: Uncategorized

AHEAD Calls for artists in Greece, Italy, Spain

HERITΛGE is happy to invite artists in Greece, Italy, and Spain to submit their proposals for the creation of a piece within the framework of project AHEAD (Accessible Heritage Experience for Audience Development) a project co-funded by the European Union’s Creative Europe program.

The aim of the announcement is to select an artist in each country who will participate in co-creation / co-design workshops for the development of a project in collaboration with the audience selected for the local archaeological sites, under the co-ordination of the local AHEAD partner (HERITΛGE, MeltingPro and the University of Deusto respectively).

AHEAD focuses on promoting innovative ways of interacting with cultural heritage, encouraging participation and removing barriers to access. It aims to create new experiences that allow the public to connect with cultural heritage in a participatory and inclusive way. Through this call, the selected artists will work with the local Museums and communities to develop new ways of experiencing each archaeological site.

Participatory Creation

The call aims to select an artist in each country to take part in locally delivered workshops structured using the ACED (Audience Centered Experience Design). The artists will work with target communities to jointly design new experiences that will bring the local archaeological heritage to life.

The collaborations aim to transform the way the public interacts with the archaeological sites, turning them into creative meeting places of the past and present. The artists will experiment with new forms of expression that will meet the needs of different audiences.

Who Can Participate

The call is addressed to professional artists engaged in participatory and relational practices, and experienced in projects that engage communities in co-creation. The ideal candidates should be able to combine their artistic language with the values ​​of archaeological heritage and develop forms of expression based on collective experience.

Submission of Applications

Interested artists can find more details in the official announcement and submit their applications by visitng the following links for Greece, Italy and Spain respectively. 

Heritage Management and Team Development Training in the Gambia

Twenty National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) heritage managers attended an Introduction to Heritage Management and Team Development training delivered on June  25th. The  training was designed and delivered as part of the HerMaP program, which is co-funded by the European Union. HerMaP Gambia strongly supports gender equality and youth engagement by fostering an enabling environment through capacity development initiatives.

The training  was delivered to both new and existing NCAC staff with the aim of enhancing their knowledge of heritage management and efficiently integrating new members into established teams, while supporting the NCAC’s mandate to ensure equitable gender representation at the UNESCO World Heritage Sites it oversees.

HERITΛGE Director, Dr Evangelos Kyriakidis, delivered the Introduction to Heritage Management training while Mamat Sallah, Assistant Director of Museums and Monuments at NCAC introduced trainees to the Mission, Vision, Mandates and Scheme of Service of NCAC.  

Mina Morou and Eirini Oikonomidi, HerMaP Gambia Project Manager  and Assistant Project Manager respectively, introduced trainees to team integration.

The module introducing trainees to heritage management aims to introduce the concepts of heritage and differentiate between tangible and intangible heritage, review the historical reasons for heritage categories and train participants in value-based management principles. The trainees lean how intangible heritage knowledge can inform effective heritage management strategy, to identify the role of heritage managers in the Gambia and recognize the importance and benefits of engaging with local communities.

During the training, participants gained valuable insights into team integration, including an introduction to team development and the role of culture in shaping effective teams. They learned to balance team and individual dynamics while understanding the critical role of psychological safety. In addition, they gained skills to identify and address common team development challenges, enhancing their ability to foster a cohesive and productive team environment.

Mr. Mamat Sallah, Assistant Director of Museums and Monuments at NCAC, introduced the trainees to the Mission, Vision, Mandates, and Scheme of Service of NCAC. The strategic plan presented by Mr. Sallah was developed as a result of a previous workshop on Strategic Planning for Heritage Managers, which was also part of the HerMaP Gambia program, co-funded by the European Union and implemented by HERITΛGE. This presentation serves as a tangible demonstration of the ongoing impact of the HerMaP Gambia program. By building upon successive stages of capacity development, the program ensures that local beneficiaries receive maximum benefit from the training and strategic support provided.

Find out more about HerMaP Gambia here.

New partnership to protect Buddhist heritage in Pakistan’s Swat Valley

HERITΛGE is delighted to partner with the , EssaNoor Associates and  the International Association of Mediterranean and Oriental Studies(ISMEO),  on the important project to protect the Buddhist heritage of the Swat Valley in Pakistan. We are grateful to the Cultural Protection Fund of the British Council, whose support made this work possible.

The Swat Valley, known both for its rich, multicultural history and natural beauty, was a vibrant center of Buddhism in late antiquity. In the early medieval period, from the 7th century onwards, the cultural flourishing came to an end, but the artistic expression continued in a less monumental, more intimate form of rock reliefs dispersed through the valleys. The reliefs representing Buddha and Bodhisattvas attest to the Gandharan heritage of the region, but also to a unique local artistic idiom.

The Buddhist rock reliefs of Swat, in the past threatened by the extremists, are now at risk from development and climate change. The difficulties are compounded by the growing detachment of local communities from this heritage. To address these complex issues, the project documents the rock art sites and provides training in documentation, climate change adaptation, and preventive conservation. It also implements first aid conservation, to address the most pressing issues. An important part of the project is recording intangible Pashtun traditions relating to the Buddhist reliefs. Protecting these traditions will help to rebuild the link between the community and the unique heritage of the Swat Valley.

 

 “We work in partnership with local colleagues and local people. In helping them to develop knowledge and tools to address the impact of climate change on heritage, we hope to assist them in preserving these important sites into the future” – Dr. Maja Kominko, director of projects for the HERITΛGE Management Organization

 

Meeting for the AHEAD project in Crete

HERITΛGE is happy to announce that on July 9th, the Messara Archaeological Museum in Crete, Greece, hosted a pivotal meeting for the AHEAD project, attended by Vincent Roles, AHEAD’s EU Project Officer, officials from the Ephorate of Antiquities of Heraklion, local cultural heritage professionals, and members our AHEAD project team. The meeting marked a major step forward in AHEAD’s mission to enhance heritage accessibility and engagement across Europe.

“It was a very interesting day. The Messara Archaeological Museum opened its doors to present us its beautiful collections. The HERITΛGE team explained what they wanted to do and how it will benefit the museum and the local communities. I am excited to see how they will implement the results of the AHEAD project in Crete!” said Roles.

The EU official provided invaluable insights into the project and expressed his enthusiasm for the work being done. His participation underscored the EU’s support for the AHEAD initiative and reinforced the team’s commitment to making cultural heritage accessible to all.

During the meeting, HERITΛGE provided an update on the AHEAD project, showcasing the ongoing work at Messara Archaeological Museum, Altamira, and Ostia Antica and highlighting the successful completion of a series of AHEAD seminars that trained cultural heritage Professionals were trained in implementing the ACED methodology, focusing on various aspects of audience development. The seminar attendees for their part emphasized the importance of co-designing actions with target audiences to ensure greater engagement and relevance.

Participants also discussed the upcoming phases of the AHEAD project, including the study visits planned for next year and the collaborations with artists who will create works within the project framework.

Emphasis was placed on how the project’s outcomes will benefit local communities by promoting cultural heritage while considering the environmental impact of such actions.

Find out more about AHEAD and its work here.

Empowering Heritage Practitioners in Ghana: Insights from Workshops in Winneba and Accra

In December 2023, two landmark community engagement in cultural heritage workshops took place in Winneba and Accra, Ghana, bringing together dedicated heritage managers from various regions. These workshops, part of HERITΛGE’s HerMaP Africa program and supported by the Mellon Foundation’s Humanities in Place program, aimed to equip participants with the tools and insights to actively engage communities, navigate cultural complexities, and delve into the rich tapestry of oral history.

© Lena Stefanou

The Accra workshop began on Wednesday 6th December with interactive presentations to 22 attendees by Dr. Aris Anagnostopoulos, Dr. Lena Stefanou and HERITΛGE director, Dr. Evangelos Kyriakidis.  On day two (Thursday 7th) attendees had the chance to explore heritage projects close to their hearts and present in small groups on how they might stimulate local engagement. The projects presented included the Mystic Ayi Tree, traditional Ghanian fabrics, oral storytelling traditions and the history of the famous priest Okonfo Anokye. The final day (Friday 8th) was dedicated exclusively to exploring oral history in heritage contexts. The theories and techniques of preserving oral history were presented to the participants and they were later asked to conduct mock interviews about one group member’s childhood. Following on from this, each group produced an interview report which would help guide them in future oral history research. 

© Lena Stefanou

 

The following week the same workshop was conducted in Winneba from Monday 11th-Wednesday 13th December. Although this workshop involved fewer participants (up to 18 on the final day a broad range of heritage ideas and projects were explored. The group exercise, this time conducted on day 1, produced ideas about promoting tourism through sculptural monuments in Efutu region, promoting widow’s rights in the Deogo communities and a “reclaiming our roots” festival. The discussions were lively and raised some crucial ethical questions about how a heritage practitioner should involve his or herself in cultural practices. On day two we introduced a new “Who are your Communities” exercise in which participants identified and presented their community and its values. The final day, as in Accra, confronted oral history in heritage contexts. Once again it was very encouraging to hear such a diversity of approaches, questions and opinions and each group produced a helpful report to take away.

All in all, we are very excited about how the workshop went and look forward to the potential for future expansion into other areas of Ghana. 

Bridging Heritage and Climate Action: New Workshop creates a generation of ambassadors

We are happy to announce the completion of our very first Interpreting Heritage and Engaging Communities for Climate Change workshop, an important milestone in the sector’s efforts to address this pressing issue. 

During this exciting inaugural 3-day online workshop (1st– 3rd December) HERITΛGE bought together 13 Heritage Managers from Africa (Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Sudan, Zimbabwe, The Gambia), Europe and Asia (France, Turkey) that are now trained to fulfil the role of heritage and climate action ambassadors. 

 The sessions aimed to equip the participants with the necessary tools and expertise to actively involve local communities in climate action. It was a pleasure to see participants share their personal experiences, lead lively discussions, and actively engage in various exercises throughout a series of thought-provoking lectures by our instructors. 

Key Learnings:

  1. Understanding Climate Change: as both a global phenomenon and its specific effects on local communities. 
  2. Impacts on Cultural Heritage Sites: the focal point of the workshop was the exploration of the intersection between climate and heritage issues. 
  3. Community Engagement: learning effective strategies to communicate the impact of climate change to diverse audiences, with a strong focus on fostering sustainability and resilience in heritage sights. 

Much of the success of the workshop was down to the guidance of our four instructors. Valya Stergitoti acted as our interpretative trainer and planner. She has over twenty years’ experience in organising heritage workshops, maintains a high level of personability and individual focus in each project she curates, and we benefited enormously from her guidance and skills. Dr Aris Anagnostopoulos, who is currently engaged in research about archaeological ethnography (PhD University of Kent) and serves as HERITΛGE’S Community Engagement Programs’ Manager, brought vital insights to the community engagement side of the workshop. Dr. Lena Stefanou, whose expertise lies in archaeology and museum and heritage studies, suggested a diverse perspective to the workshop. Her work incorporates museum planning, educational design and community archaeology and she provided fascinating insights into all these matters and how climate issues might impact them. 

Finally, our director Dr. Evangelos Kyriakidis took the stage as the keynote speaker in a lecture which emphasised the urgent need for local ambassadors of climate mitigation in our world today. 

By the end of the workshop, the participant Heritage Managers came out with a deeper awareness of how interpretation can inspire communities to take climate action. Armed with this knowledge and expertise, these ambassadors of heritage and climate action are now better equipped to initiate influential initiatives within their communities, contributing to a more sustainable future. We look forward to seeing how their future work will lead to positive change!

 

 

Newsletter Sign-up