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.