The European Heritage Hub, an EU-funded pilot project, is taking strides towards a more sustainable, digital, and inclusive society by uniting heritage stakeholders and initiatives across Europe. Responding to the call for structured cooperation and coordination across governance levels, from local to European and international, the project includes the participation of ICLEI Members Athens (Greece), Brussels (Belgium), and Lisbon (Portugal).

Two new digital tools were recently launched on the European Heritage Hub website: the Heritage Library and the Policy Monitor. Both tools offer valuable resources and insights to support local public authorities in preserving, managing, and promoting cultural and natural heritage within their communities. By leveraging these tools, authorities can make more informed decisions, stay updated on policy developments, and engage in knowledge-sharing and collaboration initiatives for heritage conservation and sustainable development at the local level.

Heritage Library: This digital repository offers a diverse and multilingual collection of heritage-related materials, including research papers, articles, case studies, and audiovisual content. With advanced filtering options, the Heritage Library aims to enhance accessibility and foster knowledge-sharing within the sector. Contributors are encouraged to submit their own resources via the submission form. Explore the Heritage Library here.

Policy Monitor: Mapping out policies impacting cultural and natural heritage at EU, national, and local levels, the Policy Monitor provides users with an interactive map and dedicated country profiles spanning Europe. Beyond data collection, the Policy Monitor aims to analyse trends and identify regulatory gaps, with quarterly snapshots shared by the Policy Team. Visit the Policy Monitor here.

“The two new tools are a great source of inspiration for local authorities and policy-makers: while the Heritage Library provides best practices and advises on how to address the triple transformation - green, social, and digital - in the field of heritage, the Policy Monitor reflects the current regulation at European, national and regional level: an easily accessible insight into the state of the arts of such transformation... a pedagogical opportunity for us all.” said Gioele Racca, Junior Expert in Built Environment, Culture and Heritage at ICLEI Europe.

These tools are accessible free of charge, and without registration requirements.