The Association of Cultural Heritage Entities has been created (AEPC)

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The Association of Cultural Heritage Entities has been created to help Castilla y León to drive forward change and development among companies and professionals working in Cultural Heritage.

The aim of this joint effort between businesspeople and between the private sector and public authorities is to build up a stronger business fabric in the sector and to help strengthen the role of heritage as a driver of R&D policies and regional development.

The launch ceremony was one of the activities of the EVOCH Platform on the Economic Value of Cultural Heritage.

The launch of the Association of Cultural Heritage Entities (AEPC) was held at the headquarters of the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Junta de Castilla y León. This new association is made up of 26 entities and companies involved with the conservation of Cultural Heritage. The Association is designed to bring together and strengthen the private heritage sector while also creating a more robust and united position for the sector through strategic public-private collaboration with the public authorities.

The regional Minister of Culture and Tourism, Alicia García, said the creation of this association in Castilla y León was important because the region is committed to leading the processes of change and evolution within Cultural Heritage through joint action on the part of public authorities and the private sector. Ms. García outlined the role that culture plays by stimulating and providing an economic boost and opportunities for regions, and the need to encourage a strong business sector as a tool for making culture really stand out, and creating solid and competitive value.

The regional Minister welcomed the new association, because its members will promote and consolidate the perception of Cultural Heritage not as a burden, but rather as an activity that creates a productive business network. This initiative will bring businesspeople together not only to stand up for their own interests, but to jointly work towards achieving competitive advantages through a collective and comprehensive focus on innovation. This will enable public-private collaboration through proper positioning and by businesses and institutions working together.

Members of the AEPC

The AEPC’s members include Cultural Heritage companies and entities from Castilla y León, the Chamber of Contractors of Castilla y León and the Spanish Association of Conservation-Restoration, with a total of 70 members from all the Spanish autonomous regions. The Association will be chaired by Juan Carlos Prieto, director of the Santa María la Real Foundation.

The members of the Association of Cultural Heritage Entities are Alacet Archaeologists ltd., Aratikos Archaeologists, Archivolta, Arex Archaeology and Heritage Services, Artelan, Batea Restoration Works, Cabero Building Constructions, Chamber of Contractors of Castilla y León, Castellum S. Cooperative, Javier Herrán Constructions, Sarpi, Decolesa, Fedesa, Ikonos, Rearasa, Sopsa, Strato, Talactor, Uffizzi S.L., Unoveinte S.L., Melquíades Ranilla (architect), Javier Blanco (architect), Spanish Association of Conservators-Restorers, Santa María la Real Foundation, Trycsa and Spes.

Horizon 2020

From now on, the Cultural Heritage cluster established by companies from Castilla y León, but which also welcomes heritage entities from all over Spain, will focus on participation in bigger clusters. The aim is to help the production and innovation sector of Spanish industries to become integrated within the framework of the European Union’s Horizon 2020, a programme devoted to supporting the best research lines in order to develop significant business opportunities and improve people’s lives, recognising the contribution that culture makes to excellence in research, social cohesion and growth.

EVOCH Platform

The launch event was one of the activities of the EVOCH Platform, a permanent observatory that works to disseminate the principles contained in the Charter of Brussels. The Platform already has more than 45 members from nine different countries. The regional Minister invited the Association to sign up to this international strategy, stating that the EVoCH Platform will support the AEPC. Alicia García announced that the EVoCH Platform, together with the Department of Economy and Employment, will hold a forum on Cultural Heritage and employability in 2014.