The project constructed a framework for skills in disaster risk management for EU cultural institutions. The specific objectives: 1) Assess the state of art of disaster risk prevention and governance in the cultural Institutions of the EU and the world. 2) Develop a European network addressing the issues of both disaster risk management and first response intervention, to foster cross–border cooperation and assistance. 3) Elaborate courses, programs and materials to support the education of the operators working in written heritage. 4) Improve the key competencies and skills of such operators 5) Establish a resident international course in the premises of the partners to support the continuous education of the managers and operators of institutions owning written heritage. 6) Set-up and deploy a platform with shared materials and best practices to mitigate disaster risks and manage emergency situations, targeted to help the cultural institutions of Europe. 7) Increase the consensus of policy makers and cultural institutions on the fundamental role of risk management approach and its inherent benefits in terms of minimization of costs and maximisation of cultural assets protection.
European written heritage represents material cultural and historical value, at the same time fulfils the role of "memory of Europe". Most of the EU written heritage is facing various risks, from environmental degradation and influence from climate change to natural and man-made hazards. Proper written heritage protection against the different types of threats requires specific and intense interdisciplinary collaboration, which also applies for the training, and teaching of professionals at a national and international level. This random and multifaceted goal requires a more specific and comprehensive approach. It is essential to understand that risk management for prevention and emergency management is not a separate topic, but rather an integral part of the set of skills necessary to manage cultural institutions, adopting a multidisciplinary approach (collaboration between the academic and cultural institution). The SAFECULT project has developed and tested key competences and complex skills required in disaster prevention, mitigation and recovery of written heritage reaching the objective to have conservators, archivists and librarians ready and coordinated to face the emergency in cultural institutions.