30 YEARS OF CULTURAL ROUTES OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE: BUILDING DIALOGUE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH EUROPEAN VALUES AND  HERITAGE

The Council of Europe Cultural Routes Annual Advisory Forum 2017 will take place in Lucca on 27-29 September.

This year’s Advisory Forum will celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme, highlighting its past, present and future contributions to the promotion of the values of the Council of Europe in the field of human rights, cultural heritage and intercultural dialogue, with a particular attention to the role of sustainable, accessible cultural tourism.

Three main themes will be explored during the Forum:

  • 30 years of Cultural Routes history, values, and future perspectives ;
  • Cultural heritage and sustainable tourism: democratic participation, local development and accessibility – Comparing experiences in Europe and beyond;
  • Promoting cultural diversity, dialogue (Intercultural, Intergenerational,…) and cultural diplomacy.

To celebrate the 30th Anniversary, following the Official Opening at the Palazzo Ducale, we will mark this important occasion with an Awards Ceremony, Dinner and Concert at the Teatro del Giglio.

The Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe are a unique invitation to travel and to discover the rich and diverse heritage of Europe. They put into practice the values of the Council of Europe by bringing people and places together in transnational networks of shared history and heritage. The Forum will present best practices from our Council of Europe member States, Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe as well as new cultural route projects.

Participants in this year’s Forum will include high-level representatives from Council of Europe member States Ministries of Culture and Tourism, European Institutions, International Organisations, as well as tourism organisations and transnational networks. Presidents of the associations managing the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe and representatives from candidate cultural routes will attend, along with academics, experts and representatives from the culture and tourism industry.