Solidarity Day Becomes OWHC Day: A New Era of Heritage Celebration
For nearly three decades, cities across the globe celebrated World Heritage Cities Solidarity Day, a tribute to shared history and cultural preservation. In 2024, the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) marked a new era of branding by renaming this day to OWHC Day—a move that marks a reinvigorated commitment to safeguarding heritage.
This past September 8, member cities embraced the occasion with vibrant activities reflecting the OWHC’s evolving vision. Many 2024 celebrations of OWHC Day revolved around the theme of the 17th World Congress that was held in Cordoba, Spain in late September, “habitability in historic centers.” This theme was supported by four bold pillars: requalify the habitat, refresh the city, transform mobility, and regenerate the urban environment. Representing key challenges many cities face as urbanization spreads, populations grow, and the risks and effects of climate change aggravate, cities around the world responded with creative ideas, festivals, and events that sought to raise awareness and propose concrete action.
In Kotor, Montenegro, traditional Dobrota lacework was showcased in front of Saint Tryphon’s Cathedral, where artisans gave live demonstrations, bringing “intangible” cultural heritage to life. Québec City illuminated its past with a breathtaking artistic projection on the Bunge silos, while Granada immersed visitors in its history with open houses at iconic sites, concerts, and a special film screening on the builders of the Alhambra.
With this renewed identity, OWHC Day reinforces the global commitment to sustainable and innovative heritage preservation. From San Antonio’s World Heritage Festival to Morelia’s Cultural Heritage Festival, each event echoed the OWHC’s mission: heritage is not just about the past—it is about shaping an inclusive future of our cities and communities. To this effect, the city of Krakow, Poland released a “Guidelines for the Management of Krakow’s Historic Center” to the public, and called attention to the numerous green spaces initiatives the city has undertaken in recent years. In Nessebar, Georgia, residents enjoyed a free panoramic tour titled “Spiritual Path” that followed the Byzantine-era fortifications, baths, and monuments that line the UNESCO-protected peninsula. In Philadelphia, the Global Philadelphia Association hosted the World Heritage City Celebration that recognized a distinguished leader in our city doing impactful work to raise its global profile. In Cidade Velha, Cabo Verde, the country’s oldest settlement, the art exhibition “Identidadi Mistisu” by artist Tchilac Furtado was installed at the Cidade Velha Cultural Center and a cultural program with the “Tradison n’Alma” society was organized.
As cities raise the OWHC flag in celebration and simultaneously reflect on the past and look to the future, the shift from Solidarity Day to OWHC Day serves as a reminder that world heritage is a living, evolving legacy that requires collective effort, attention, and creativity. With numerous action plans in place such as the New Urban Project, the Cordoba Path, and the Québec Roadmap, cities have the tools to keep their cities at the exciting forefront of combining innovation and preservation.
