The Krakow Hub team would like to welcome the newly-opened Nicosia Heritage Hub to the fold! The last few days of February saw the official inauguration of the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Nicosia on the island of Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Kraków Hub was represented by John Beauchamp, who made a presentation to gathered notables, diplomats and partners in Nicosia on our ongoing activities and called for deeper collaboration between the Europa Nostra Heritage Hubs.
The inauguration took place on 27 February, with an opening session at the University of Cyprus seeing the Chair of the Nicosia Hub and Europa Nostra Vice President Androula Vassiliou, Europa Nostra Secretary General Sneška Quaedvlieg–Mihailović, as well as other representatives from the Nicosia Hub partners and members of both Greek and Turkish communities taking the floor to kick off proceedings.
A key note address by HRH Dana Firas of Jordan, President of the Petra National Trust, highlighted the importance of the Nicosia Hub as a bridge between Europe and the Middle East, underlining the proximity of Cyprus to the Levant as well as the challenges to preserve the region’s rich cultural heritage. Cyprus’s Deputy Culture Minister Dr. Vasiliki Kassandiou also spoke to the gathered audience.
The next day, 28 February saw the first Forum organised by the Nicosia Hub at the Cyprus Institute entitled “Citizens’ Engagement in Preserving Cultural Heritage”. During the session, attendees found out about the work of the Kraków and Athens Heritage Hubs, as well as Din l-Art Ħelwa National Trust of Malta and the Turathuna Foundation based in Homs, Syria.
Two Europa Nostra-awarded projects were also highlighted during the Friday session on citizens’ engagement, including Acta Vista from Marseille and the La Paranza Cooperative in Naples.
It wouldn’t be an Europa Nostra gathering without visiting Nicosia’s key cultural institutions, and attendees had the opportunity to see antiquities and get to know the history of the island at the Cyprus Museum, the Leventis Municipal Museum, as well as a walking tour near the UN Buffer Zone in Nicosia and a visit to the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation.
Congratulations to the team in Cyprus and we look forward to collaborating with the Nicosia Heritage Hub in the future!
