UNESCO grants patronage to the 2012 Jurassic Coast Earth Festival
14 Jun 2010
The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has announced its patronage of the 2012 Jurassic Coast Earth Festival, including the Lyme Regis Fossil Festivals. “This is a rare accolade, and we are thrilled” says Marcus Dixon, CEO of the Lyme Regis Development Trust.
The Jurassic Coast is England’s only Natural World Heritage Site and the Development Trust and Jurassic Coast Team has been in discussions with UNESCO for some time about the initiatives being developed in Lyme Regis, such as the Fossil Festivals and Studies Centre.
In 2009, the UNESCO Assistant Director General for Natural Sciences opened the Fossil Festival, ‘Evolution Rocks’, and the Jurassic Coast Team, with the UK National Commission for UNESCO, hosted a Youth Summit in Lyme Regis
The patronage is recognition of the work being done in Lyme and the Jurassic Coast more broadly in promoting and building sustainable development through education, the sciences and culture. In particular, the success of the Fossil Festivals in bringing science, education and the arts together to further an understanding of our natural heritage has been particularly important in demonstrating what is possible. In granting patronage, the UNESCO Director General said “I have noted that these impressive annual events… are intended to raise awareness among the general public about the extraordinary aesthetic and scientific value of the Jurassic Coast.’
Sam Rose, the Jurassic Coast Team Leader said: “UNESCO are the organisation that designate World Heritage Sites, so they are inextricably linked to the Jurassic Coast, but to get their patronage for specific events that celebrate the globally important heritage is rare and a privilege. It means that the work has been recognised internationally as an example of good practice, and will raise its profile significantly. We will continue to work closely with the Development Trust and other partners in Lyme to see these ambitious plans realised”.
“Partnership with UNESCO is hugely important for the development of the 2012 Jurassic Coast Earth Festival”, says Candida Blaker, Earth Festival Director. “We plan to make links between communities along the coast and other World Heritage Sites abroad, and hope it will be a catalyst for discussion around environmental issues. We hope young people will show us the way through a sense of pride in our extraordinary geological heritage and our need for stewardship of the natural environment.”
Next year’s Fossil Festival will take place 29 April to 1 May and will have a marine theme. Our key partners, such as the Natural History Museum, Jurassic Coast team and Natural England will all return, while others such as the National Oceanography Centre will play a bigger role. We also hope to welcome several new partners that will enable us to explore better the Jurassic Coast’s marine world.
RELAYS Project Director, Leanne Dingle, said, 'This is fantastic news and underlines what RELAYS is all about; helping to create a true legacy for festivals beyond 2012. UNESCO's involvement and support means that, not only has this great event gained the recognition that it deserves, but that it will be able to continue to educate and entertain the public beyond the life of our Project.'