After three years of intensive collaboration between 24 partners from 18 European countries, the ARCHE project (Alliance for Research on Cultural Heritage in Europe) has successfully concluded. The closing event Bridging Towards Resilient Cultural Heritage took place on September 11 and 12 in Brussels. During this event, not only were the insights delivered presented, but there was also a look ahead to the future European Partnership Resilient Cultural Heritage (RCH), an initiative aimed at strengthening research and innovation around cultural heritage in Europe.
About the ARCHE project
The ARCHE project started in 2022 with the goal of creating a European framework for research and innovation in cultural heritage. Over the past three years, 24 partners from 18 countries have worked to form a network among policymakers, the heritage field, technological experts, social scientists, and climate researchers.
Within ARCHE, an analysis was made of the developments approaching the European heritage field and the pressing research gaps, knowledge questions, and innovation needs that exist. This has been translated into a joint Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). This agenda, which was ceremoniously presented in printed form in Brussels, forms the basis for future joint research programs and policy initiatives. Additionally, a new structure has been established to ensure long-term collaboration and coordination. Thus, ARCHE has laid the foundation for much larger collaboration in the Partnership RCH.
The Cultural Heritage Agency (RCE) was one of the Dutch partners, alongside the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO).
Launch of the European Partnership for Resilient Cultural Heritage
The future European partnership RCH will be an important instrument in strengthening the European heritage field. Within the partnerships of the Partnership, member states and the European Commission (EC) jointly finance research and innovation to address major societal challenges.
The goal of this Partnership is to strengthen research on climate impact on European cultural heritage, and on how heritage can contribute to climate neutrality and resilience against climate phenomena.
The expectation is that countries will jointly raise at least €150 million to finance research and innovation activities over the entire duration of RCH. The EC will contribute an additional 30%. In October 2025, the final proposal for the Partnership will be submitted in response to a request from the EC. The start of the Partnership is expected in 2026 and will run until at least 2032.
ARCHE Closing Event
The ARCHE closing event Bridging Towards Resilient Cultural Heritage on September 11 and 12 was organized by the Fondation des Sciences du Patrimoine (French Foundation for Heritage Science), together with the Flemish Agency for Immovable Heritage and KEA European Affairs. The program included presentations on the achieved results of the ARCHE project, including the development of the new SRIA, debates, and interactive sessions.
Eva Stegmeijer from the RCE led a parallel session where over 40 participants experienced the effects of climate change on heritage in a serious game. Together, they made complex choices about which heritage they wanted to save and how. The conclusion was that loss is inevitable, but with knowledge of the risks, better interventions are possible, and we must act now. This event strengthened the foundation for closer collaboration between heritage professionals, researchers, policymakers, and the general public.
