The European Heritage Hub, a pilot project co-funded by the EU connecting heritage stakeholders across Europe, has selected 14 heritage projects across 11 EU neighbouring countries for its Small Grants Scheme (see annex for the full list of projects). A total of around 250,000 EUR has been allocated to the selected initiatives led by civil society organisations, distributed among small, medium, and large-scale grants. The Scheme is run by Europa Nostra, as Project Leader of the European Heritage Hub, in consultation with other members of the Hub consortium, and is co-funded by ALIPH Foundation. 

The Small Grants Scheme supports civil society-led heritage projects in EU neighbouring countries (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo*, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine), aimed at enhancing their capacity to respond to Europe’s green, digital, and social transformation, as well as fostering peace, stability, reconciliation, and intercultural and interreligious dialogue. Running from January to March 2024, the Scheme’s call received an impressive total of 600 eligible submissions, reflecting the imperative need for increased support in these regions. 

 

The selected projects highlight the fundamental role our shared heritage can and must play in the EU enlargement process. These initiatives range from bottom-up approaches showcasing diverse expertise to heritage promotion and educational activities to the inventory, mapping, or digitisation of monuments and sites, as well as the revival of war-torn towns. Despite their varied backgrounds, each project underscores how heritage fosters social inclusion and strengthens communities. This important potential should be further unleashed in the pursuit of the strategic goal of greater integration and sustainable development across Europe, especially in regions affected by or at risk of conflict.

The Selection Committee, comprising experts among the Hub project partners, shortlisted a larger number of outstanding initiatives. However, due to limited funding, at this stage only 14 projects could be supported. Meeting the needs of all initially shortlisted remarkable projects would require around 1 million EUR – four times the current funding available to the scheme. 

“The extremely high number of submissions received demonstrates the relevance of such a funding scheme, but also highlights the lack of sufficient support for heritage civil society organisations that are dedicated to the protection and promotion of Europe’s shared heritage, both tangible and intangible. We are grateful for the vital initial funding provided by the EU and our partner ALIPH. We truly hope that other partners will follow their power of example. Together we shall aim to mobilise further public and private resources to make a real difference in EU neighbouring countries and demonstrate the value of cultural heritage in facilitating their stronger and better integration within the EU”, underlined Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic, Secretary General of Europa Nostra and Project Leader of the European Heritage Hub pilot project.

“At ALIPH, we have seen first-hand how small grants can have a big impact. ALIPH was founded to finance on-the-ground cultural heritage protection initiatives, and this funding scheme responds directly to our ethos: to support local organisations, implementing concrete projects that contribute directly to the building blocks for peace – be it economic development, upskilling, tourism, intercultural dialogue and more”, added Valéry Freland, Executive Director of ALIPH, associate partner of the European Heritage Hub which has provided financial support for the launch of this Small Grants Scheme. 

The European Heritage Hub pilot project will run for an initial two-year period from May 2023 to April 2025, with a possibility of its continuation in the form of a Preparatory Action supported by the EU. In its next phase, the Hub aims to continue the Small Grants Scheme and secure increased funding to meet the needs of civil society heritage stakeholders in EU neighbouring countries. The sustained continuation of this initiative is fundamental to unlocking the power of our shared heritage, fostering mutual respect and cultural understanding, promoting sustainable development, and enhancing social cohesion across Europe.