Prof. Hanna Schreiber had the honour of speaking on 3 April 2025 at the International Cultural Centre in Kraków during the forum organised under the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, entitled “Safe Cultural Heritage – European Challenges in Times of War and Crisis” (3–4 April 2025). The event brought together nearly 200 participants from 31 countries, representing key cultural institutions from across Europe.
Her presentation, titled “There Is No Heritage Without People Who Give It Meaning. Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage as an Element of National and European Security,” highlighted the role of intangible cultural heritage as a foundation of identity, social resilience, and a strategic component of security policies.
Professor Schreiber emphasised that intangible heritage is not merely a remnant of the past but a living cultural fabric transmitted across generations through traditions, knowledge, and skills. She also pointed to the urgent need to develop protection plans for intangible heritage in times of crisis, and to counteract the manipulation of culture and collective memory by authoritarian regimes.
The forum served as an exceptional platform for exchanging experiences among experts from the European Commission and representatives from Estonia, Latvia, Finland, the Czech Republic, Italy, France, and Sweden. Participants also had the opportunity to witness a live demonstration of evacuation procedures for valuable cultural collections at Wawel Castle.
