The EFFORTS SURVEY on Socio-Economic Impact of fortified sites stays open, so as to optimize the collection of data from all fortified sites. If you have not done this, you can fill in the survey on https://forms.gle/96iPtwJLt6fg4xai6 until 1 February 2021 !
The survey, set up with Fortress of Culture SIBENIK (HR), was the center of the EFFORTS Congress.
The EFFORTS survey on the socio-economic impact of fortified heritage in Europe has – so far -encompassed 40 respondents – fortified heritage managers from 12 European countries. The majority of respondents were local public authorities. The respondents have a range of financial and human capacities enabling them to manage fortified sites, and make a social impact within their communities: fortified heritage is restored, renewed, researched, reused and opened to communities. New contents and interpretations are being developed at sites – with tendency to include a variety of digital technologies and innovative storytelling techniques among a large number of sites.
The first results of the survey also indicate a wide range of local and regional stakeholders are included in programming, projects and various cultural, entertainment, sport and activities implemented at fortified sites. Social impact of fortified heritage is tangible and visible from gathered feedback, as well as the negative effect the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the intensity of activities for most sites. Some were/are closed for public and the majority has had a significant decrease in activities implemented within 2020. However, the preliminary results of the first part of the survey also indicate that fortified heritage managers are still not active enough in analyzing the financial aspect and impact that sites have within their communities: a large number of respondents does not collect and/or analyze data such as numbers of visitors, annual turnover of funds at sites, number of employees at sites, funds spent on outsourcing services within local communities etc.
In order to assess the economic impact of fortified heritage, whether in terms of individual sites or as part of wider European cultural sector; a holistic approach and scientific methodology are necessary. EFFORTS will work on developing such an approach and methodology with its members and partners, emphasizing that awareness on the socio-economic impact and value of fortified heritage is the key leverage towards achieving the future vision European fortified heritage sites as epicenters of endurance, knowledge and creativity, which reflect the essence of communities.
The results of the survey will be used as a basis for the Europea Fortification Heritage Impact Study in 2021.
Go to https://www.efforts-europe.eu/annual-congress/
for the full congress’ live registration and its presentations :
- Frank Petter (EFFORTS president, Bergen op Zoom) on the EFFORTS Award, recognising the participants of the 2020 European Fortress Day.
- Juke van Niekerk (Stiching Liniebreed Ondernemen) on the European Fortress Day
- Ɖjurđa Vrljevic Šarić (Fortress of Culture Šibenik) on the first results of the EFFORTS Survey on the Socio-Economic Impact of Fortified Heritage
- Victoria Sanger (Columbia University, USA) on the impact of the Lille citadel
- Koen Van Balen (Leuven University) on the social impact of heritage
- Julie Hervé (Eurocities) on the fortified heritage sites best practices
- Iason Jongepier (Antwerp University) on the Digital City
- Huibert Crijns (city of ’s Hertogenbosch) on entrepreneurs for fortified heritage
- Darragh O’Súilleabháin (Fort Meagher, Cork County) on European funding
- Stefano Mondini (Forte Marghera Foundation) on the Covid19 resilience of a fortress site