Baltic Sea States

From 2015, a trilateral cooperation between heritage protection authorities of the three Baltic States was renewed: the heads and specialists of the national cultural heritage administrations meet annually to discuss key current issues and to share good practice in cultural heritage conservation. Such consultations of the Baltic Heritage Committee take place periodically, one by one in each country. During each meeting, the countries deal with particular topics of cultural heritage protection with the participation of specialists in that field. The main topics discussed at the Baltic Heritage Committee meetings cover different issues important to all three countries: listing procedures of cultural heritage objects and legal aspects in each country, supervision and inspections of cultural heritage objects, restoration of historic objects and their adaptation to public needs, use of modern technologies in heritage preservation, and other current heritage protection issues.

Joint Baltic Project “Visiting Neighbours”

On the occasion of the European Heritage Year and the Centenary of the Baltic States in 2018, the cultural heritage administrations of three Baltic States initiated and organized a joint Cooperation Project of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania „Visiting neighbours“.  The aim of the Project was to encourage a wider cooperation between the countries by giving a chance to meet not only for professionals and experts but also managers of heritage sites, as well as to raise public awareness and interest in the heritage of both their own and neighbouring countries. The Project consisted of a cross border multi-venue seminar and a joint publication representing cultural heritage values of each country.

The multi-venue seminar “Visiting Neighbours”, held on 21-23 August 2018, consisted of 3 thematic workshops: “Heritage conservation in shrinking regions” in Viljandi (Estonia), “From endangered to success story” in Rundāle (Latvia) and “Protection of archaeological heritage: success stories and challenges” in Kernave (Lithuania). A group of experts from each country discussed various issues of the protection of cultural heritage, shared good practices, participated in discussions, visited the objects of heritage at their sites.

A joint publication “Visiting Neighbours: 100 treasures of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania” was a constituent part of this Project. In the publication each country presents 33 significant heritage objects and sites. All objects are illustrated with photos, and their descriptions are in four languages - Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian and English. The symbolic Baltic Way testifying to the pursuit of freedom and independence of the Baltic States is the hundredth object that unites all three countries.
 
A digital version of the publication can be downloaded here.