Transylvania Trust

Using the built heritage for community benefit – Bánffy castle, Bontida, 2008-2009

Generally speaking, in Romania, historical monuments don’t have any mission and play no role in the life of the community. In Western Europe the benefits of using the built heritage are well known, which is seen as an agent for increasing the life quality through social and economic development and through the active involvement of citizens, which leads to social cohesion within the community.
At the same time there is a lack of consideration for traditional crafts and the use of traditional materials in restoration works that could lead to the sustainable development of the region and to the formation of a group of specialists, which is necessary for the protection of the cultural heritage.

Aim of the Project: Using the cultural heritage as a factor for educational, cultural, social and economic development for the benefit of the community- pilot project: Bánffy Castle, Bonţida

Objectives of the project:

  1. employing the built heritage as a stimulus for social cohesion within the community, economic development, dialogue between cultures and generations
  2. training of traditional crafts and building techniques
  3. preservation of immaterial heritage- local traditions- by involving youth
  4. raising awareness among institutions and local authorities and promoting measures requisite to the protection and the effective use of the built heritage
  5. facilitate access to culture in an under-privileged area
  6. making the public sensitive to the importance of the protection of cultural heritage

Prospective results:

  1. Building- up the knowledge of institutions and local authorities regarding the effective use of the built heritage, which is a factor for increasing life quality through regional sustainable development based on local values, and also applying the knowledge in prospective development projects.
  2. Increasing the number of specialists in traditional crafts, both at the local and national level, and increasing employment opportunities for people coming from underprivileged social groups.
  3. Raising awareness of the importance of historical monuments and their integration in the life of the community by employing the initiatives of the local community, thus ensuring the long term protection of the heritage.
  4. Establishing a thriving cultural life in the rural area; preserving local traditions; social, intercultural and interethnic cohesion in the region

Description of the implementation strategy and key activities
The implementation of the project requires a double strategy as follows:

  1.  Enabling institutional and professional conditions, which are necessary for a comprehensive protection strategy of the cultural heritage
    Activities

    • „Built heritage- stimulus of the community”- capacity building of local authorities and governing bodies regarding the importance of the protection and the effective use of the built heritage in order to achieve sustainable development
    • programme of the international built heritage training centre- teaching traditional crafts by applying the knowledge directly on the historical monument, which contributes to the professional training of university students and of youth from the region, especially those coming from underprivileged social groups.
  2. Effective use of the built heritage for the benefit of the society- usability of the historical monument so as to become a revitalizing agent of the economic, social and cultural life of the local community
    Activities

    • organizing innovative cultural events at historical monuments
    • organizing educational activities for children
    • organizing programs intended to pass on the traditions and o facilitate intercultural and intergenerational dialogue

Partners

  1. Elementary School of Bonţida
  2. Elementary School of Răscruci
  3. Bontida Town Hall
  4. Folkeuniversitetet I Fjellregionen, Norvegia

Project implementation period: 20 months

Sponsor: EEA Grants