ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ

Seventeen cultural heritage professionals completed the EMPATHS training programme on participatory heritage interpretation, progressing from online training to practical fieldwork and collaboration with local communities.

The programme’s second, in-person phase—the Community Lab: Developing Heritage Interpretation Skills through Participatory Approaches—took place from 28 August to 1 September 2026 at the Ethnological Museum of Thrace in Alexandroupoli, Greece. Participants had the opportunity to put into practice the knowledge and tools acquired during the programme’s initial online phase by working with local communities and co-creating approaches to cultural heritage interpretation.

At a time when the way we interpret heritage plays a crucial role in shaping the communities we build, the need for more participatory, inclusive, and collaborative approaches is more relevant than ever. The EMPATHS training programme seeks to develop an accessible framework and participatory methodology, equipping heritage professionals with the tools they need to engage actively with communities and co-create narratives that reflect diverse voices and experiences.

During the workshop, participants collaborated with local communities, applying participatory methods in real-world settings and co-creating new approaches to cultural heritage interpretation. The fieldwork followed six live online sessions organised as part of the project.

The participation of eleven heritage professionals in the Alexandroupoli workshop was made possible through the generous support of the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, which funded the participation of eight professionals, and the Captain Vassilis and Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation, which supported three participants.

“The well-structured programme offered a meaningful field experience, giving both me and my fellow participants the opportunity to collaborate and interact with members of the local communities,” said Panagiotis Adrianopoulos of the Society for the Preservation of Historical Archives and Cultural Heritage “Archeion Taxis”, whose participation was made possible with the support of the Captain Vassilis and Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation.

“Warmest congratulations to the entire organising team for this experience!” said Iliana Zioga, Museologist and Exhibition Curator at the Papanikolaou Museum, who participated with the support of the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation.

The EMPATHS programme is co-funded by the European Union.

*This activity forms part of the programme “Developing Contemporary Skills in Cultural Management”, implemented by The Heritage Management Organization (HERITΛGE) with the support of the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation.

**The Community Lab was implemented in collaboration with and with the support of the Captain Vassilis and Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation, as part of its broader mission to promote cohesive and sustainable development centred on people.