Two Europa Nostra Awards Go to Denmark
Tomorrow, on Friday 3 June, the Europa Nostra Awards 2005 will be presented in Bergen and two of this year’s prestigious international prizes are being awarded to Danish recipients. The Pantomime Theatre of Tivoli, dating from 1874 and refurbished in 2001, will receive a certificate for “the successful renovation of a fragile pavilion in the historic Tivoli Gardens and for the theatre’s invaluable contribution to upholding the unique tradition of pantomime.” The second prize, a commemorative medal, is being awarded to architect and professor Hans Munk Hansen for “50 years of painstaking professionalism in his work involving historic urban environments and buildings and for his fine sense of ‘a site’s particular ambience’.”
Although Europa Nostra’s commemoration of the Pantomime Theatre and Hans Munk Hansen in the same year is coincidental, the two prize-winners have something in common nevertheless, as Hans Munk Hansen served as a consultant for Tivoli during the restoration of the Pantomime Theatre, originally designed by architect and professor Vilhelm Dahlerup. Restoration took six months, using materials including almost four tonnes of copper and 22,000 sheets of 23¾ carat gold leaf. The restoration cost DKK 6.5m, of which DKK 1.6m was contributed by the Danish Forest and Nature Agency.
“The Europa Nostra Award is one of the most prestigious restoration prizes around. So we’re very proud that the Pantomime Theatre is being honoured – not only because we’ve invested so much energy in it but also because the theatre is such an important part of Tivoli,” Lars Liebst says.
A ceremony on 6 September at the Pantomime Theatre will honour Denmark’s two recipients. On this occasion, Europa Nostra’s president, HRH the Prince Consort, will present the awards to Tivoli, represented by Lars Liebst, and to Professor Hans Munk Hansen. As part of the ceremony, the Pantomime Theatre will perform excerpts from its repertoire, including Thumbelina whose scenographer is HM Queen Margrethe.
About Europa Nostra
Europa Nostra is a pan-European, non-profit federation that works to promote the protection and enhancement of Europe’s cultural heritage and cultural landscapes. The federation’s key objective is to promote high standards of quality in the fields of heritage conservation, architecture, urban and rural planning and the natural environment.
Europa Nostra has been running its awards scheme since 1978. The awards are given to exemplary initiatives and best practices that contribute to the protection and enhancement of cultural heritage in Europe. The prizes are awarded for the renovation of old buildings and for the reconditioning of old buildings for new purposes. To be eligible for the award, however, the conversion must retain the original character of the old building. The awards are also given for the renovation and re-establishment of parks, gardens and cultural landscapes. In addition, new projects in protected areas are rewarded if the projects are in harmony with the older surroundings and respect the environment. Further details are available at www.europa-nostra.dk.
Yours faithfully
Stine Lolk
Tivoli
Communications Manager
+45 3375 0338/sl@tivoli.dk
