Honoring Dr. hab. Piotr Gerber with the Europa Nostra European Heritage Award

During the “European Coal and Steel Heritage” conference Dr. hab. Piotr Gerber received the Heritage Award in the category of Heritage Champions 2024 from the hands of Europa Nostra's Vice President, Prof. Jacek Purchla. 

 

Europa Nostra recognized the activities of Dr. hab. Piotr Gerber in the field of post-industrial heritage protection. “Both in Poland and abroad, he has played an influential role in raising public awareness and understanding of the importance of technical and technological development” – the award's citation on the organization's website says. The Europa Nostra Award was ceremonially presented at a conference on the protection and preservation of industrial heritage in Europe, on April 10 and 11, 2025 in Katowice, Poland.

Dr. Piotr Gerber founded the Foundation for the Protection of Silesian Industrial Heritage in 2007. Among its tasks are research into the industrial history of Silesia, protection of material industrial heritage and educational activities in this field. Thanks to the foundation's activities, former industrial and railroad facilities have been transformed into a network of museums. These include the Railway Museum in Silesia in Jaworzyna Slaska, the WALCOWNIA Zinc Metallurgy Museum in Katowice and the Hilbert’s Mill in Dzierżoniów.

The Europa Nostra Awards|European Heritage Prizes were established in 2002 by the European Commission. Their purpose is to promote the best initiatives and practices in the field of preservation and perpetuation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage. This prestigious award also serves to educate, exchange knowledge and raise public awareness. Prof. Jacek Purchla is vice-president of the Europa Nostra Council and chairman of the Europa Nostra Award jury.

More about the Foundation for the Protection of Industrial Heritage of Silesia



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