JYU Seminaarinmäki campus and Equality in Education is awarded the first European Heritage Label in Finland
The Finnish National Board of Antiquities coordinates the use of the label as well as the application process in collaboration with the Ģֱ.
The European Heritage Label has been awarded since 2013 to such sites in the EU area that have played a significant role in terms of the European history, culture, and integration.
”As a symbol of equality in education , the European Heritage Label awarded to Seminaarinmäki is significant, especially as the first one in Finland. We are delighted for the opportunity to display these values together with the other European sites,” says Senior Adviser Leena Marsio from the Finnish National Board of Antiquities.
The Seminaarinmäki campus of the Ģֱ is a protected, nationally significant built cultural environment with buildings from the late 19th century till the present day. The architects of this area include e.g. Constantin Kiseleff, Alvar Aalto, Arto Sipinen as well as Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Oy. In this milieu, foundations were laid for the world-famous Finnish school system, as this was the location of the first Finnish Teacher Seminary, founded in 1863. The European Heritage Label for Seminaarinmäki was applied for by JYU Open Science Centre / Jyväskylä University Museum, the Department of History and Ethnology, the Department of Music, Art and Culture Studies as well as the Department of Teacher Education.
- The European Heritage Label brings remarkable visibility to the University, expressly as a developer of equitable and high-quality education, and further strengthens our bindings to the history of European civilisation. Our valuable cultural heritage, which shows concretely on our beautiful Seminaarinmäki campus, is a significant attractive asset for our University and the whole City of Jyväskylä in recruiting new student and researcher generations, says Rector Keijo Hämäläinen.
The European Heritage Label was now awarded to twelve candidates. The other recipients besides Seminaarinmäki are: MMM Migratie Museum in Belgium, Museum of Trakhian Art and memorial monument in Bulgaria, Vučedol Cultural Museum and archaeological site in Croatia, Oderbruch area in Germany, Nemea archaeological site in Greece, Almadén ´mining park in Spain, Ventotene island in Italy, Benedictine monk Saint Willibrord’s heritage in Echternacht in Luxembourg, the historical centre of Turaida in Latvia, European Commission Palace in Danube in Romania, and the wall paintings of medieval churches in Slovakia. The label has now been awarded to altogether 70 sites, which are related e.g. to historical buildings, documents, cultural environments, and immaterial cultural heritage.
The sites include, for example, the historical centre of Athens in Greece, Hague Peace Palace in the Netherlands, and the village of Schengen in Luxembourg.
The label is intended to increase European citizens’ knowledge of European history and the construction of the Union as well as of our shared, diverse cultural heritage. Finland joined this EU action programme at the end of 2018. The Implementation of the programme in Finland is coordinated by the Finnish National Board of Antiquities. The next national application round for the label is going on, and the following Finnish application will be prepared after the summer.
More information:
Pirjo Vuorinen
Head of the Museums
Ģֱ
+358 40 550 6099
pirjo.vuorinen@jyu.fi
