#AHEAD_EUproject Archives - The Heritage Management Organization

AHEAD in Crete: Community Stories, Creative Sparks, and New Visions for Heritage Engagement

In February 2025, Crete became a vibrant hub for cultural dialogue and creative collaboration through two dynamic AHEAD project activities: the AHEAD Talk at the Archaeological Museum of Mesara and the third AHEAD Lab, held as part of our ongoing mission to foster accessible and participatory heritage experiences.

HERITΛGE is proud to be an active member of AHEAD (Accessible Heritage Experience for Audience Development), a project funded by the European Union’s Creative Europe initiative to give heritage managers the skills and knowledge to held their institutions generate economic sustainability and local growth while widening access and participation to new audiences and local communities.

AHEAD Talk: Memory, Meaning, and Messara’s Cultural Wealth

On February 14th, the Archaeological Museum of Mesara that serves as the project’s Greek Hub opened its doors to a diverse group of heritage professionals, educators, community members, and local stakeholders for the AHEAD Talk. Hosted by HERITΛGE and supported by the AHEAD consortium, the event focused on cultural heritage engagement and audience development, with a spotlight on the unique cultural landscape of Mesara.

Speakers included Aris Anagnostopoulos and Roula Gkika from HERITΛGE, artist Elektra Angelopoulou (who has been selected to co-create a piece of work for the Greek hub in collaboration with local communities, Antonis Papadakis from the Archaeological Museum of Mesara, and local educator Nikos Andreadakis. Speakershared inspiring insights on:

The aims and impact of the AHEAD initiative
Strategies for community-driven heritage projects
Art as a connector between archaeological sites and the public
Public archaeology and the use of comics for storytelling
Transforming museums into interactive, child-friendly spaces

Beyond the formal presentations, the event came alive through the audience’s contributions—personal stories and heartfelt memories of Mesara’s rich heritage that resonated deeply with all present. The talk fostered meaningful exchange, laying the groundwork for future collaboration between institutions and communities across Crete.

AHEAD Lab 3: Ideate! A Creative Leap in Audience Engagement

In parallel, Mesara also hosted the third AHEAD Lab, titled Ideate! that focused on reimagining how audiences interact with cultural heritage. Building on the themes raised during the Talk, the Lab brought together artists, archaeologists, educators, and local residents for a series of hands-on workshops and co-creation sessions.

Participants explored new methods of engaging audiences—especially young people—through artistic interpretation, participatory storytelling, and site-specific installations. The lab not only generated creative outputs but also deepened local involvement, highlighting the power of collaborative design in shaping inclusive cultural experiences.

Together, the AHEAD Talk and Lab in Crete demonstrated the transformative potential of dialogue, memory, and creativity in heritage work. By listening to communities and co-creating new forms of engagement, AHEAD continues to push the boundaries of how we connect with the past—and with each other.

Find out more about AHEAD on the project’s website.

Two AHEAD labs take place in Crete

HERITΛGE in co-operation with the Archaeological Museum of Mesara in Greece held the first two labs EMPATHISE & DEFINE of the AHEAD program for the Greek hub on December 20-21, 2024. AHEAD (Accessible Heritage Experience for Audience Development) is an EU-funded program that aims to give cultural heritage professionals the tools to develop audiences using innovative approaches.

The labs marked a significant milestone in capacity building and following a series of intensive seminars. They provided a safe and collaborative space for heritage professionals, artists, and audiences to co-create innovative strategies for audience engagement and development.

Aris Anagnostopoulos, HERITΛGE head of Community Engagement, shared his expertise on audience engagement, guiding participants through the process of conducting empathetic interviews with local communities and students. His insights set the stage for meaningful interactions and the development of actionable steps to connect with target audiences effectively.

The enthusiastic participation of the museum staff made this initiative truly rewarding from day one.

Lab 1, focused on “Empathize,” featured two key phases:

Step into My Shoes – Museum Perspective, which explored the museum’s understanding of its audience.
Step into My Shoes – Audience Perspective, which shifted the focus to how audiences perceive the museum.

Lab 2 “Define” focused on conducting empathetic interviews and defining the specific needs of the targeted audiences. This workshop encouraged participants to engage directly with primary school students and the local community (including parents) to gain deeper insights into their perspectives, expectations, and experiences. Through active listening and thoughtful dialogue, the lab laid the groundwork for identifying key audience needs and developing meaningful, audience-centered approaches for cultural engagement.

With primary school students and the local community (including parents) as the target groups, these labs fostered open dialogue and mutual understanding.

Through these workshops and the broader AHEAD program,HERITΛGE and its AHEAD partners strive to build and sustain meaningful relationships between archaeological sites and their audiences, fostering connections rooted in empathy and shared experiences.

These labs are just the beginning of a six-lab series designed to transform how cultural heritage professionals engage with their communities. Stay tuned for more exciting developments in the months ahead!

Elektra Angelopoulou is the artist selected for AHEAD’s Greek hub

ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ

Elektra Angelopoulou /Photo by Thalia Galanopoulou

HERITΛGE in collaboration with the Archaeological Museum of Messara is very pleased to announce that artist Elektra Angelopoulou has been selected as the artist to create a participatory work of art as part of the AHEAD (Accessible Heritage Experience for Audience Development) project.

AHEAD is co-funded by the EU’s Creative Europe program and aims to transform how the public interacts with cultural heritage by providing heritage managers with the tools to create new participatory and inclusive experiences. The project brings together three cultural heritage sites in Greece, Italy and Spain, where selected artists will collaborate with local communities to create experiential works of art.

Elektra Angelopoulou has a rich background in archaeology and the performing arts and was chosen among dozens of artists, originating from or residing in Crete, to work with the project’s Greek hub to create an innovative and participatory art project at the Archaeological Museum of Messara. Through this work, Electra will explore new ways of experiencing and connecting with cultural heritage.

The artist will collaborate with two key target groups: primary school students and the local community. Through a series of co-creation workshops, structured using the ACED (Audience-Centered Experience Design) methodology, she will develop a participatory work of art that strengthens the public’s connection to the museum and its heritage.

The goal is to create an open and participatory experience, which will highlight the archaeological site as a living, creative space where history meets the present.

“My intention, every time I come into contact with an archaeological site, is to show what some of us ‘see’ in our imagination when we look at stones, vases, soil, sculptures – that is, an entire world – to those who have not been able to see it that way until now,” the artist says. “Museums and archaeological sites are changing, turning towards local communities and taking steps to become an integral, living part of them. In this context, my goal is to connect people with the object.”

HERITΛGE Highlights 2024

Training

HERITΛGE celebrated a record-breaking milestone in 2024, training over 1,000 heritage caretakers in a single year. Participants engaged in a wide range of programs, including three-day workshops conducted online and in person, two annual summer schools focusing on digital tools and community engagement, and specialized training tailored to specific regions, topics and organizations. These included programs on Street Art in The Gambia (which also produced a new mural for the country’s National Centre for the Arts and Culture), Heritage interpretation in Rwanda, Project Management for US Heritage Managers, and an introduction to Fundraising and Project Management in Iraq.

Heritage Threatened by Conflict, Natural Disasters, and Climate Change

HERITΛGE continued its mission to protect heritage at risk worldwide, strengthening existing partnerships and forging new ones. In Ukraine, the Digital Museum project that was funded by the Creative Europe’s Culture Helps initiative, trained museum professionals to use digital tools, ensuring operational continuity and community access during wartime. Simultaneously, the two-year Architecture in Times of War: The Ukrainian Model initiative – delivered in cooperation with the Kharkiv School of Architecture and Skeiron and the support of the US Embassy in Kyiv – is equipping students and educators with digital skills to document, preserve, and restore architectural heritage.

In Türkiye, HERITΛGE published comprehensive reports documenting historic sites affected by the February 2023 Türkiye-Syria earthquakes. These reports include protection recommendations and advocate for enhanced cultural heritage recovery in affected provinces. Meanwhile, in Pakistan, a new project launched to safeguard the early Buddhist heritage of the Swat Valley, an area under threat from conflict, climate change, and rapid development. In Yemen, efforts continued to preserve the unique earthen architecture of Shibam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site struggling under the weight of a decade-long civil war.

HERITΛGE in Africa

The HerMaP Africa initiative, generously supported by the Mellon Foundation, has delivered significant impact. Over 75 small heritage projects received funding, alongside the awarding of several fellowships and the training of more than 370 heritage managers in Ethiopia, Ghana, and Rwanda. New partnerships were also established to further these efforts. In The Gambia, HERITΛGE’s ongoing HerMaP Gambia initiative, co-funded by the European Union, provided training to enhance the country’s culture and tourism sectors. The program also facilitated a parliamentary delegation study tour in Greece and partnered with the NCAC to launch the country’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Register, a project supported by UNESCO.

Giving Heritage Managers New Tools

HERITΛGE made strides in empowering heritage managers with innovative tools and practices. The EU-funded SHIFT project advanced its work to make heritage more accessible and inclusive, with a consortium meeting and project presentation held in Athens. The AHEAD initiative, co-funded by the European Union’s Creative Europe program, introduced seminars (now available online) and launched a community-based artistic project in Crete, with similar activities planned for Italy and Spain. HERITΛGE also announced the launch of EMPATHS, a project designed to promote participatory heritage interpretation through new tools and training resources.

Creating Networks, Connecting Professionals

Collaboration and community-building remained central to HERITΛGE’s mission in 2024. The organization continued developing Greece’s Living Heritage Network, supported by the Ministry of Culture, with HERITΛGE actively contributing to its digital and physical infrastructure, member recruitment, and communications. Additionally, the newly established AHEAD Network brings together heritage managers and community members who share a vision of audience engagement and participation.

Knowledge Sharing

HERITΛGE emphasized the importance of knowledge-sharing through active participation in global events and publications. Director Dr. Evangelos Kyriakidis delivered a keynote at the Choc Des Legendes Conference in Ghana, held under the auspices of the country’s First Lady. The organization also sponsored PastForward 2024, the annual conference of the US National Trust for Historic Preservation. Other highlights included workshops and presentations at the 30th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists and the ReImagining Public Collections conference in Hungary.

HERITΛGE contributed to a Horizon Europe-funded policy brief on digital cultural heritage and shared expertise through webinars, seminars, and public lectures. Notable online resources include audience development webinars from the AHEAD initiative and webinars on architectural preservation in Ukraine.

1st Global Staff Summit

Reflecting the growth in HERITΛGE’s activities and team, the organization hosted its inaugural Global Staff Summit in September. This online event brought together staff working in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas , marking the beginning of an annual tradition to foster collaboration and alignment across our expanding network.

Ηλέκτρα Αγγελοπούλου: η καλλιτέχνις που επιλέχθηκε από το AHEAD στην Κρήτη

A portrait of the artist Electra Angeloulou

Ηλέκτρα Αγγελοπούλου. Φωτο: Θάλεια Γαλανοπούλου

Ο οργα νισμός HERITΛGE, σε συνεργασία με το Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Μεσαράς, με χαρά ανακοινώνουν την επιλογή της Ηλέκτρας Αγγελοπούλου για να συμμετάσχει στο ευρωπαϊκό έργο AHEAD (Accessible Heritage Experience for Audience Development), που αποσκοπεί στη δημιουργία νέων βιωματικών εμπειριών που επιτρέπουν στο κοινό να συνδεθεί με την πολιτιστική κληρονομιά συμμετοχικά και χωρίς αποκλεισμούς.

Ανάμεσα σε δεκάδες καλλιτέχνες, με καταγωγή ή τόπο διαμονής την Κρήτη που δήλωσαν συμμετοχή στην πρόσκληση του HERITΛGE, η Ηλέκτρα Αγγελοπούλου, με πλούσιο βιογραφικό στην αρχαιολογία και τις παραστατικές τέχνες, επιλέχθηκε για την δημιουργία ενός συμμετοχικού έργου σε συνεργασία με το κοινό, που θα αναπτύξει νέους τρόπους βίωσης του Αρχαιολογικού Μουσείου Μεσαράς.

Συγκεκριμένα, η καλλιτέχνις θα συνεργαστεί με δύο κοινότητες-στόχους, μαθητές δημοτικού και την τοπική κοινωνία, και μέσω εργαστηρίων συνδημιουργίας δομημένων με τη μεθοδολογία ACED (Audience Centered Experience Design) θα αναπτύξει ένα έργο που θα ενισχύσει τη σύνδεση του κοινού με την πολιτιστική κληρονομιά. Στόχος είναι η δημιουργία μιας ανοιχτής και συμμετοχικής εμπειρίας, η οποία θα αναδείξει τον αρχαιολογικό χώρο ως ζωντανό και δημιουργικό πεδίο συνάντησης του παρελθόντος με το παρόν.

“Πρόθεσή μου, κάθε φορά που έρχομαι σε επαφή με έναν αρχαιολογικό χώρο, είναι αυτό που φαντασιακά ‘βλέπουμε’ κάποιοι όταν κοιτάμε πέτρες, αγγεία, χώματα, γλυπτά – δηλαδή έναν ολόκληρο κόσμο – να το δείξω και σε εκείνους που μέχρι τώρα δεν έχουν μπορέσει να το δουν έτσι,” επισημαίνει η καλλιτέχνις. “Τα μουσεία και οι αρχαιολογικοί χώροι αλλάζουν, στρέφονται προς τις τοπικές κοινωνίες και κάνουν βήματα ώστε να γίνουν αναπόσπαστο, ζωντανό κομμάτι τους. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, στόχος μου είναι να συνδέσω τον άνθρωπο με το αντικείμενο.”

Το έργο AHEAD συγχρηματοδοτείται από το πρόγραμμα Δημιουργική Ευρώπη της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης.

AHEAD team meets in Bilbao

HERITΛGE joined our partners in the AHEAD (Accessible Heritage Experience for Audience Development) consortium for an interim project meeting in Bilbao this October, hosted by the University of Deusto.

AHEAD is a project co-funded by the EU’s Creative Europe program, aimed at providing cultural heritage professionals with innovative tools and practices to develop new audiences.

Over three days of sessions packed with ideas, plans, and exchanges, the AHEAD team reviewed the progress already achieved. This includes the delivery of nine seminars and the launch of a series of videos and seminar materials, all freely available to cultural heritage professionals on the project website.

The partners also discussed the next steps for the project, including the launch of calls for artists in Greece, Italy, and Spain, and the organization of AHEAD Labs, which will begin in November. These labs will be held in Ostia Antica, Altamira, and Crete, bringing together artists, local communities, and staff from the archaeological parks. Participants will co-design creative practices to enhance how heritage is experienced in their regions.

To find out more about AHEAD, the opportunities it offers, or to join the AHEAD Network, visit the AHEAD website.

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