The winners of the Costa Carras European Citizens’ Awards
for the Safeguard of Endangered Heritage 2024 were announced.
Stéphane Bern, a famous French journalist and cultural heritage advocate, wins the Gold Award.
The Silver Prize is awarded jointly:
the Greek organisation Archilochos – Cultural Association of Paros, and
the Turkish organisation Haydarpaşa Solidarity for Society, City and Environment
Brussels / Hague / Athens, 21 March 2024
The winners of the Costa Carras European Citizens Awards for the Safeguard of Endangered Cultural and Natural Heritage 2024 were announced today. Stéphane Bern, a renowned journalist, radio and television presenter, and a prominent heritage advocate from France-Luxembourg won the Gold Award for his exemplary work in raising public awareness of the need to save endangered cultural heritage in France and the rest of Europe.
The Jury awarded the newly created Silver Prize jointly to two organisations, Archilochos – Cultural Association of Paros (Greece) and Haydarpaşa Solidarity for Society, City and Environment (Turkey), for successfully organising local citizens’ movements to promote and preserve their cultural and natural heritage.
The Award Ceremony took place on 10 April 2024, in the framework of the Delphi Economic Forum. The ceremony was held in the presence of H.E. the President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, and H.E. the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar.
The Costa Carras European Citizens’ Awards for Safeguard of Endangered Heritage and Heritage Preservation were established in 2023 by EUROPA NOSTRA and ELLINIKI ETAIRIA Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage in memory of Costa Carras, an iconic advocate for the protection of the environment and cultural heritage in Greece and Europe. The founding partners of the Awards are the A.G. Leventis Foundation, the Delphi Economic Forum and the European Investment Bank Institute. The Gold and Silver Prizes are generously funded by the A.G. Leventis Foundation.
The response to the 2024 call for proposals was impressive. 22 applications were received from Belgium, France, Georgia, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, France, Georgia, Italy, Norway, Ukraine, Serbia, Spain, Spain, Turkey and Ukraine. Based on this response, the Silver Award was established this year.
Gold Award for Stéphane Bern (France / Luxembourg)
Reacting to the announcement, Stéphane Bern commented: “For all heritage defenders, the name of Costa Carras brings to mind fifty years of tireless struggles for the historical heritage and the natural environment in Europe. Vice-President of Europa Nostra and founder of the ELLINIKI ETAIRIA, Costa Carras showed us how to protect and preserve heritage that cannot continue to exist without the support of the people. As a lover of Greece, where I have been an occasional resident for twenty-four years, as a fervent defender of French cultural heritage and as a European, I am honoured to receive the European Citizens’ Prize “Costa Carras”. It is a real encouragement to continue the action that I have been carrying out for seven years, at the request of the President of the French Republic and with the help of the Fondation du Patrimoine, to safeguard every year some 120 monuments at risk, which are highlighted by the public, who then participate in their restoration thanks to the Heritage Lottery that I have been able to launch with the Française des Jeux. To date, we have managed to select 875 monuments that have been or are in the process of being rescued. I dedicate this Costas Carras Prize to all my compatriots who have realised that we are all, collectively and individually, custodians of our historical heritage“.
The jury of the prize said: “Stéphane Bern is a worthy winner of the European Costa Carras Prize because of his consistent commitment to the preservation and defence of Europe’s cultural heritage. Known as “Mr Heritage” in France, Bern’s influential television programmes have given impetus to important actions to protect cultural heritage in his country. “Mission Bern”, a special mission entrusted to Stéphane Bern (who acted in a purely voluntary capacity) – initiated by the Fondation du Patrimoine and supported by the Ministry of Culture – also included the creation of the innovative Heritage Lottery (Loto du Patrimoine), together with the Française des Jeux, which helped to directly fund and raise much-needed awareness of hundreds of heritage sites in France. S. Bern’s efforts extend beyond France, as it has raised awareness on a European and global scale through its many television programmes dedicated to European heritage. His tireless efforts, culminating in the successful restoration of the former Royal and Military College of Thiron-Gardais, epitomize his profound impact on the preservation of endangered heritage.“
Stéphane Bern’s mission is characterised by his multi-dimensional efforts to raise awareness of endangered heritage in Europe. Beginning his career with television shows focusing on French heritage, he has since broadened his vision to include the preservation of European heritage through books and radio podcasts. His unwavering commitment led to the creation of the Stéphane Bern Foundation for History and Heritage, which is affiliated with the Institut de France. In addition, in 2022, Bern created the Association for Former Royal and Military Academies to facilitate academic exchanges between the various campuses, revitalizing their heritage and promoting their history.
The Heritage Lottery was established in 2017, after President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron entrusted Stéphane Byrne with the task – on a voluntary basis – of identifying endangered heritage and seeking new sources of funding for its restoration. Thanks to the commitment of the French people to their heritage, almost 230 million euros have been allocated to support restoration work on all the sites selected since the beginning of this effort. Support has been provided for the restoration of more than 850 sites. Today, more than 500 sites have already been or will be rescued.
S. Bern’s mission transcends borders, as demonstrated by its commitment to promoting European heritage through television programmes such as “Bons baisers d’Europe” and “Viennese Getaway”. His work has garnered international attention, inspiring other European countries to consider adopting similar strategies to safeguard endangered heritage.
Stéphane Bern’s efforts have been recognised at both national and European level. He has been honoured with numerous awards, including the European Heritage Prize / Europa Nostra Award in 2018, in recognition of his successful efforts to safeguard French heritage and save historic monuments and sites under threat.
Silver Award for two outstanding organisations from Greece and Turkey
Archilochos – Cultural Association of Paros (Greece)
Archilochos – Cultural Association of Paros was founded in 1976 and has played a key role in promoting local culture and preserving the unique environment of the island. Through initiatives such as the “Citizen’s Movement”, it has actively involved the community in addressing pressing issues, from improving healthcare to preserving the natural environment. Despite the transformations it has undergone over time, Archilochos remains a major force in shaping the cultural and environmental landscape of Paros and the Cyclades.
Archilochos emerged on the European scene after the summer of 2023, when the citizens of Paros gathered the support of various organizations and created the “Citizens’ Movement” for the preservation of the environmental heritage of the Cycladic coast and the claim of free beaches for residents (also called the “Towel Movement” by the media). The movement gained traction both nationally and internationally, inspiring similar initiatives in other regions. Archilochus has been an active advocate for the conservation of natural and cultural landscapes through petitions, protests and communication campaigns. This activism led to the public recognition of the issue by the Minister of Environment and the Supreme Court (Supreme Court) in Greece, and the mobilization of the relevant authorities, including the Syros Prosecutor of Appeals. Demonstrating its continued adaptability and dedication to preserving the Cycladic character of the island of Paros, Archilochos continues to promote democratic decision-making and community participation.
The jury of the award stated: “Archilochos is an outstanding citizens’ movement and its activities, on the island of Paros and on a wider national scale, are a striking reflection of the way in which citizens can raise their voices to safeguard the environmental heritage of the Cycladic coastline.“
Archilochos said of its award: “It is a great honour to be awarded with the Costa Carras Silver Award. This act validates the efforts of all those citizens who fought last summer, creating a pan-European movement for the protection of our coasts, public space and environment. This award gives us the strength and courage to continue our efforts to protect the threatened natural and cultural heritage of our land.“
Haydarpaşa Solidarity for Society, City and Environment (Turkey)
Haydarpaşa Solidarity for Society, City and Environment, founded in 2005, is a dedicated supporter of the preservation and development of the historic Haydarpaşa railway station in Istanbul. Over the years, the organization has led a multi-faceted campaign, including legal action and grassroots activism, along with partners such as the Transport Employees Union and the TMMOB Chamber of Architects. The organisation’s mission extends beyond Turkey, as a unique example of urban social movements globally. By organizing both city and labor movements, Haydarpaşa has established a pioneering approach to addressing contemporary urban challenges and preserving cultural heritage.
Haydarpaşa Railway Station, located in Kadıköy, on the eastern side of Istanbul, is not only a transport hub but also an integral part of the city’s cultural and social fabric. Built in 1908 by German architects Otto Riter and Helmut Cuno, its neo-Renaissance exterior and its Baroque and Gothic interiors reflect its rich architectural heritage.Despite facing threats from urban transformation projects, including proposals to turn it into a hotel or museum, the organization’s tireless efforts have successfully defended the station’s role as a public space and transportation hub. Through a 19-year struggle marked by protests, occupations and cultural events, Haydarpaşa has not only preserved the station but also promoted dialogue and community cohesion, becoming a powerful example of grassroots activism and the “right to the city” movement globally.
The jury of the award stated: “Haydarpaşa / Solidarity for Society, City and Environment has remained committed for almost 20 years to defending the iconic architectural heritage of this railway station. As a rich and diverse activity involving many important partners, it has been and remains exemplary of an active urban social movement in Turkey and beyond.“
The Haydarpaşa organisation said of its award: “Since 2005, Haydarpaşa railway station has been facing the threat of losing its historical and industrial function in the name of urban transformation. In response, Haydarpaşa/Solidarity has been waging a legal fight and a street fight to ensure that its original architectural structure and its connection to the trains are preserved for future generations. Being awarded the Costa 2024 Costa 2024 Silver Award is an honour that will strengthen our ongoing struggle. “
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: Ştefan Bâlici, Director General of the National Institute of Cultural Heritage (Romania), Lydia Carras, Founder and Vice President of the ELLINIKI ETAIRIA for Environment and Cultural Heritage (Greece), Fani Mallouhou-Tufano, Professor – Conservation, Restoration, Management of Architectural Monuments and Ensembles, School of Architecture, Technical University of Crete and Vice President of the Conservation Committee of Acropolis Monuments (ESMA) (Greece), Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, Secretary General of the Committee (Netherlands/Serbia), Bruno Rossignol, Head of Climate and Heritage Programme – European Investment Bank Institute (France), and Paolo Vitti, Associate Professor, School of Architecture, University of Notre Dame (Italy).
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
MORE INFORMATION
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 “.
