Delphi , 27 April 2023
In a packed hall, in the presence of the President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the first European Citizens Award “Costa Carras” for the Safeguard of Endangered Cultural and Natural Heritage was awarded on Wednesday 26 April 2023.
More than 100 participants gathered to honour the winners and the memory of Costa Carras, founder of the HELLENIC Society for Environment and Culture and Vice President for many years of Europa Nostra. The award ceremony was organised in the framework of the Delphi 2023 Economic Forum, moderated by Jimmy Jamar, Head of Europa Nostra’s Brussels Office.
The award was presented to the Romanian organisation ARA – the Association (Architecture. Restoration. Archaeology) for its pioneering work in mobilising citizens in the country to protect and promote Roșia Montană, in the Transylvania region (Romania).
The Award was established this year by Europa Nostra and ELLET in memory of Costa Carras, an iconic figure in the protection of the environment and cultural heritage in Greece and internationally. Founding Partners are the A.G. Leventis Foundation, the Delphi Economic Forum and the European Investment Bank Institute.
During the award ceremony, General Secretary of Europa Nostra,Sneska Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic, said: “With the launch of the European Prize we want to commemorate and spread the ideas of this great European who was always ahead of his time. A brilliant mind, a legendary voice, calling for “Examples” since he, together with his wife Lydia and a small number of visionaries, founded the Elliniki Etairia 50 years ago!
For Europa Nostra, this is also a symbolic act to honour the legacy of one of our greatest leaders, especially this year as we celebrate our 60th anniversary. But this award is much more than a recognition for our Costas, it is our way of encouraging modern and future generations of Europe’s citizens to follow his example.“
Andreas Zobanakis, ELLET Board Member, spoke of everyone’s satisfaction at the establishment of this important Award which celebrates the life and work of K. Karras and is an inspiration for the successors of his work. He also stressed Kostas Karras’ “deep belief in the transformative power of civil society”.
The Founder and President of the Delphi Economic Forum, Simeon Tsomokos, thanked the General Secretary of Europa Nostra Sneska Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic and the President of the ELLINIKI ETAIRIA Society for Environment and Cultural Heritaeg, Lydia Carras, and referred to the work of Costa Carras with warm words. And he will be remembered not only for his inexhaustible passion and his vision for the protection of the cultural heritage of our country and Europe, for the protection of nature and the environment, but also for his deeply philosophical attitude to life throughout his life”. He also stated that “we are ready and willing to award the Costas Karras Prize every year during the Delphi Forum”.
Anastasios Leventis, President of the A.G. Leventis Foundation, said in his message: “It is a great pleasure for us to support this prestigious award in memory of such an important person for the preservation of cultural and natural heritage.” He also stressed that the European character of the Prize is in perfect harmony with the outstanding international activity of Costa Carras.
Maria Nathaniel, representative of the European Investment Bank, expressed her institution’s strong appreciation for the initiative of the Costa Carras European Citizens’ Prize. She stressed that the EIB – whose Institute is a proud partner of the “7 Most Endangered” programme run by Europa Nostra – considers cultural heritage an integral part of sustainable economic and development practices and pledged to support similar initiatives that promote and preserve Europe’s cultural and natural heritage.
Presenting the Award to the representatives of the winning organisation A.R.A., ELLET President Lydia Carras said: “So it would be very happy (Costa Carras) that the A.R.A. organisation in Romania won the unanimous vote of the European jury for their campaign for Rosia Montana. As he often did, they fought against all odds, persevered and did not give up. This prize is awarded to Delphi, a place he loved very much, as this landscape – full of history and culture – always gave him strength. He would also be very happy with a prize for European citizens for heritage and nature under threat. He believed deeply in the role of citizens for democracy as well as for cultural heritage and the environment.“
Receiving the award, Claudia Apostol, representative of A.R.A. said with obvious emotion.”…For all this, and for the award we are honoured to receive today, we thank Europa Nostra for its continued support, as well as the HELLENIC SOCIETY. Also all our partners but especially the very active local community. We look forward to returning to Rosia Montana next weekend to share the joy of this award with everyone and everyone individually.“
A congratulatory message was read at the end of the award ceremony by Adriana Ciamba, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Romania. Ms. Ciamba congratulated the A.R.A. for its tireless efforts and commitment to the preservation of Roșia Montană which she described as “little Romania” due to its multicultural character and millennial history.
A.R.A. will receive a prize money of 10,000 euros which it has committed to use for the restoration of the chapel of the Roman Catholic cemetery in Roșia Montană.
The cultural importance of Roşia Montană
The landscape of Roşia Montană in the western region of the Carpathians was gradually shaped by gold and silver mining, from prehistoric surface works to deep underground galleries, which continued in the medieval and modern times until the 1970s. Over the centuries, settlers coming from different parts of Europe created communities with an interesting cultural diversity, to mention only the 5 denominations (Catholic, Orthodox, Greek Catholic, Unitarian, Calvinist), whose churches and houses still bear witness to their way of life. All the features of the area – paths, roads, reservoirs, water channels, sealing areas and Roşia Montană itself – demonstrate a positive interaction between man and the environment, which has resulted in one of the most representative mining landscapes in Europe. The site as a whole and 50 of its elements are listed as historical monuments and two geological formations as natural monuments. In 2021, the historic mining landscape of Roşia Montană was simultaneously inscribed on the List of World Heritage Sites and the List of World Heritage Sites in Danger.
A major threat to the site and the vast surrounding area was the large-scale opencast mining project. The disaster was averted thanks to the massive mobilization of citizens together with other national and international organizations and various local NGOs who supported an alternative, sustainable, long-term development project based on the special characteristics of the area – the mining landscape, cultural and natural heritage.
ARA – the Association (Architecture. Restoration. Archaeology) was founded in 2006, bringing together architects, restorers, archaeologists, art historians and engineers involved in heritage research, who decided to expand their activity to better know, understand and protect this heritage.
ARA’s activity in Rosia Montana began in 2007, at a time when a new and particularly large mining project was being prepared, the community was in the process of relocation and the cultural heritage was under serious threat. Early actions included direct mobilization campaigns to save two valuable and threatened community buildings, developed with the participation of students from architecture schools and local people. This was the starting point for an ongoing presence in the area, with activities combining research and documentation, emergency work, teaching and transmission of skills and knowledge, planning and conservation and restoration projects, heritage communication and presentation, and development of participatory/community processes. Such actions have continued since then, partly in the form of Summer Schools for architecture students, Voluntary Camps and, since 2012, under the “Adopt a House in Roșia Montană” project.
The “Adopt a House in Roșia Montană” project, a cultural heritage and community rescue and protection project, creates a link between local owners of historic buildings, heritage professionals and donors or volunteers. All the traditional houses, churches and public buildings of the miners of Roșia Montană and neighbouring villages are at the heart of this project, which aims to protect and promote the valuable and spectacular historic environment of the site, with a focus on built heritage and ensuring it is well cared for and passed on to future generations.
The programme includes gathering information, conducting public presentations and consultations, coordinating research and projects, providing professional advice, securing planning and licensing of projects, providing education and promoting awareness of the value of heritage conservation to society. The long-term goal of the project is to bring about change through community empowerment and support of historic preservation volunteers, building restoration and the renewal of the Roșia Montană community and its surroundings.
The European Jury
The jury of the Prize, chaired by Guy Clausse, Executive Vice-President of Europa Nostra (Luxembourg), is composed of experts in the fields of cultural heritage and communication: Fani Mallouhou-Tufano, Professor – Conservation, Restoration, Management of Architectural Monuments and Ensembles, School of Architecture, Polytechnic University of Crete (Greece), Paolo Vitti, Associate Professor, School of Architecture, University of Notre Dame (Italy), Simone Mizzi, Europa Nostra Council Member (Malta), and Bruno Rossignol, Head of Climate and Heritage Programme – European Investment Bank Institute (France).
The jury unanimously and enthusiastically agreed on the first winner of the European Citizens’ Prize “Costas Karras” for Safeguarding Endangered Heritage, said:
“Since its foundation in 2006, the civil society organisation ARA ( Architecture. Restoration. Archaeology.) from Romania has played a decisive role in coordinating the campaign to save Roșia Montană with its endangered landscape and cultural heritage. With very modest financial means, but with a huge mobilization of dedicated volunteers – at local, national and international level – they managed to convince the Romanian authorities to prioritize sustainable heritage-driven development and successfully submitted the application for the inscription of the historic mining landscape of Roșia Montană on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Their skilled and courageous work is truly exemplary and inspires citizens all over Europe to strongly appropriate their cultural and natural heritage and commit to its safeguarding.
By awarding the first Costa Carras European Citizens Award to ARA, Europa Nostra wishes to reiterate its strong commitment to embracing and disseminating the values of sustainable development, which includes the necessary respect for Europe’s cultural heritage and landscape, as well as the vital role of citizens and local communities in deciding on the future of the cultural landscapes with which they are closely associated. It also underlines the vital link between the preservation of cultural heritage and respect for the rule of law with the right to cultural heritage and a healthy environment as fundamental human rights,” the jury added.
ARA representatives said of their award: “It is a great privilege for us that the first prize in memory of Kostas Karras, one of the most important pioneers of European cultural heritage, goes to Roșia Montană, which he knew, appreciated and for whose preservation he fought tenaciously… We believe that his voice in support of sustainable development in Roșia Montana, as raised in 2014 during a mission within the “7 Under Threat” project, is heard again today through this prize. We are glad that in recent years this scenario of sustainable development driven by cultural heritage, as envisioned by Costas Karras himself at the time, is beginning to take shape thanks to a mobilization that has begun to grow beyond the efforts of our organization, and that has found numerous allies in the community, among experts and in public authorities. This award is therefore deserved by a wider group than our association, ARA, wider even than the participants in the Adopt a House project, which includes locals, professionals, artisans, volunteers, students and many remote supporters.“
CONTACTS
EUROPA NOSTRA
Joana Pinheiro
jp@europanostra.org, +31 6 34 36 59 85 / www.europanostra.org
ELLINIKI ETAIRIA
Katerina Stebili
sepi@ellinikietairia.gr, +30 210 32 25 245
“ARA – Architecture. Restoration. Archaeology”
Claudia Apostol
Volunteer and Comunication Coordinator for
the Adopt a House in Roșia Montană Programme, ARA
contact@adoptaocasa.ro, +40 731 383 333
Photos
https://www.flickr.com/photos/europanostra/albums/72177720307662540/with/52834016829/
MORE INFORMATION
Costa Carras European Citizens Award for the Safeguard of Endangered Cultural and Natural Heritage
The Costa Carras European Citizens Award for the Safeguard of Endangered Cultural and Natural Heritage
EUROPA NOSTRA and the ELLINIKI ETIAIRIA for the Environment and Cultural Heritage have established in 2023 the Costa Carras European Citizens Award for the Safeguard of Endangered Cultural and Natural Heritage. For more than 50 years, Costa Carras has worked tirelessly for the cultural heritage of Greece and Europe, with the aim of creating a more sustainable, inclusive and beautiful world for future generations. The Costa Carras European Citizens Award for the Safeguard of Endangered Cultural and Natural Heritage honours the legacy of this iconic advocate of Europe’s common heritage and values and will inspire and encourage citizens to join in defending the values he championed.
The European Citizenship Award “Costas Karras” is awarded annually to a European citizen, a group of individuals or a civil society organisation based in Europe for a successful and exemplary public mobilisation campaign to save endangered heritage in their country or in another region in Europe. The winner of the Gold Award will receive a cash prize of €10,000 and a certificate. The winner of the Silver Prize will receive a cash prize of €5,000 and a certificate. The Founding Partners of the Awards are the A.G. Leventis Foundation, the Delphi Economic Forum and the European Investment Bank Institute.
EUROPA NOSTRA
Europa Nostra is the European voice of civil society committed to safeguarding and promoting cultural and
natural heritage. It is a pan-European federation of heritage NGOs, supported by a wide network of public
bodies, private companies and individuals, covering over 40 countries. It is the most representative heritage
network in Europe, maintaining close relations with the European Union, the Council of Europe, UNESCO and
other international bodies. Founded in 1963, Europa Nostra celebrated its 60th anniversary last year.
Europa Nostra campaigns to save Europe’s endangered monuments, sites and landscapes, in particular through
the 7 Most Endangered Programme. It celebrates and disseminates excellence through the European Heritage
Awards / Europa Nostra Awards. Europa Nostra actively contributes to the definition and implementation of
European strategies and policies related to heritage, through a participatory dialogue with European Institutions
and the coordination of the European Heritage Alliance.
Europa Nostra has led the European consortium selected by the European Commission to run the European
Heritage Hub pilot project (2023-2025). It is also an official partner of the New European Bauhaus initiative
developed by the European Commission, and is a leading European member and supporter of the Climate Heritage Network.
ELLINIKI ETAIRIA – Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage
ELLINIKI ETAIRIA – Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage (ELLET) – a non-profit, non-governmental
association – has been fighting since 1972 for the protection of the environment and our cultural heritage.
ELLET’s action covers 3 main axes: a) Conservation/restoration projects of cultural heritage and natural
environment; b) Institutional interventions to safeguard our common heritage (documented studies and
proposals to policy-makers): for coastal and forest protection, tourism planning, carrying capacity,
environmental tax reform and adaptation to climate change. c) Awareness raising and education on natural and
human-made environment issues, with programs at all levels. ELLET is the Country Representation of Europa Nostra in Greece and cooperates with the Council of Europe, the European Union, UNESCO, the European Environmental Bureau and other bodies. ELLET received the European Citizen Award 2012 (European Parliament) and the Athens Academy Awards in 2002 “for 50 years of continuous and successful actions to protect our cultural heritage and the environment of Greece “.
