HerculaneProject announces winning EU project in consortium with 2 non-profits from Slovenia and Slovakia

Neptune Baths, historical monument of national interest inscribed in the 7 Most Endangered programe becomes learning point for young professionals.

Băile Herculane, 12th June. HerculaneProject announces financing from the EU for extensive studies for Neptune Baths through the project “Baths, gothic churches and miners’ houses: Youth-led revitalisation of built cultural heritage” which unites three non-governmental and non-profit organizations from peripheral areas of Central Europe and Eastern Europe – Slovenia, Romania and Slovakia.

The project is organized around three emblematic cultural heritage buildings: 19th Century Idrija Miners’ Houses (Slovenia), 19th century Neptune Baths of Băile Herculane (Romania) and 13th Century St.Ladislaus’ church in Kameňany (Slovakia). All three buildings have been recognised for their European heritage values (UNESCO World Heritage site, Europa Nostra’s 7 Most Endangered cultural heritage sites in 2022, and European Heritage Label site), yet are facing bleak futures due to inability of the cultural heritage sector to drive their revitalisation.

188.000 euro, from where 40.000 were accessed by Locus Association, will be used for three case studies and researches on each site and three Master Classes for young professionals. The project focuses not only on heritage sites with European value, but also on how young people can have an impact on the revitalisation and conservation of cultural heritage sharing three different stories and three different approaches.

We are happy to be able to continue our work on two different levels – one that is directly focused on the site, Neptune Baths, by extending our studies on the facade and the ornaments which are of great value and also by continuing to create a platform where young professionals and students can learn about different conservation techniques. This time, our effort goes beyond our borders by cooperating with two other ngos from whom we have many things to learn and we hope that their experience will be passed on to the young people that will participate in the activities that we are proposing, said Oana Chirilă, the president of Locus Association.

Baths, gothic churches and miners’ houses: Youth-led revitalisation of built cultural heritage”, shortened for “Project RE:” is a multi-annual project that takes place for two years until the end of 2024. The masterclasses will take place in 2024, with the program being announced by each organization in part, 2023 being a year dedicated to studies and research on each site.

The masterclass organized by Locus Association is open for 30 participants and will take place in the summer of 2024, in Herculane, over the course of three days. The focus of the masterclass will be focused on traditional and modern construction techniques for lime plaster ornaments, 3D digitisation and interpretation, awareness-raising of the importance of preserving historical monuments and fundraising techniques using awareness raised through social media platforms.

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Locus Association is a non-governmental organization that aims to save and promote the cultural, architectural, urban and natural heritage of Romania. The main project of the organization is HerculaneProject, a reactivation platform for Herculane Baths, Romania. Locus Association is a member of the European organization ‘EUROPA NOSTRA’.

The ID20 Institute for Heritage Innovations [ID20] is a non-government and non-profit organization with a regional, outward-looking base in Western Slovenia. Based in Idrija (SI), home to the world’s second-largest former mercury mine and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, ID20’s mission is to develop and safeguard Europe’s cultural heritage, particularly that in the rural and peripheral areas.

Gotická cesta Association is a non-government and non-profit organization which operates in the Gemer-Malohont region in south-central Slovakia. It provides support for owners of sacral heritage sites, both in the field of preservation and promotion of the monuments. In 2022 a set of medieval interior frescoes in twelve churches across the region received the European Heritage Label for promoting the values of the European Union and its colorful history.

Press contact: Oana Chirilă, +40 728 123 208 / contact@herculaneproject.ro
For more information: https://www.re-heritage.eu/ro