Poland has received two awards for conservation projects involving important historical or cultural work in the annual Europa Nostra Prizes.

The Archaeological Museum in Gdansk has been awarded the EU’s annual Europa Nostra Prize in the for its refurbishment project of the old ‘Blue Lamb’ Granary.

Poland also received the Europa Nostra Prize in the ‘Dedicated Service’ category for preservation of abandoned tombs and cemeteries in Poland and Ukraine.

Twenty seven projects won the ‘Europa Nostra’ Prize, out of a total of 140 projects submitted by 31 countries. The presentation ceremony, on 10 June in Amsterdam, will be attended by the President of the ‘Europa Nostra’ Federation, the famous tenor and conductor Placido Domingo.

Built in the 16th century, the Granary in Gdansk was one of hundreds of granaries along the Motława River. Following numerous fires and wars, including the bombings of 1945, the ‘Blue Lamb’ is now the only granary with its original façade and internal wooden structure.

The award-winning project included historical and technical research, design work, conservation of the building’s load-bearing structure and elevations, repair of the roof, conservation of the interiors and the adaptation of the building into the Centre for Archaeological Education.

The project was co-financed by the Headley Trust Foundation in Britain.

The Europa Nostra Prize in the ‘Dedicated Service’ category went to Szymon Modrzejewski from Uście Gorlickie in south-eastern Poland in recognition of his two decades of work on the preservation of abandoned tombs and cemeteries in Poland and Ukraine.

The jury’s citation says that ‘he has recognised that their restoration enables those who live there today to create a human connection with the heritage of others and of the past. He has shown by example how our cultural heritage can contribute to a better understanding of those of varying faiths and ethnic backgrounds. He has selflessly given his own time and skill, and in so doing, has engaged local people and young people in caring for this heritage, which is not only ‘theirs’ but is important to all of us.’

Together with young volunteers, Szymon Modrzejewski has restored almost 1,500 items - monuments of roadside religious architecture and tombstones in over 110 mostly rural cemeteries (Ukrainian, Polish, Jewish, and German).

Having started as a simple volunteer himself, he has trained over 450 young people, many of whom keep returning to his summer camps. (mk)