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The SUSTCULT project “achieving SUSTainability through an integrated approach to the management of CULTural heritage” co-financed by the SEE transnational cooperation programme, after more than 3 years of intense activity is organizing its Final Conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia on 8 April 2014.

Started in January 2011, SUSTCULT is a European Union 3-year-project co-funded by the South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Programme - Jointly for our common future. The project gathered 12 European partners and was joined by the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, Venice (Italy).

The Project, led by the City of Venice, focused on integrated and innovative approaches and tools for improving cultural heritage site management throughout the SEE region. SUSTCULT partners shared a common challenge, that of strengthening cultural heritage management as an integral part of the sustainable development process of urban centers and surrounding areas and as a driver for boosting local economies.

During the project lifetime, partners have successfully experimented participative approaches in decision-making during the process of heritage management planning. Partners have successfully advanced the process of effective Heritage site management through the development of a common methodology capable of valorizing the complexity of the SEE cultural heritage.

The final conference event will give further insights into the results of the project, analyze funding opportunities and look at future potential project ideas. The event will bring together international organizations, European networks, government officials, other European cultural projects and cultural organizations to share best practices and solutions to heritage site protection and promotion issues.

The official opening of the Final SUSTCULT Conference will be made by: Luigi Bassetto, Director Institutional Affairs, City of Venice; Crtomir Spacapan, Director, Regional Development Agency of Nova Gorica; and, Gvido Bratina, Vice Rector for Research and Arts, University of Nova Gorica. This session will present the SEE Programme: results of the 2007-2013 programming period; challenges of cultural heritage management in the SEE region - setting the scene; and, capacity building and cultural heritage management.

Session 1 will deal with the approach and results of the SUSTCULT project; presentations on SUSCTULT project activities, results and integrated approach to cultural heritage planning and management. Session 2 will consist of a round table on “The management of heritage sites: achievements, opportunities and challenges”. Session 3 will open discussions on a number of topics: how to finance Cultural Heritage protection and promotion in the 2014-2020 Programming period; the Danube Programme, Adriatic-Ionian Programme and Balkan-Mediterranean Programme; and, the Central Europe Programme and Alpine Space Programme. Session 4 will finally set the tone for the workshop "From SUSTCULT onward: development of Cultural Heritage management project ideas in the 2014-2020 programming period". The workshop activities will be aimed at identifying common fields of reflection and interest based on SUSTCULT findings and challenges. Participants will be engaged in collaborative work which help to share priorities and themes for future joint initiatives in Cultural Heritage Management.

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Many valuable heritage sites in the South-East European region are under pressure. Improving the effectiveness of cultural sites management is a priority and a great cultural and political challenge throughout the region.

The SUSTCULT approach is that cultural heritage has a social and ecological intrinsic significance which shall be safeguarded as a source of sustainable development (SD).The project's main objective is to improve the effectiveness of heritage sites management through the development of a common methodology capable of valorizing the complexity of the SEE cultural heritage.

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