Evaluation of the Cultural Heritage Sector under the EEA-Norway Grants 2004-2009

 

Status: Complete

Duration: 2011

Partners: EEA and Norway Grants Scheme, Local Stakeholders, Involved parties with the evaluated projects. 

 

In 2011 CIE was involved in the evaluation of various projects which had been funded by the EEA-Norway Grants between 2004-2009. The purpose of the evaluation was an assessment of these projects to evaluate how far the goals have been achieved, to highlight best-practices, and give recommendations for future projects. It is the aim that this evaluation will contribute towards the learning processes and inform future policy-making. Our evaluation work was carried out using document analysis, desk-based research as well as field visits to the projects themselves, meeting with the involved heritage professionals as well as undertaking interviews with the relevant stakeholders. The countries which had projects under assessment were: Bulgaria, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. 

 

The objective of the cultural fund was to safeguard, conserve and make publically accessible cultural and natural heritage for future generations. The key evaluative qualities centered around how far the projects promoted local identity and how far the projects had considered local and regional development strategies based upon local knowledge. It also sought to investigate how far these projects could be seen to be supporting the capacity building of the local public sector. Our work also had to ask the question- who's heritage was being protected, which narratives were chosen, and subsequently were any groups' history being left out? The conclusions from these questions could help us to improve the way the grants are distributed in the future, and how successful partnerships can be established in the future. 

 

CIE's Field Visits: 

In 2011 CIE visited a number of different EEA-Norway Grants funded projects across Europe. Below is a list of the different organisations or projects visited per country by CIE in the process of conducting our research on behalf of the EEA-Norway Grants. 

 

Bulgaria:

Digitising and preserving the written legacy of Bulgaria in Sofia. 

'Sofia Arsenal' Museum for Contemporary Art-SAMCA. 

Reconstruction of the Onbashieva House as part of the Vassil Levski National Museum in Karlovo. 

Archaeological examination of the Tracian-Roman Dynasty centre in the region of the Chirpan Eminences, in Bratya Daskalovi. 

 

Hungary:

Hungary Digital project- Digitising a portion of the Magyar Tavirati Iroda Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag (MTI Hungarian News Agency) historical photo archive- to preserve images and enable broad scale access, in Budapest

The Baroque Heritage- Flowering Community Project in Szekesfehervar. 

European Roman Special College of Music Project in Veszprem. 

Preservation of the cultural and historical heritage of the 1000 Years of Episcopate of Pecs. 

 

Lithuania: 

The preservation and sustainable use of the heritage of Pazaislis Camaldolse Monastery in Kaunas

The application of the wooden Nemajunai St. Peter and St. Paul's church buildings for public use in Nemajunai 

Restoration of the Kelme Region museum barn and its adjustment to museum, cultural and educational purposes in Kelme. 

 

Poland:

Regio Ferrea- The project of preservation of an Old Foundry in Starachowice. 

Renovation and modernisation of the gallery of 19th century Polish Art in the Sukiennice, Kracow. 

Cultural Education Centre in Boleslawiec; the first stage- building of Boleslawiec Centre of Arts

Museum of Technical Science and Transportation- Art Depot in Szczecin

 

Romania:

Restoration of the Gabroveni Inn in Bucharest. 

Restoration and revitalisation of the Butcher's Fortress in Baia Mare, Maramures. 

Sector for Hydro-Powered Technical equipment at  the museum in Sighetu Marmatiel, Maramures. 

Conservation and restoration of ethnographic heritage project at the ASTRA Museum of Traditional Folk Civilisation in Dumbrava Sibiului. 

 

Slovakia:

Conservation of European cultural heritage- the reneval of the Evangelical church in Batovce

The Green house cultural heritage preservation project in Banska Stiavnica

Reconstruction of the town hall in Skalica

Project to increase the presentation capability, heredity, historicity and extraordinary exhibits at the Museum of Wheels in Trencin. 

 

Slovenia: 

Evaluation of Lively Old Town project- integrated approach to the old town renewal in the Gorenjska region

Youth Hostel Situla- Museum as a living space

Evaluation of  the renovation of Skratelij's homestead into a Museum of Slovene film actors in Divaca