European Heritage Label proposed for the city of Varkaus
The Ministry of Education and Culture proposes Varkaus ‘a living industrial cultural heritage’ as Finland's nomination for the European Heritage Label.
The European Heritage Label is a cultural heritage action under the auspices of the European Union launched in 2011. It aims to promote the significant role these sites have played in the history, formation and diverse cultural heritage of the European Union.
Commissioned by the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Finnish Heritage Agency and the steering group for the European Heritage Label appointed by the Finnish Heritage Agency were responsible for the pre-selection site for Finland. In the spring, the Finnish Heritage Agency organised an open call for proposals related to the cultural Heritage Label. The decision on the pre-selection site put forward by the Finnish Heritage Agency and the steering group for submission to the Ministry of Education was a unanimous one.
Among the reasons for opting for Varkaus are: Varkaus ‘a living industrial cultural heritage’ is a site that brings together an industrial cultural environment with events, art, natural heritage and industrial history. The living industrial heritage of Varkaus opens a window in Eastern Finland to the history of European industrialisation, the rise of the labour movement and the formation of civil society over a span of nearly three centuries.
The pre-selection site was proposed by Varkaus Museum Centre Konsti, which operates as part of the city of Varkaus, in partnership with Navitas Development Ltd/Visit Varkaus, and Varkauden kaupunki/ Kulttuuri- ja tapahtumapalvelut (in Finnish).
The Finnish Heritage Agency shall submit the application to the European Commission no later than 1 March 2025.
Inquiries: Mirva Mattila, Senior Ministerial Adviser (Ministry of Education and Culture), tel.+358 2953 30269