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The participants of EOS-2001, a follow-up conference of
the Varazdin Congress (September 2000) approved the
following text:
The organ has a clear and unique European identity and
reflects centuries of European music, thought, science and
technology. Many visions that have contributed to the
formation of the Europe we recognize today, are given
expression by the organ as a musical instrument, artistic
tradition and bearer of culture. Today, we are faced with
the challenge of preserving a seriously threatened legacy of
European historical organs. At the same time, it is not
enough to simply preserve this heritage, but also to find
ways to make it live for the people of our time.
In order to communicate the European organ heritage and
create an extensive legal protection for it, the following
tasks should be carried out:
A. Communicating the European organ heritage
- The importance of the European organ heritage and the
organ as a symbol of the European vision par excellence
will be communicated to, amongst others, the EU-Council,
the EU-Parliament, the Council of Europe, UNESCO,
religious authorities, National and Regional Heritage
bodies, as well as owners, curators and users of the
organ.
- A European contact network will be built with
individuals and organisations in all of the countries
that have actively taken part in the conferences so far
or that are already EU member nations; the communication
of the European organ heritage will take place via this
network. This applies to official bodies that already
have the responsibility of safeguarding the organ
heritage. Other organisations or institutes with the
agreement of these official bodies may join this network.
Where there is no clear authority over the organ
heritage, groups already engaged in its protection should
become involved.
B. Protecting the European organ heritage
- Amongst others, those named in A.1. will be asked to
work for an extensive legal protection of the organ
heritage that can be realized throughout the whole of
Europe.
- The responsibility for the organ heritage and its
safeguarding belongs in the first place to the individual
countries. Because the organ is historically a
pan-European phenomenon and because it represents
European culture in all of its regional manifestations, a
European responsibility for this common cultural heritage
is necessary and proper.
- Notably, in view of the extension of the EU, the
situation with respect to the organ heritage that is to
be protected changes dramatically: in the countries of
central and eastern Europe, several thousand valuable
historic organs are to be found, of which the majority
are in very poor condition. This fact urges us once more
to strive for a European responsibility for this common
cultural heritage.
- A comparative survey will be researched and published
detailing the existing legal protection of historic
organs in European countries.
- Guidelines for protecting the European organ heritage
should be further developed, and will be presented at
coming EOS-conferences.
C. Conducting a complete survey of European historic
organs
- An important tool for the realisation of the aims
mentioned under A. and B. is a complete survey of
historical organs in Europe. Such a survey should be
assembled in cooperation with the respective authorities
that are responsible for organ heritage. Where official
registers of historic organs already exist, they will be
included in this survey. A relevant list will also be
included in the survey for countries that do not yet have
their own official register, with the help of the contact
persons and contact organisations mentioned under A.
2.
- From this complete survey two lists will be
generated. The first will identify the instruments that
should be offered special legal protection on a European
level. From this list, an exclusive group of organs will
be nominated for World Heritage status.
D. Founding of a European organisation
The EOS-2001 presidency will appoint a working group and
an international reference group. During the EOS conference
in Lisbon, 2002, the working group will present a report
demonstrating how such a European organisation could be
established. This report will be produced with the
international reference group as well as interim information
about contact persons and contact organisations.
The working group should be appointed by August 1, 2001
at the latest, the reference group by September 1, 2001 at
the latest, and the contact persons as soon as possible but
in any event by the end of the calendar year 2001.
Some priorities for this small and efficient European
organisation are:
To be a partner in political discussions
- to coordinate the exchange of education resources,
research, and knowledge
- to build networks
- to give advice and help in finding sponsors
- to organise EOS conferences
- to support the realisation of the goals outlined in
A. B. and C.
The coming EOS conferences:
2002 Lisbon, 2003 Bratislava, 2004 Bologna, 2005 Vilnius,
2006 United Kingdom, 2007 France.
Göteborg, June 14, 2001
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