The AHEAD project concluded its journey with a dynamic final multiplier event in Brussels on October 13th, 2025, bringing together cultural professionals, researchers, and policymakers to explore how co-creation and audience-centered approaches can shape a more inclusive and innovative future for the cultural heritage sector.

“HERITAGE is proud to be a part of the AHEAD project, working to give Cultural Heritage Professionals the tools and methods to use design thinking to co-create new experiences with their target audiences and develop new audiences for their institutions,” said Roula Gkika, the organization’s AHEAD project manager.

Hosted at BeCentral, the event, titled “AHEAD in Brussels: Co-creation Tools for Cultural Heritage”, offered an engaging afternoon of presentations, discussions, and collaboration. Gilles Pellayo, representing the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), addressed participants, highlighting the project’s contribution to EU priorities in culture, participation, and capacity building.

Participants heard from AHEAD partners including the Archaeological Park of Ostia Antica, the National Museum and Research Center of Altamira, and the Archaeological Museum of Messara, alongside artists, researchers, and cultural managers who have co-developed and tested AHEAD’s participatory tools across Europe.

Through a series of interactive sessions, from a “World Café” on capacity building, innovation, and sustainability to collaborative discussions on turning project learnings into practical, long-term tools, attendees exchanged ideas and charted new paths for audience engagement and institutional change.

The event closed with reflections and a networking reception that celebrated the project’s achievements and the strong partnerships forged throughout its implementation.

Funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union, AHEAD has aimed to enhance the capacity of cultural heritage institutions through a participatory audience development model. Over the past two years, the project has developed co-creation frameworks and practical toolkits that empower museums and cultural organizations to engage their audiences as active partners in heritage interpretation and innovation.

HERITΛGE run the AHEAD Greek hub in the Archaeological Museum of Messara in Crete and contributed to the project’s capacity building, community engagement and communications work.

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