19 Jun '14

Next Open Monument Day celebrates heritage itself

Summary

The theme of this year's Open Monument day, which takes place on 14 September is "Heritage Past, Now and in the Future", an ode to heritage itself

One of Flanders' most popular eveents

Flanders’ heritage organisation Herita has announced that this year’s Open Monument Day will take place on Sunday, 14 September. Contrary to expectations, the theme will not be based on the First World War but is “Heritage past, now and in the future”. The focus is on heritage itself: why it’s important and how priorities have changed from the launch of Heritage Day in the 1980s. Restorations of monuments and historical buildings will figure heavily in the programme along with archaeological sites.
 

“We want to re-invigorate the special mission of the original idea behind Open Monument Day,” said Herita director Kristl Strubbe. “Raising awareness about heritage is and remains our top priority throughout the year. We work full time according to the idea that ‘every day is Open Monument Day’ through increasing and establishing a network of open monuments.”

Open Monument Day, which allows access to many buildings normally closed to the public, is one of Flanders most popular events; last year 450,000 people took part. The full programme for the day of 450 open monuments and 370 activities across Flanders will be available on 4 August.

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Herita

Herita is the Flemish umbrella agency for heritage conservation. It’s a clearing-house for patrimony and liaises between heritage organisations and the general public.
Birth - The heritage agency was born from three separate organisations – Heritage Flanders, Forum of Heritage Associations and Open Monument Day.
Open house - The annual Heritage Days and Open Monument Days are Herita’s flagship activities for the general public.
British - Herita was explicitly modelled on the British heritage organisation the National Trust when it was established in 2012.
13

Herita-owned monuments

300

local heritage associations in Flanders

400 000

visitors to Open Monument Day in 2014

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