Belgians invited to vote on historic heritage restoration projects
For this first edition, four projects were selected in each Region. “Douze projets très différents qui témoignent de la richesse et de la diversité du patrimoine conservé en Belgique, mais qui partagent un même enjeu : préserver ces pièces, ces objets et ces récits pour pouvoir les transmettre aux générations futures”, the organisation said.
Among the finalists announced in early June are the workshop of Pol Bury at the Centre Daily-Bul & C° in La Louvière, the statuary group “Les Bourgeois de Calais” by Auguste Rodin at the Royal Museum of Mariemont in Morlanwelz, and the more-than-one-ton sculpture “L’Homme volant” by Jean-Michel Folon in La Hulpe. In the Brussels Region, the shortlisted projects include the obelisk fountain at the Halles Saint-Géry and “Le retour de Zeiss vers les étoiles” at the Planetarium of the Royal Observatory of Belgium.
The public will be invited to vote for one of these projects on the dedicated Heritage Lottery platform until Sunday 15 November. One winner will be chosen in each of the three Regions. Each winner will receive funding covering up to 100% of the conservation-restoration work, with a ceiling of 150,000 euros. The other finalists will also receive support depending on their ranking, a preliminary study from the IRPA and professional guidance.
“Je tiens à saluer votre formidable engagement, parfois même un peu fou, de vous lancer dans cette aventure, et plus encore votre manière de vouloir investir dans notre patrimoine, de vouloir redonner des couleurs à notre passé”, Jan Jambon, Deputy Prime Minister responsible for the National Lottery and federal cultural institutions, told the finalists at the launch.
The competition results will be announced on 24 November. And because this is a lottery, the public will not only be asked to vote. It will also be able to try to win free prizes and experiences offered by heritage institutions and their partners.