Slide 1

Latvia

NATIONAL HERITAGE BOARD

Dr.arch., doctorate paper “Quality of the Architectural Environment of Riga Centre. 1995 – 2010”.

Juris Dambis graduated from the Faculty of Construction and Architecture of Riga Polytechnical Institute. After acquiring the qualification of an architect, he started working in the field of cultural heritage. At the same time, he worked in private practice and acquired skills in construction craft. In 1989, he established the National Heritage Board (formerly State Inspection for Heritage Protection) of which he is still the Head. Author of many cultural heritage conservation concepts and the person behind the idea of drafting national regulations; he participated in the drafting of various international documents. One of the co-founders of ICOMOS Latvija. Mr Dambis chaired the Cultural Heritage Committee of the Council of Europe and the National Council for Culture. Juris Dambis was leading the development of the concept for the conservation and development of Riga historical centre ‘Vision 2002/2020’.

A little bit of history

The first European Heritage Summit was organised in London on 26–28 April 2006 by Dr. Simon Thurley, former Chief Executive Officer of English Heritage. The mission of the Summit was to gather the European cultural heritage leaders for the first time, creating an opportunity to exchange on their experiences heritage management and initiate common actions. The first Summit was attended by 23 European states which agreed, in the Final Statement of the Summit, to continue meeting annually as a forum of European heritage heads, known as the “European Heritage Heads Forum”. Each year, future hosting countries are chosen by general agreement at the annual meeting, so that the tradition may perpetuate.

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