The Kraków Heritage Forum (KHF) is a unique initiative providing a space for dialogue, experience sharing, and collaboration among NGOs, informal groups, and activists working on the cultural heritage of Kraków. Launched in December 2023 as part of the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub project, the meetings aim to support the social, ecological, and digital transformations in the protection and promotion of the city’s heritage. Since then, 14 such meetings have taken place where the local heritage community debated potential solutions and identified key needs such as protecting and promoting the city’s culinary heritage and promoting Fortress Kraków – the largest fortress complex in Europe.
The report highlights Kraków’s potential to become a leader in creating best practices in supporting the social and cultural sectors. Only through joint efforts, openness to innovation, and socio-political engagement can Kraków effectively protect and promote its heritage as a key element of identity and appeal for residents and tourists.
Key to success is a systematic approach, including:
– recognising and appreciating the role of NGOs as crucial partners in cultural policy;
– developing and establishing mechanisms for dialogue between the public sector and NGOs;
– supporting the role of NGOs in heritage protection through stable financing, flexible support mechanisms, and promoting a culture of philanthropy;
– investing in skills development through training and mentoring programs, simplifying bureaucracy, and supporting access to information;
– encouraging intergenerational engagement by creating programmes that attract young people to the NGO sector and enable knowledge transfer across generations.
