EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards 2017

In 2017, the European Union Prizes for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards were presented to 29 winners from 18 countries at a moving ceremony held on 15th May 2017 at St. Michael’s Church in Turku, Finland.

The 7 Grand Prix laureates, chosen from among the 29 winning achievements of this year, were selected by an independent jury of experts and received €10,000 each.

Designed in 1930 to host cultural events, the building underwent a series of changes throughout the 20th century to become the city’s cinema, Ethnography Museum, library, and broadcasting centre, before being ruined by a fire in 1995.

Standing as a shell until 2012, the municipality of Blaj has restored the building to reflect its original design, despite a modest budget.

By reclaiming the ruin, the building can now once again be used for cultural events, from concerts, to film projections, to exhibitions.

The jury appreciated that the project has "successfully evoked the lost architecture of this ruined historic building with minimal interventions. They have solely used the remains of the existing fabric without demolitions and with the addition of only the most essential facilities and structural elements.”

Vlad Rusu, the architect of the Cultural Palace, received a Grand Prix in category Conservation from Placido Domingo, President of Europa Nostra.

As a conservator and art historian, Mr. Meder has spent his entire career working in the conservation and restoration of architectural and cultural heritage, in recording and documenting cultural monuments and in raising awareness of Croatian culture. He has acted as the first response to numerous threats to Croatia’s heritage.

Mr. Meder’s dedication to his profession was evident in the way he has fought to improve the public institutions and services which enable the profession to function in the best way possible.

The local ceremony honouring Mr Ferdinand Meder took place at the Croatian State Archives in Zagreb on 22 May 2017.

Ferdinand Meder and John Sell, Executive Vice-President of Europa Nostra.

Nepalese Sherpas were actively involved in the renovation process, thanks to their knowledge of dry stone walling (a technique largely lost in Norway), while two German travelling craftsman assisted with traditional carpentry.

With Norwegian apprentices working alongside them, there was a transfer of skills and exchange of dialogue that crossed continents.

The jury emphasised that the road was "not an invention, but the revitalisation of a heritage site," giving it particular importance to the local communities.

Bjørne Grimsrud, Director of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, received a Grand Prix in category Conservation from Plácido Domingo, President of Europa Nostra.

Over 1 million people visited the spectacular exhibitions in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Madrid, while the research led to eleven conservation treatments.

“The comparably small team has evidently worked with devotion and with a keen understanding of the historical, cultural and social context of Bosch,“ highlighted the jury.

Robert G. Erdmann said that the recognition from the award will further motivate those involved and hopefully serve as a future model for what can be made possible with cooperation. He received a Grand Prix in category Research from European Commissioner Tibor Navracsics.

The jury noted its non-invasive, reversible, and elegant design, which “does not in any way attempt to replicate anything which has come before.”


Salvador Foronda Vaquero, Deputy Mayor of Burgos received a Grand Prix in category Conservation from Placido Domingo, President of Europa Nostra.

Featuring a hospital, residence, spa, cemetery, church, pharmacy and follies, the complex has had a wide range of purposes throughout its long history, from being home to young offenders to housing the regional archives. However, in recent years it had fallen into disrepair.

“The restoration work of the Kuks hospital, an integrated project of building and landscape conservation, is of the highest quality. Its multi-, interdisciplinary approach is commendable and should serve as a strong example for conservation projects across Europe,” said the jury.

Oldřich Pešek, Project Manager of the Czech National Heritage Institute, stated that the Kuks Complex can set an example to future conservation projects, and highlighted the importance of creative thinking and new ideas when restoring cultural heritage.

Mr Pešek received a Grand Prix in category Conservation from European Commissioner Tibor Navracsics.

Housed in a renovated flour mill, the museum and research centre spans four floors and houses over 1,500 paintings and 500 textile items, as well as thousands of books, photographs, and memorabilia.

The contents promote Cypriot cultural heritage through artefacts depicting Greek and Turkish communities living together in peace.

The Centre provides a permanent home for the unique collection of Costa and Rita Severis, who have spent 25 years amassing it, and a forum for research and discussion of the framework for reconciliation and understanding among all of Cyprus’ communities. It was made possible with help from USIAD, EEA & Norway Grants, UNDP-ACT and the De Minimis programme.

Costas Severis, Chairman of Board of Directors of the Centre of Visual Arts and Research, said the key focus of the Centre is on what unites Cypriots, rather than on what divides them. He further stated that such a message of understanding should be adopted by negotiations, or else they will not go forward.

Mr Severis received a Grand Prix in category Education, Training and Awareness-Raising from Plácido Domingo, President of Europa Nostra.

The Public Choice Award, which was chosen via an online poll, with 11,500 people voting in total this year, was also presented on this occasion.

Mr Kallós is the most prominent collector of both tangible and intangible heritage of Hungarian, Romanian, Saxon, and Roma communities of Transylvania. Without his dedicated work over the last 70 years in spite of difficult political circumstances, much of the evidence of rich European folk culture would be lost.

Ágnes Mogyorósi, Curator at the Kallós Zoltán Foundation accepts the Public Choice Award on behalf of Mr. Zoltán Kallós from Denis de Kergorlay, Executive President of Europa Nostra, and Athanasia Micha from Greece, voter of the Public Choice Award who won a trip to attend the Ceremony in Turku.

Mr Kallós was unable to attend the ceremony, and so sent a video message instead.

On 18 May, a local award ceremony was held in his hometown of Rascruci in Cluj County, Romania.

Mr Zoltán Kallós was presented the Award from European Commissioner Tibor Navracsics.