Organisers & Partners | 41st Session of the World Heritage Committee

The 41st Session is jointly organised by the Republic of Poland and UNESCO.

The main organizer of the Session on behalf of the Polish government is the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, acting in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of the Interior and Administration, the City of Kraków and Polish National Commission for UNESCO. Coordination of the Session and key duties related to its organization, on behalf of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, are executed by the National Heritage Board of Poland.

For general logistical and organisational information covering the 41st Session of the World Heritage Committee, please contact the organisers at: [email protected]

Organisers:

In cooperation with:

Partners:

		Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum was created by the efforts of former prisoners, formally confirmed by an act of the Polish parliament in 1947. Memorial includes the grounds of two extant parts of the Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau concentration camps. The Museum grounds cover 191 hectares, of which 20 are at Auschwitz I and 171 at Auschwitz II-Birkenau. Auschwitz Birkenau German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp (1940-1945) was listed on World Heritage List in 1979.

		Bochnia Salt Mine The history of salt extraction in the Bochnia region dates back to 3,500 years B.C. Salt was acquired by evaporating water from brine. Brine wells gave way to excavating salt with the use of mining methods. The beginnings of the Bochnia mine as an excavating plant date back to 1248. Today, the mine is a modern center combining tradition with modernity. Since the 1990s, tourism activities and various sports competitions have been organized. The Bochnia salt mine was listed on the World Heritage List in 2013.

		Europa Nostra Europa Nostra was founded on 29 November 1963 in Paris. It was created to promote, protect and lobby for the cultural heritage. Europa Nostra is today recognised as the most representative heritage organisation in Europe with members from over 40 countries.

		EXPO 2022 Łódź Polska EXPO 2022 Łódź Polska will be about a city and its relationship with its inhabitants; it will bring answers regarding contemporary challenges all the countries in the world must cope with, thus starting an international discussion about the renewal of urban agglomerations. It will also present a range of good practices and solutions that have already been tested in the matters of revitalization. EXPO 2022 Łódź Polska is going to be one of the world’s biggest events in 2022. We wish to make this exhibition relevant for both us, and you. Feel Invited to create EXPO EXPO 2022 Łódź Polska together!

		Historical Museum of the City of Krakow Modern city museum of the 21^st century with over a dozen branches recounting the story of Kraków from multiple perspectives, from medieval to modern times. Permanent and temporary exhibitions are designed to facilitate interactivity and include walks around Nowa Huta, museum classes in the Rynek Underground and the Krzysztofory Palace or tours for those with visual and hearing impairment. Visit the museum's branches: Krzysztofory Palace, Oskar Schindler’s Factory, The Eagle Pharmacy, Pomorska Street, The Hipolit House, The Town Hall Tower, Barbican, City Defence Walls, Celestat, The History of Nowa Huta, Zwierzyniec House, Rynek Underground, The Cross House, The Old Synagogue.

		International Cultural Centre The ICC has the status of a national institution of culture active in the fields of research, education, publishing and exhibitions. It pursues its mission of public diplomacy by facilitating international cultural dialogue, taking Central Europe as the point of departure for its action and thought on heritage.

		Małopolska Organizacja Turystyczna Małopolska Tourism Organisation is an association that seeks to integrate the public and private sectors active in the field of tourism. It aims at creating and promoting attractive image of Cracow and Małopolska in domestic and foreign tourism markets, supporting the development of tourism, integrating tourism environments and creating conditions for the establishment and promotion of tourism products in the Małopolska Region. On behalf of the Małopolska Regional Government, the Małopolska Tourism Organisation manages the Wooden Architecture Trail, which houses eight churches inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

		Ministry of the Environment Ministry of the Environment, through its input into national policies, fosters the environment both domestically and globally, and ensures the long-term, sustainable national development.

		Polish Post On July, 2 2017 Poczta Polska will issue a special postcard titled “41st Session of the World Heritage Committee, Poland 2017”. By this means, the national operator wishes to contribute to the propagation of the idea of the protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The postcard will also commemorate the long-lasting tradition of Polish involvement into the Committee’s activities. It represents the historic sites of the city of Cracow – The Old Town Main Square, St Mary’s Basilica and the Wawel Royal Castle.

		Polish Tourist Organization Government agency supporting entities that deal with tourism. It has representation in 14 countries of the world.

		Wawel Royal Castle Wawel Royal Castle-State Art Collection is a national cultural institution – a historic castle residence museum – located in central Kraków.

		Wieliczka Salt Mine With the history of more than seven hundred years, the historic “Wieliczka” Salt Mine is Poland’s oldest business venture and one of the most valuable monuments of material and spiritual culture in Poland. Each year it is visited by more than one million tourists from all over the world. It is also a world class monument, listed as one of the first twelve objects on the World Heritage List in 1978.