The Structural Funds - the European Social Fund and the Fund for Regional Development - are among the financial instruments supporting the commercial and social development of EU member states. The Czech Republic draws support from these funds via operational programs.
Most important for the National Heritage Institute (NPU) is the Integrated Operational Program, and its area of intervention 5.1: National Support for the Utilisation of Cultural Heritage Potential. This is aimed at setting up and improving the already existing national centres for selected fields of cultural heritage, and at implementing pilot projects to renovate and utilise the most important heritage. It is also aimed at improving the infrastructure for modern cultural services. Acquiring these grants creates both an opportunity and an obligation for the Institute to renovate important heritage buildings and organise events that breath new life into them, with the help of 'European money'.
In 2010 the National Heritage Institute was awarded grants from the European Fund for Regional Development totaling more than 1,187 billion Czech crowns. More information
Another principal function of the Institute, for which it can draw support from the European Fund for Regional Development, is care for palace gardens and parks. As part of the Operational Program for the Environment, by the autumn of 2010 the Institute received support for fifteen projects totaling nearly 90 million Czech crowns, for the revitilisation of several palace parks and gardens under the Institute’s management. More information
The National Heritage Institute also partakes in the CARARE project, supported by the Community Programs of the EU. Furthermore, there are five projects for which the Institute has drawn on financial support of the European Economic Community and Norway.
In its efforts to beneficially utilise the European endowments, the Institute will continue in its activities of improving heritage preservation and landscape regeneration. Detailed information about the results of these activities can be found in sections:
- Cooperation with Universities, NGOs, Regions
- Information Systems and ICT in the NPU
- Editorial, Publishing and Presentation Activities of the NPU
- Specialist Libraries at the NPU
- Education in Heritage Management