Creative Futures Academy were delighted to take part in the European Heritage Hub educational study hosted by the University College Dublin, Una Europa member, at the Trapdoor on Wednesday 12th February. The event was opened by Professor Regina Uí Chollatáin, College Principal, UCD College of Arts and Humanities and followed with a general overview of the European Heritage Hub pilot project by Manon Richard, Project Manager – European Heritage Hub, Europa Nostra.

Anne Grady, Head Cultural Heritage Advisor, Seconded National Expert to the European Parliament introduced the room to the systems and structures of the European Parliament. She was followed by Simon O’Connor, Director, Museum of Literature Ireland and member of the European Heritage Awards Selection Committee who gave a thought provoking speech on the value of the work we are doing witihin Cultural & Creative Industries despite challenging geopolitical times.

Professor PJ Mathews, Director of the Creative Futures Academy at University College Dublin was part of the panel, chaired by Jermina Stanojev, around the latest developments in ‘Creativity, Cultural Heritage and the Green Transition’ both from a policy and sector perspective. PJ was joined by Anna Meenan, Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme Programme Manager at The Heritage Council Ireland, Aoife Brady, Head of Cultural Spaces at the Dublin City Council Culture Company and  Dr Nessa Roche, Senior Architectural Advisor, National Built Heritage Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. They spoke about how Culture is evolving, fluid and future focused and the importance of the Creative and Cultural sectors in the green transition. How Culture can console and compel us in dark times.

‘The role of the Arts is so important in this moment to the imaging of the future’ 

Overall, it was an inspirational morning with lots of learnings and takeaways to benefit learners working in the creative and cultural industries space in both Irish and a wider European context.