This annual publication includes descriptions, jury citations, and contact details on the winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards. In 2020, Europe’s highest honour in the field of cultural heritage was awarded to 21 laureates from 15 countries across Europe, standing as an impressive source of inspiration as the world defined and adjusted to the ‘new normal’ caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2020 award laureates, with their success stories of overcoming adversity through exceptional expertise, dedication, and teamwork, serve as true messengers of hope. All of the awarded projects demonstrated cultural heritage as a powerful catalyst for Europe’s recovery and revival in the aftermath of the pandemic, contributing in various ways, from making cultural content accessible via creative digital solutions to undertaking concrete conservation and rehabilitation works as acts of social and economic rebirth for our cities and villages.
The creative response of many laureates to the challenges posed by the pandemic was also a welcome and necessary signal of the optimism, joy, and hope that cultural heritage brings to the daily lives of many people across Europe. This was achieved through specially created digital guided tours that can be enjoyed from home, for example, or, as in the case of the Ambulance for Monuments, the use of their vehicles to deliver supplies to frontline workers and those in need.
2020 also marked the first edition of the ILUCIDARE Special Prizes within the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards. The six projects shortlisted for the 2020 Special Prizes demonstrated that Europe’s heritage is a driver of innovation and international relations, inspiring cutting-edge ideas and solutions while fostering mutual understanding across nations and communities.
