Baltic World Heritage Capitals Meeting in Riga
Baltic World Heritage Capitals Meeting in Riga took place on July 8 – 10. The meeting was organised in the framework of the project „Advancement of UNESCO World Heritage sites’ maintenance in Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn“ financed through the Nordic-Baltic Mobility Programme „Culture“. The project is dedicated to the 25th anniversaries of inclusion of 3 Baltic cities to UNESCO World Heritage list. Vilnius celebrated the anniversary in 2019, Riga and Tallinn will celebrate it in 2021. Partners of the project are City Development Department of Riga City Council, Heritage Conservation Division of Tallinn City Council and Vilnius Old Town Renewal Agency.
The main objective of the project is to develop an open cross-city data and cooperation platform, reflecting a comparative state of affairs and advancement in maintenance of three historic cities: Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius – UNESCO World Heritage sites. One workshop will be organised in each city exchanging of experience and tendencies in the field of public involvement in heritage conservation, new constructions in historic cities and their buffer zones and conservation awareness rising of youth.
General state of the UNESCO World Heritage site‘s management affairs and preparation to the 25th anniversary celebration in 2021, maintenance, restoration and upgrade of the historic cities’ centers were presented during Riga meeting. Thematic presentations on public spaces‘ upgrade, new architecture in historic environment and community engagement issues followed during second half of the meeting. The exhibition „Preservation and maintenance of Vilnius Old Town 1994 – 2019“ prepared by Vilnius Old Town Renewal Agency was opened in Riga Town Hall on July 9, 2020.
The project will foster public recognition/awareness rising in better understanding of cultural heritage values, as well as modern historic urban landscape approach related with economic, social and cultural livability of cities. The project will be implemented during May 18, 2020 – May 17, 2021.
