BUCHAREST, June 28, 2012
CULTURAL HERITAGE FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH
More than two thirds of the European population lives in urban areas. Cities are places where both problems emerge and solutions are found. They are fertile ground for science and technology, for culture and innovation, for individual and collective creativity, and for mitigating the impact of climate change. However, cities are also places where problems such as unemployment, segregation and poverty are concentrated.
Looking ahead and developing visions of the cities of tomorrow is becoming increasingly important at all levels. The development of our cities will determine the future of Europe.
Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Regional Policy
Art and culture have a unique capacity to create green jobs, to raise awareness, challenge social habits and promote behavioral shifts in our societies. Culture and creative industries can produce positive effects on the wider society. One way of doing this is to maximize the links between culture and education so as to foster creative entrepreneurial and intercultural skills that will help us better respond to new economic and social challenges.
Innovation support mechanisms to benefit creative industries not only allow these to innovate better and more, but they also enable them to provide more innovative solutions to other sectors or industries, and therefore help Europe’s overall economy to unleash its full innovation potential. Creative cities are emerging as urban centers with a high concentration of economically profitable creative industries and an innovative and creative labor force. Currently, culture in the Danube Region should find a fine balance between economics, identity, commerce and creativity.
Puiu Hasotti, Romanian Minister for Culture and National Heritage
The Concept
SAVE DANUBE CULTURAL HERITAGE – 2012
Based on the Ghica`s legacy, the success story shall continue today by housing in the former Ghica Palace the headquarters of the Council of Danube Cities and Regions, Steinbeis Danube Center Romania as well as the Haus der Donau, partners of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region.
Ion Ghica, a man of vision and action, mathematician, diplomat and twice Prime Minister of Romania, member of the Romanian Academy and its president for four times, remarked himself as one of the most dynamic and prominent actors on the scene of the international diplomacy, cultural and economic exchanges.
Following his destiny, in 1876, just before Romania declared its independency and after discussions with the British Minister of Foreign Affairs E.H. Stanley, Ghica signed with the English Government a treaty establishing commercial relations with Romania. Given the extraordinary importance of the Danube River for the development of the European waterways, Ghica supported in 1882 the creation of a Sanitary Council formed of members of the Romanian Sanitary Council and of representatives of the riparian countries that were part of the European Commission of the Danube.
Programme: Download Programme
Outcomes: Flyer – Danube Cultural Alliance
