Human Right 2 Water at the European Cultural Heritage Summit

Human Right 2 Water at the European Cultural Heritage Summit

Human Right 2 Water participated in the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2025 in Brussels, on 12-15 October. Organised by Europa Nostra and co-funded by the European Union, the Summit gathered high-level representatives from EU institutions, policymakers, heritage professionals, civil society organisations, and volunteers across Europe.

Over four days, more than 700 participants came together to celebrate Europe’s cultural heritage and to engage in forward-looking discussions on the role of heritage in shaping the continent’s future. The Summit featured the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2025, recognising outstanding achievements in conservation, research, and education. It also provided a forum to debate future European policies and funding for culture and heritage — highlighting the importance of safeguarding cultural heritage for the well-being and identity of Europe’s citizens.

The event opened with the European Heritage Excellence Day, showcasing the 30 award winners, followed by a forum at Brussels’ Town Hall on “How Heritage Matters for Europe’s Cities and Citizens.” HR2W CEO Amanda Loeffen and SD-Wishees partner Jessica Amadio joined a full house for discussions on aligning cultural heritage with community needs, democracy, sustainable tourism, and solidarity.

Among other notable discussions they also explored the intersection of artificial intelligence and cultural heritage, emphasising that technology must serve to strengthen, not diminish, heritage protection and human rights.

“Cultural heritage is a life changer” (Normunds Popens, DDG for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture).

The Summit culminated in the European Heritage Awards Ceremony, where the Grand Prix 2025 laureates were celebrated. Some of them are:

  • Antwerp City Hall (Belgium) – Conservation & Adaptive Reuse:
    A meticulous restoration (2018–2022) of one of Northern Europe’s earliest Renaissance civic buildings, enhancing sustainability, accessibility, and the city’s political heart while preserving a UNESCO-listed landmark.
  • Glacier Archaeology Programme – Secrets of the Ice (Norway) – Research:
    A groundbreaking initiative documenting over 4,500 glacial artefacts in Innlandet County, merging science, education, and climate action to reveal the impacts of global warming on high-altitude heritage.
  • Pro Monumenta (Slovakia) – Education, Training & Skills:
    A preventive conservation programme fostering community-based maintenance, traditional craft training, and cost-effective heritage preservation.

This year’s Summit demonstrated a strong mobilisation of Europe’s cultural community, bringing together EU institutions, local authorities, and hundreds of civil society organisations — united by a shared commitment to protect and promote Europe’s living heritage for future generations.