NEWS & EVENTS
Cultural heritage in Romania: final report on activities for promotion of villages with fortified churches

Activities for the promotion of villages with fortified churches in Transylvania, implemented within the Trust Fund for cultural heritage in SEE, closed in October 2007 with an extremely positive balance. Among others: opening of two cultural heritage info centres, thousands of promotional materials printed and distributed, creation of a dedicated website, organisation of cultural events, and the definition of new cooperation agreements with local and central authorities for the promotion of Romanian cultural heritage.

During 14 months of activity, the project for the promotion of villages with fortified churches in the Romanian region of Transylvania produced excellent results, as highlighted in the final report by the executing agency "Mioritics Association".

The project, led by the Culture section of UNESCO Office in Venice and identified in agreement with Romanian Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs, was focussed on the safeguarding and promotion of tangible and intangible cultural heritage of villages with fortified churches in the counties of Sibiu and Mures, through the implementation of three components: educational and awareness raising activities; promotion; cultural events.

In particular, the following results were accomplished:

Component 1: Education and awareness raising

- Organisation of educational activities on the importance of cultural heritage, in different 9 schools (6 schools in the villages, and in 3 schools in the town of Sighisoara). A total of over 200 pupils were involved, with activities tailored on local interests, programmes and pupils' age. Activities varied from specific lectures, to field excursions, dance and music classes, and drawing contests, all focussed on aspects of local cultural heritage. Special educational materials were produced for the purpose, eventually donated to the schools. Interest in future collaborations on the same topic was expressed by all involved schools.

- Organisation of 4 workshops on cultural heritage as a tool for local development. The workshops gathered different stakeholders from the villages (administrators, small entrepreneurs, representatives of civil society etc), in order to discuss about best strategies for preserving and promoting local cultural heritage, with an aim to supporting social and economic welfare. Activities led to the creation of a free association for the enhancement of cultural heritage in the Hartibaciul Valley, named "Hartibaciul Valley Local Action Group", already counting over 50 members in representations of local town halls, private companies, churches, schools, etc.

Component 2: Promotion

Promotional activities under the project focussed on three main actions:

- Creation of a dedicated website, in two language versions (English: www.fortified-churches.com ; Romanian: www.biserici-fortificate.com)

The website offers information and pictures about 41 villages and 4 main towns, and it counted over 6,300 single visitors since it was published. The site ranks in the first 2 positions on internet search engines, for related indexing (search key: fortified churches).

- Creation of printed promotional materials leaflets

The project allowed the creation of 10 different publications, for a total amounting to over 29,000 pieces printed so far. The list of publications include: Map of Fortified Churches of Transylvania (A4 format - 1,000 copies); Leaflet on Copsa Mare village and fortified church (A4 format - 250 copies); Map of the Brukenthal Cultural Route (A2 format - 3,000 copies in German and Romania languages); Map of Historical Center of Sighisoara (23 X 33 cm - 14,250 copies); 2007 - 2008 Fortified Churches Illustrated Calendar (A3 format - 600 copies); Brochure on Sighisoara Cultural Landscape (A5 format - 3,000 copies); Brochure on Mures County Cultural Landscape (A4 format - 2,000 copies); Map of Fortified Churches in Transylvania (23 x 33 cm - 5,250 copies)

The materials were distributed through the cultural heritage info centres (see below) and on occasion of several events and fairs.

- Set-up and opening of two Cultural Heritage Information Centres

One of the main outputs of the project was the creation of two Info centre on local cultural heritage, located one in Sibiu and one in Sighisoara. The centres have the objective of providing tourists with useful information on main features of local cultural heritage, while putting at their disposal a variety of tools (leaflets, info touch-screens, maps, etc) for an easier and more conscious enjoyment. The Info Centres, located at the very heart of both historical centres, proved to be a much-needed instrument, and encountered an immediate success in terms of number of visitors and visitors' feedback. They are open daily, 9am to 7pm, and employ a total of 4 staff, assisted by volunteers.

Since their opening, (Sibiu: April 2007; Sighisoara: June 2007), the Centres registered over 21.395 single visits (71,73% Foreign tourists; 28,27% Romanian), not considering visits by large guided tours (tourist coaches), with a terrific impact on the promotion of local cultural heritage.

The Centres acted as main point of distribution for the promotional materials realised during the same Project Component 2. Furthermore, they hosted some of the cultural events organised within Component 3, plus other specific meetings and workshops.

It is to be noted that the activity of the info Centres played an important catalytic role, leading to the definition of cooperation agreements with local (e.g. Sibiu County Council) and central (state Ministry responsible for tourism) authorities for the promotion of Romanian cultural heritage, which included the participation in tourism fairs and the set-up of collateral projects and initiatives.

Component 3: Cultural events

One of the main achievements of the project consisted in the organisation of 14 cultural events, during the period May-September 2007 (see below). All events took place in the villages and towns involved in the overall activities, and encountered an unexpected success of public, both in terms of tourists and local audience.

More importantly, the events were not offered as spot initiatives, but as experiences related to the fully enjoyment of the cultural framework they took place in, so acting as a further tool for promotion and awareness raising. The same selection of performances was based on criteria of cultural consistency.

Sibiu, 26 May - Ansamblul Baroc Transylvania (Cluj)

Dealu Frumos, 10 June - Ansamblul Flauto Dolce & Mihaela Maxim (Cluj)

Mediaş, 29 June - Ansamblul Einuiea (Bucureşti)

Alţâna, 1 July - Wilhelm Schmidts and Ansamblul Istoric Passamezzo (Cluj)

Şeica Mică, 8 July - Edith Toth and Gerhard Servatius-Depner (Mediaş)

Moşna, 29 July - Ansamblul Huniadi Cantores (Hunedoara)

Apold, 5 Auguts - Ansamblul Barocco Locco (Holand-Belgium-Germany)

Hosman, 12 August - Botond Kostyák (Switzerland-France) şi Ansamblul Trei Parale (Bucharest)

Bazna, 26 August - Ilse Maria Reich (Germany) and Ensemble Trecanum (France)

Biertan, 26 August - Ensemble Trecanum (France)

Biertan, 8 September - Ansamblul Baroc Transylvania (Cluj) and Ansamblul Einuiea (Bucharest)

Sighisoara, 22 September - European Heritage Days

Saschiz, 22 September - Concert Jugenbachchor (Brasov)

Cris, 22 September - Concert Jugenbachchor (Brasov)

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