NATIONAL OFFICE OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
FOR BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED

 H-1014 Budapest, Táncsics Mihály u. 1. Hungary
Phone: +36 1 225 48 00
Fax: +36 1 225 49 00

koh@koh.hu

www.koh.hu

The National Office of Cultural Heritage was founded (from its predecessors, OMvH: National Office for the   Protection of Historic Monumenets and KÖI : Directorate of Cultural Heritage in charge of archaeology and movable items) in 2001, in accordance with relevant legislation (Act LXIV of 2001, on the Protection of Cultural Heritage), and renewed in 2008. The regulatory and structural conceptions give a legal framework comfortable to recent European trends. The statutory conditions for its transparent and predictable administrative and decision-making structure were created to meet the expectations concerning the greater efficiency and flexibility of the so-called “customer service model”.

The National Office of Cultural Heritage is a governmental organisation under the professional supervision of the Ministry of Education and Culture and is headed by the Chairman, appointed by the Minister. His work is supported by the Deputy-Chairman. According to legal regulations, The National Office of Cultural Heritage is the administrative authority of first instance for historic monuments, archaeological sites and movable cultural heritage. The National Office is responsible for nearly 12.000 listed historic sites, buildings, conservation areas and historic gardens all over Hungary as well as for more than 100 thousand archaeological sites and 35.000 movable cultural heritage items and 240 collections in private ownership.

A SHORT CHRONOLOGY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF MONUMENT’S CARE IN HUNGARY

NATIONAL OFFICE OF CULTURAL HERITAGE

HUNGARY 

The National Office of Cultural Heritage

• strives to preserve and hand over for the next generations the values of cultural – architectural, archaeological and movable – heritage in a complex way,
• while taking into account the need for the enhancement of the quality of life and the demands of an up-to date standard of living conditions.

• a statutory authority on listed buildings and archaeological sites (providing planning permissions),
• a statutory authority on the movement-control of movable heritage,
• a research centre,
• an advisor to the owners and managers of heritage property,
• a mediator among different public and private stakeholders playing a role in heritage conservation and enhancement,
• an advocate aiming to strengthen public awareness of heritage values.

Professional units

KÖH consists of several different units engaged in a complex range of activities and services in the broad field of heritage conservation. Information provided here is only about the most important professional units. 

Authority & Legal Direction

• Presents appeal cases and draws up draft statements for the Chairman
• Provides juristic scrutiny of the Office’s statutory decisions
• Takes part in the drafting of new legal regulations
• Renders legal representation of KÖH in administrative court cases 

Strategy Department

• Monitors situation, draws up policies and long- term strategy proposals
• Organises education and training

Division for Competitions and Projects

• Monitors potentialities, helps prepare and realise projects
• Facilitates fundraising efforts for tenders

Division for Hungarian Heritage out of Hungary

• Promote conservation of shared Hungarian heritage abroad 

Department for Coordination & Inspection

Supposed to facilitate the work of experts in the Regional Offices as statutory licensing authority for all listed buildings and archaeological sites and of supervisors competent in movable cultural heritage supervision.  

There are seven Regional Offices and each of them having its own legal and conservation experts in the field of historic buildings and archaeological sites. These regional offices are the statutory authorities overseeing the architectural and archaeological heritage of the region. Their main responsibilities include: 

• Granting permits for any kind of interference with listed buildings
• Providing planning consent for buildings in conservation areas or in historic building environments
• Assigning statutory permissions to archaeological work on historic sites
• Providing planning consent for buildings that draw any earthwork related to archaeological sites
• Delivering consultation, advice and endorsement in alienation and reutilization projects
• Consenting to development plans while representing heritage conservation principles 

Inspectorate of Cultural Goods

Based in Budapest with its activity covering the whole country

• In charge of issues related to movable cultural heritage (classification, restitution, and export licensing)  

For detailed information (in English, French and German) on the protection of movable cultural heritage click here please!

Registering Office

• Heritage registration  

Public Relations Department

• Enhances public involvement in heritage conservation
• Prepares exhibitions and professional events 

Directorate for Listing

• Participates in inventorization activity
• Prepares listing of valued movable and immovable heritage  

National Film Office 

• Registers participants, organizations and institutions in the Hungarian film industry, as well as all the motion pictures produced, distributed (in VHS or DVD format) and screened in movie theatres in the country
• Delivers certificates and classifications
• Rates films suitable for children  

Research and Documentation Centre for Historic Monuments is responsible for

• Scientific work and research (archaeology, architectural heritage)
• Offering professional advice, drawing up statements
• Underpinning the work of Regional Offices
• Providing public access to scientific research results
• Management of archives (photos, plans), rendering library service
• Professional periodicals and other publications 

Hungarian Museum of Architecture

/Magyar Építészeti Múzeum – MÉM/

MÉM has rich collections of not only listed historic monuments but also of the whole of the Hungarian architectural heritage. The Museum is a special division of KÖH.

Main activities include:

• Management of collections (architectural drawings, photos, manuscripts, documentations, architects’ bequests)
• Research
• Consultation
• Publications, exhibitions

Secretariat of International Scientific Relations is in charge of

• Professional cooperation with conservation institutes, universities and other relevant organisations
• Professional programmes with foreign countries
• International projects, events and publications (UNESCO, EU, CoE, ICOMOS, ICCROM, etc.) 

Secretariat of Hungarian National Commission of World Heritage

• Coordinates issues relating World Heritage sites in Hungary 

National Memorial Committee Secretariat

• Coordinates issues relating national memorial events, sites and monuments

Mustra 2009

A Selection from the Results of the Heritage Preservation in the Year 2009
Exhibition: December 18, 2009 - February 20, 2010
National Office of Cultural Heritage

The Subotica Declaration

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