On January 31, 2024, a new the Municipal Heritage Conservation Index, created by the National Commission for Cultural Heritage, was presented for the first time during an online meeting organized by the Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania. The event was attended by over a hundred participants, including mayors, deputy mayors, representatives from ministries and the Presidential Office, as well as heritage conservation specialists. Based on 26 years of data collection experience, this index offers a comprehensive approach to data gathering and processing, including small municipalities. A chairwoman of the Heritage Commission, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vaidutė Ščiglienė expressed hope that this index will become a periodic ranking that shapes heritage conservation trends.
Artūras Stepanovič from the Department of Cultural Heritage Protection and Analysis Group of Heritage Commission explained that the study revealed a range of municipal heritage conservation practices, from stagnation to significant economic and cultural advancements. The index evaluates municipalities’ roles in heritage conservation using financial, mandatory activity, and voluntary initiative indicators, aiming to determine the true level of heritage conservation culture. Future plans include involving municipalities in the index creation through creative workshops.
The Municipal Heritage Conservation Index (in Lithuanian langugage): https://vkpk.lt/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Savivaldybiu-paveldosauginis-indeksas.pdf
Heritage Commission is an expert and advisor to the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania, President of the Republic of Lithuania and to Government of the Republic of Lithuania regarding the national policy of cultural heritage protection, its implementation, evaluation and improvement.