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Association Ring of European Cities of Iron Works

GENERAL INFORMATION

      The Ring of European Cities of Iron Works unites cities whose history includes iron production and metalworking. All participants have their own history of iron and forging and would like to preserve its cultural and historical significance. After all, iron, steel, and natural resources have united people across borders for centuries. These cities support the development of member municipalities in the field of metal design and forging. They also support diverse regional cultures and networks for a common identity in Europe.

      The common basis for the members of the Association is the culture of design of metals and forged products. The history or current state of the blacksmith's trade determines the proposals of self-affirmation and uniqueness, and at the same time, it is a legitimate reason for participation in the Association.

      Each member of the Association has the opportunity to delegate a person to the commission, as was the case with the Public Council and the Competent Council. The chairman of the commission (representative, speaker) and his deputy are elected from among all delegates. The chairman of the commission is a member of the board by virtue of his functions.

STRUCTURE of the ORGANIZATION:

      Public council for citizens (mayor, public advisers, representatives of administrations)

      Competent council for blacksmithing (blacksmiths, designers, representatives of blacksmithing)

      Cultural Heritage Commission for the uniqueness and content of products (organizers of blacksmith festivals, museum directors, historians, curriculum managers, historically and technically interested persons, heads of associations and organizations)

Currently, 18 communities from 11 countries are members of the Ring, namely:

  1. Arles-sur-Tech - a municipality in France, Languedoc-Roussillon region, Pyrénées-Orientales department.
  2. Bienno is a municipality in the province of Brescia, Lombardy, Italy.
  3. Campdevànol is a municipality in the Ripúlés region of Spain.
  4. Lipník nad Bečvou is a town in the Czech Republic, in the Przerov region of the Olomouc Region. Located on the river Bechva in the valley of the Moravian Gate.
  5. Munmoka/Virmo is a municipality in the southwestern part of Finland.
  6. Olbernhau is a city in Germany, located in Saxony. It is a part of Rudni Hory district.
  7. Aude-Iisselstreck is a community in the province of Gelderland, the Netherlands. The administrative center is Hendringen.
  8. Evre-Ecker is a commune in the municipality of Buskerud in Norway. The administrative center of the commune is the city of Hokksunn. The official language of the commune is Bokmål.
  9. Stolberg (Rhineland) - a city in Germany, in the state of North Rhine - Westphalia. Administered by the district of Cologne. It is part of the Aachen region
  10. Ibzitz is a fairground commune (Marktgemeinde) in Austria, in the federal state of Lower Austria. Ibzitz from Mount Prochenberg. It is part of the district of Amstetten.
  11. Acireale is a city and municipality in the Sicilian region of Catania, Italy.
  12. Colbertmore is a city in Bavaria, Germany. It is subordinated to the administrative district of Upper Bavaria. It is part of the Rosenheim region.
  13. Pratovecchio Stia is a municipality in the province of Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy. The municipality was formed on January 1, 2014 by merging the municipalities of Pratovecchio and Stia.
  14. Bad Hall is a city in Austria, in the federal state of Upper Austria. It is part of the district of Steyr.
  15. Donetsk is a city in eastern Ukraine, the administrative center of the Donetsk region.
  16. Ivano-Frankivsk is the regional center of the Ivano-Frankivsk region, the economic and cultural center of Prykarpattia, one of the largest cities in Halychyna.
  17. Ulianovsk is a city in the Russian Federation, the center of the Ulianovsk region.
  18. Frisoite is a city in Germany, located in Lower Saxony. It is part of the Cloppenburg district.

      Every year the members of the Association hold a meeting of the General Assembly of the Ring of European Cities of Iron Works is one of the member cities of the organization. The purpose of the event is to share experiences, establish a network of contacts and get inspiration for new approaches in work.

      In September 2019, the Assembly of the Ring of European Cities of Iron Works was held for the first time in Ivano-Frankivsk. The purpose of this event is to share experiences, establish a network of contacts and get inspiration for new approaches in the work of specialists in the field of blacksmithing. All participants have their own history of iron and forging and seek to preserve its cultural and historical importance.

      The "Ring" brought together delegations from 11 cities in 7 European countries, namely: Italy, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria and Ukraine. Participants held a conference on blacksmithing with the participation of blacksmiths, representatives of local authorities, scientists and artists. The main results were summed up at a meeting of the General Assembly. The youth of Ivano-Frankivsk was also involved in the celebration. On the occasion of the Assembly there was a competition "Young blacksmith of the city", the participants of which became students of senior classes of the city.

      The main location of the action was the Potocki Palace, where open-air forging, blacksmithing exhibitions and a meeting of the discussion section of the Assembly for more than a dozen specialists in the protection of the cultural heritage of the participating cities took place for 4 days. After the theoretical part, the heritage guards together with blacksmiths and representatives of the cities had a tour to get acquainted with forging and metal design in the public space of Ivano-Frankivsk. At the opening of this block, Volodymyr Haidar, director of the Space of Innovative Creations «Palace», acquainted the participants with the history of the palace, which was founded as the residence of a wealthy Potocki magnate family, owners of the fortress city of Stanislavov (Ivano-Frankivsk). He also presented developments in the study, preservation, promotion of the unique monument, creating conditions for its rational and safe use, revitalization and development of the Complex. In addition, he spoke about the concept of ideal cities in Europe, according to which the fortress city of Stanislaviv was built. On Friday, September 20, guests and residents of the city enjoyed performances by local art groups, the famous Brevis Symphony Rock Orchestra from Rivne and a laser show. This evening of metal and music was complemented by the mayors of several cities participating in the Assembly, who presented the residents of the city with a song performed by them.

      The final concert took place in the regional philharmonic hall with the participation of world opera stars. As part of the event, Mayor Mr. Ruslan Martsinkiv presented a flag to the Italian city of Pratovecchio-Stia, where the next Assembly will be held in 2020.

      Each of the delegations left a reminder by planting a tree in the Taras Shevchenko Park, where the Blacksmith's Friendship bench, made by local and foreign blacksmiths during the Assembly, was also installed.

      During their visit, the guests of the city had the opportunity to learn about the culture and traditions of our region, uniting around the art of iron production and metalworking.