Fortidsminneforeningen – National Trust of Norway

Project Leader: Ola H Fjeldheim, Secretary General

Jury Citation: The jury lauded Fortidsminneforeningen for “175 years of cultural heritage protection and awareness-raising.” Among the properties which they own and manage are Europe’s last stave churches which Fortidsminneforeningen has been instrumental in safeguarding. They have also been central in the establishment of a network of Nordic wooden towns which has also contributed to the conservation of this unique heritage. Fortidsminneforeningen is one of Europe’s and indeed the world’s oldest national NGOs and is still very much alive and active. They produce special publications for new owners of old houses, brought or inherited, to help them choose the best cultural heritage practice for their restoration, as well as maintenance work. These publications also document and thus preserve and hand down valuable knowledge of traditional crafts to younger practitioners. This knowledge and set of skills is often related to wooden architecture which poses specific conservation demands.