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Vår dato Vår referanse FYLKESKONSERVATOREN 15.12.2014 13/10100-9 : 072, C00 Saksbehandler: Kåre Kristiansen Deres dato Deres referanse

Preliminary notes for an INTERREG Europe project of preservation of coastal heritage.

Introduction Vest- County Council is seeking partners to develop a joined INTERREG Europe project with the aim to strengthen the policy instruments in the management of cultural heritage. These preliminary notes for a project are meant to be shared with potential partners.

If your institution is interested in contributing to the further development of a project along the idea outlined below please send us feedback within the 15th of January 2015.

From you we need a short description of your institution and would also appreciate any comments you might have on the notes below. Of specific interest in this stage of project development are comments on the description on the shared European policy issue and description of your specific local contexts.

We are looking forward to hear from.

Best regards,

Kåre Kristiansen Advisor, cultural heritage. [email protected], + 47 94 52 18 66

Jon Halvard Eide International coordinator / National Contact Point Interreg Europe. [email protected], +47 91 69 75 22

INTERREG Europe 2014-2020 The Cooperation Programme document for INTERREG Europe 2014-2020 list "Environment and Resource Efficiency" as one of four priority axis. The specific objective of this priority is to "improve the implementation of regional development policies and programmes […] in the field of the protection and development of natural and cultural heritage."

The results the partners should seek to achieve through the project is described as "exchange of experiences and sharing of practices between actors of regional relevance with the aim to prepare the integration of lessons learnt into regional policies and actions […] This interregional sharing of practices and policy learning will improve capacities (skills, knowledge) of individuals and organisations involved and plan the implementation of lessons learnt."

Identification of a shared European policy issue The maritime infrastructure has always made a deep impact on the outlook of the coastal sea- and landscape. The evolution in the maritime infrastructure, e.g. transition from sail to Folkestyre – kompetanse – samarbeid Postadresse: Sentral E-postadresse: Telefon sentralbord: 38 07 45 00 Postboks 517 Lund, 4605 KRISTIANSAND S [email protected] Telefon intern: 38 07 46 25 Besøksadresse: Internettadresse: Telefaks: 38 07 45 01 Tordenskjoldsgate 65 www.vaf.no Foretaksregisteret: 960 895 827

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damp driven vessels and electrification of navigation, has changed dramatically since the 1600s. These changes have left an abundance of traces of former times through ought the coastal sea- and landscape. Some of these are large installations as light houses, ports or fishing communities, others again are smaller but more significant in numbers such as cairns and other leading beacons.

Viewed as singular objects these traces might not hold great value as cultural heritage, but understood as parts of a larger context, they together tell the story of the evolution of the maritime Europe; a part of European history intrinsically linked to the economic growth of the region from the 1600s to 1900s.

To preserve this part of European history there is a need to re-consider the perspective in the management of the cultural heritage. There is a need to consider a shift in focus away from the safe guarding of singular monuments towards a more coherent and dynamic approach that emphasizes linkages and connections of between monuments and the smaller more mundane parts. This calls for a transition from monuments to sea- and landscapes in public heritage management.

Today the management of the coastal heritage in is divided between different levels of governance and across boundaries of municipalities and counties. This leads to a fragmented approach that is unsuitable to fully appreciate the collective and shared dimensions of the cultural heritage. Hence there is a need to develop methods and tools that enables the different kind of governmental bodies to coordinate actions in order to implement a more uniform and coherent management; a management that also enables integration of perspectives on economic, social and environmental development.

Description of the local and regional context In Vest-Agder county there is currently a legal process in order to list one entire small coastal community as national cultural heritage. The process is planned to be ended in 2015. This is the case of Ny-Hellesund which is an old trading outport that had its height of economic and social activity during the Age of Sail. Together with several others similar outports along the coastal archipelago of they provided shelter for sailing ships and contributed in making the extensive maritime traffic possible between the Eastern and Western Europe from 1600s to 1800s. When sailing ships were replaced by steam powered ships in the late 1800s, these harbours lost their economic base, and development came to a halt. The result is a number of authentic coastal townscapes along the coastal archipalego.

Responsibility for protection of this particular coastal townscape Ny-Hellesund is delegated to the regional level (county council). The official listing of the site is complemented by a plan of management. These two policy documents will be the first of its kind in the region and will impose new challenges to the regional and local governments. There is a need to develop new and better tools and methods of cooperation between municipality and county.

Other similar communities are situated along the coastline. The cultural heritage assets of these communities are in most cases only regulated by the local municipalities. In spite of the many similarities between the communities there is a difference in the planning policies of the concerning scope, content and practical implications. There is a need for these municipalities to cooperate across boundaries and with the counties in order to better preserve the shared dimensions of this cultural heritage. VEST-AGDER FYLKESKOMMUNE 3 av 4

Potential project partners We are primarily looking for partners with experience within management of culltural heritage; preferably in coastal areas but other areas with similar situations might also be relevant.

• The regional and local governments (county council and municipalities) responsible for management of the cultural heritage. • National cultural heritage agencies • Universities and research institutions • NGOs and interest organisations within cultural heritage • Organisations of private owners and craftsmen.

How should the project improve local and regional policies: The aim of an INTERREG Europe project should be to improve local and regional policies. Essential is the understanding of how the learning process of the project can influence the policies. Half of the policy instruments addressed by EU partners in the project should be related to the European Structural Funds programmes.

• Through the activities in the project the partners will build capacity in local and regional administrations in order to better implement existing policies of management of cultural heritage. • Through exchange of experience and transfer of good practice the project will develop action plans for management and development in order to seek funding from Structural funds programmes in EU-countries and regional and national development programs in Norway and other non-member states.

Suggestions of what to do in a project - elements in a successfully learning process: On a general level this implies activities such as

• Mapping of existing policies and practices (inventory). • Interregional site visits. • Interregional exchange of staff. • Interregional seminars. • Mobilising regional stakeholder groups. • Joint studies or case studies. • Participation in the relevant Policy Learning Platform • Development of action plans.

On a more local level Vest-Agder County see some needs to:

• Develop and expand existing methods for digital communication values and accessing state of cultural heritage in order to engage with owners and craftsmen e.g. within topics such as information on renovation, digital reporting. Concerning digital communication there is a need to emphasise development of cheap and cost effective solutions. • Understand future challenges in restorations of the build coastal heritage. There is a need to investigate the kind of work need to be done as well as to plan future need for materials and skills. VEST-AGDER FYLKESKOMMUNE 4 av 4

• Develop plan for securing public access to heritage sites as places and trails. There is a need to look into new methods and principles for upgrading physical infrastructure. • Develop further registrations and analysis across municipalities and places to bring forward a better understanding of the shared nature of the coastal heritage. • Development of a standard for local preservations plans.

Examples of best practice relevant in Vest-Agder for the project • www.coastlight.net, a webpage combining cultural heritage information with digital maps. The service can be used on smartphones, tablets and PC/Mac. Produced by Lighthouse Museum. • Plan of management for Ny-Hellesund, currently on public hearing. Only in Norwegian. Produced by Vest-Agder County Council. • A practical guide on renovation of coastal heritage buildings. Only in Norwegian. Produced by Vest-Agder County Council.

Short description of Vest-Agder County Vest-Agder County Council employs more than 40 advisers within different subjects of regional development such as business, transport, planning, culture and cultural heritage. Cross sectorial cooperation and international relations is a major driver.

The county council has extensive experience with international cooperation and has been a partner in several interreg-projects the last 15 years.

Vest-Agder County is the southernmost county in Norway. The county has 175 000 inhabitants and 15 municipalities ranging from 900 to 85 000 inhabitants. The area is 7280 km2. The administrative capital and larges city is Kristiansand. Other cities are Mandal, Farsund and Flekkefjord. Most of the habitation lies along the coast, including the before mentioned towns. The northern portion is mountainous and sparsely settled.