United Nations Specialized Organization for Education, Science, Culture and Communications
In 1985, UNESCO added two Hildesheim monuments to the World Heritage List: The Cathedral of Hildesheim and St Michael's Church. Both churches were therefore added to the small compilation of humankind's most important cultural assets, which also includes, for example, the Great Wall in China, the Acropolis at Athens and the ruins of Petra in Jordan.
This appraisal was one of the reasons why the City of Hildesheim decided to put particular emphasis on cultural heritage protection and to pursue the foundation of the Hornemann Institute on the occasion of EXPO 2000.
In February 2000, UNESCO rewarded this dedication when the German Commission for UNESCO (DUK) granted a patronage to the Hornemann Institute. As UNESCO only very rarely adopts an institutional patronage, it indeed awarded an exceptional honour to the institute. The DUK based its decision on the innovative ways in which the Hornemann Institute, as a non-profit-organization, gathers and disperses current knowledge in conformity with the goals of UNESCO's World Heritage Convention.
Through this patronage, the Hornemann Institute enjoys UNESCO's official support because, although there is no institutional connection, UNESCO includes the institute in its activities. Based on this patronage, the institute has been authorized to use UNESCO's logo.
Projects to the Hildesheim World Cultural heritage:
- Publication of the Symposium "1000 Years St. Michael's in Hildesheim"
- World Heritage Cases
- World Heritage of Hildesheim for Pre-University Students
- Guided Tours for Children and Young People to the World Heritage of Hildesheim
- Research Project on the Romanesque Stucco Fragments from St. Michael's in Hildesheim
