Financing impact on regional development of cultural heritage valorisation
Cultural heritage is a shared resource and a common good. Like other such goods it can be vulnerable to over-exploitation and under-funding, which can result in neglect, decay and, in some cases, oblivion. Looking after our heritage is, therefore, our common responsibility. Protection of cultural heritage in the face of global change is thus becoming a major concern for decision-makers, stakeholders and citizens in Europe. Financing investments in heritage has a direct impact on growth and a considerable potential for creating new jobs, which leads to long-term social and economic benefits. The EU's cohesion policies can be instrumental in promoting the valorisation of cultural heritage, that’s why seven European regions have decided to join their efforts to face the challenge of conservation, restoration, valorisation and management of cultural heritage with the involvement of private actors. This will allow to enhance cultural heritage exploitation while also assuring itsconservation in a dynamic and productive perspective, attracting and incubating new activities, revitalising already existing ones, improving people general wellness and assuring environmental sustainability.
FINCH project will help partner regions in improving their policies in this field. It will support the implementation of light financial instruments targeted to private actors and  Public-Private Partnerships to enable local and regional policies move towards more sustainable models of cultural heritage valorization. The project will benefit from the diversity of approaches and experiences within the partnership, through a policy learning process based on exchange of practices and experiences; overcome the gaps among partners, through transfer of knowledge and mutual learning; jointly elaborate and implement Regional Action Plans which will have long lasting economic and social impact on cultural heritage valorisation activities in all partner regions.