Ansambl Generalstab Initiative Wins EU Delegation, Europa Nostra Award

Former Army Headquarters Complex (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV)

This year's Heritage Heroes prize, awarded by Europa Nostra Serbia and the European Union Delegation to Serbia, has gone to the Ansambl Generalstab Initiative in a unanimous decision by the judges.

The Ansambl Generalstab Initiative is an informal group of students and experts fighting to preserve Serbia's cultural and historic heritage which came together in response to threats to the cultural asset status of the General Staff (Generalstab) building in Belgrade. Its publicly most visible representatives were students of the Belgrade faculties of applied arts and architecture.

The press release announcing the reward reads that the "Ansambl Generalštab Initiative bases its work on under-recognised or endangered examples of architectural heritage such as the Belgrade Fair, and especially the General Staff Building – a masterpiece by architect and academic Nikola Dobrovic and a symbol of Belgrade's collective memory."

Ambassador Andreas von Beckerat, head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, said "this year's winners stood out not only by defending heritage, but also by promoting broad public engagement and supporting the importance of the rule of law."

"The European Union recognises the key role of citizens and their individual efforts in preserving cultural heritage. The EU remains firmly committed to preserving and celebrating the unique cultural heritage of Serbia as an integral part of our common European heritage," he said.