Introduction to Heritage Interpretation for Site Managers
Date:
21-23 October 2026
Location:
Online Training Program
Application Deadline:
30 September 2026
Heritage Interpretation
Vacancies for the workshops are limited, so please apply early.
Instructor:
Valya Stergioti, is a freelance interpretive trainer and planner. She has more than 20 years of experience on organizing and implementing interpretive workshops about heritage for adults and children. She works in collaboration with different NGOs and other institutions all over Greece and has more than 10 years’ experience in adult training. From 2015-2023 she was Interpret Europe’s Training Coordinator, responsible for the creation and implementation of a quality, interpretive training program that meets the needs of heritage professionals from all over Europe. Valya is inspired by the influence that heritage interpretation can have on individuals and is always looking for new ways to enrich and improve her training activities.
Heritage Interpretation is a dynamic approach to non-formal learning that transforms visits to natural and cultural heritage sites into meaningful experience. This immersive three-day course introduces participants to the principles and practice of heritage interpretation, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to apply these methods in their own sites and organizations.
Through a combination of interactive exercises, collaborative group work, engaging presentations, and facilitated discussions, participants will explore how to move beyond simply presenting information to creating experiences that inspire curiosity, connection, and reflection. They will learn how to reveal the significance of heritage, foster emotional engagement, and encourage audiences to develop a deeper appreciation for both natural and cultural heritage, and will explore how interpretation can support community participation for a sustainable heritage management.
Participants will have the opportunity to obtain a certificate of attendance from The Heritage Management Organization. To do so, they will be asked to fully participate in all parts of the course, develop and present specific ideas on how to implement quality interpretive services in their sites and deliver a homework task under the guidance of the instructor.
HERITΛGE provides scholarships to most participants in its training programmes. These scholarships can cover up to 90% of the cost of attendance, depending on the circumstances of the participants and the availability of funding. Read more on Fees & Scholarships.
For details on the application procedures, see the official announcement of the workshop here.
On successfully completing the workshop students will be able to:
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- ● Understand the basic principles of heritage interpretation.
- ● Recognise the quality criteria that contribute to the development of heritage interpretation.
- ● Distinguish different types of audiences and attend their needs.
- ● Consider different interpretive media and select the most appropriate for each site.
- ● Be aware of the basic principles for developing interpretive themes and main themes to present heritage phenomena.
- ● Be able to link heritage phenomena with universal concepts and values.
- ● Acknowledge the value of open-ended questions, as tools of engagement of participants in heritage interpretation.
