Launch of "The Living Heritage" Project in Malta

The Living Heritage is a Partnership EU project funded through the Lifelong Learning Programme. The project brings together partners from Latvia, Italy, Bulgaria, Netherlands, Poland, UK, Greece and Malta, representing organisations which expressed willingness to cooperate for the safeguarding and promotion of intangible cultural heritage as a shared European legacy and a driver for intercultural dialogue. The Maltese partner is Paragon Europe, a company focused on Research, Project Management and Transfer Innovation.

The project arose from the idea of preserving the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) through contemporary ways and means. Due to the lack of awareness of the importance and potential of cultural and natural heritage, the preservation and the use of this heritage lacks adequate support and financing. As a result it slowly disappears, especially the ICH which is transmitted from generation to generation. The project aims to empower the older citizens as bearers of the ICH to increase their key competences and to equip them with the skills which would enable them to take a leadership role in protecting and promoting the ICH of their communities.

The project was launched during a kick-off meeting at the Preluna Hotel in Sliema, in October 2013, hosted by Paragon Europe. During this meeting, various representatives from the above-mentioned organisations discussed the parameters of the project, outlined the objectives and methodologies, and divided the tasks amongst all partners. The next meeting, which will be hosted by the Local Initiatives Association from Poland, is scheduled for May 2014 in Zeszczynka (Poland). Meanwhile, the partners are in contact regarding the next steps to be taken and the launching of the project website which is currently under construction. The project spans over 24 months and the final meeting will be held in Varnavas, Greece in July 2015.