz Ethnographic Museum is dedicated to preserving and revitalizing the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Bayburt and Anatolia. It offers interactive experiences designed in collaboration with the local community to engage visitors in the region’s rich cultural traditions.
