The online 3-day workshop on “Introduction to Heritage Interpretation for Site Managers” took place from 21 to 23 January 2022.  

18 heritage managers from Africa (Rwanda, Kenya, The Gambia, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, and Egypt), Asia (Qatar) and Europe (Greece) have been trained on how to develop interpretive talks and walks in heritage sites or museums developing themes about tangible or intangible heritage phenomena, including values, contexts and universal concepts. 

 During the course, participants actively participated in discussions and various individual and group exercises. The exercises were designed to gradually build up their own interpretive project on cultural heritage in their preferred sites.  

The workshop has been conducted by 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 is Interpret Europe’s Training Coordinator, works in collaboration with different NGOs and other institutions all over Greece and has more than 10 years’ experience in adult training.

Community engagement is a key element of good interpretation. Dr Olga Karagianni, manager of the Andros Research Center and coordinator for the Andros Routes Initiative, has delivered a keynote speech and shared her experience in motivating the local community of Andros and interpreting local cultural heritage.