Apr. 16 – The restoration training project in Armenia wins the Europa Nostra Award 2015. Europa Nostra, the leading organization for European heritage, revealed it today. The program, which took place in the Eurasian country, sought to promote best practices for heritage conservation, stimulating the international exchange of knowledge and skills. The project is the result of a collaboration between the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Politecnico di Milano and the Armenian Ministry of Culture, with a significant contribution from the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia. This year’s winners of the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards will be celebrated during a ceremony, co-presented by opera singer and president of Europa Nostra Plácido Domingo, scheduled for June 11 in Oslo. “What has most impressed the judges was the effectiveness of the collaboration between two neighboring or very close nations that share the same philosophy in relation to their past. The involvement of the Politecnico di Milano – explained the jury – ensured that the approach was strictly scientific and objective, and Armenia would not have really been able to get similar results without Italy’s technical skills. We recognize the Italian contribution, acknowledging that the benefits have been considerable and extended far beyond the borders of Armenia, reaching even the Armenian Diaspora.” (Cle)
