HERITΛGE is proud to be a partner in the EMPATHS project, a European initiative funded by the Erasmus+ Programme that seeks to transform how cultural heritage is interpreted, shared, and experienced. As part of this work, the EMPATHS consortium has recently published the EMPATHS Manifesto — a collective call to reimagine heritage interpretation as a participatory, inclusive, and community-driven practice.

The manifesto challenges traditional, top-down approaches to heritage storytelling and invites heritage professionals, institutions, and communities to rethink their roles. At its core is a simple but powerful idea: heritage becomes meaningful when communities are not just audiences, but active partners in interpretation.

A shared vision for participatory heritage interpretation

The manifesto sets out the values and principles that will guide our 30-month European collaboration dedicated to building new competences for heritage professionals. EMPATHS focuses on dialogue, co-creation, and inclusive engagement, responding to the growing need for heritage practices that are democratic, empathetic, and socially relevant. The manifesto is not just a vision statement; it is the conceptual foundation upon which EMPATHS’ training tools, methodologies, and community labs are being built.

As outlined in the project framework, EMPATHS will:

• Develop a replicable training curriculum for participatory heritage interpretation
• Pilot blended learning programmes combining online and in-person activities
• Engage heritage professionals and local communities in testing and shaping new interpretive practices
• Strengthen the capacity of the sector to work across disciplines, communities, and landscapes

The EMPATHS Manifesto speaks directly to contemporary challenges facing heritage and society more broadly — social fragmentation, disconnection from place, and the urgent need for shared responsibility. It responds with a clear and hopeful vision: heritage as a bridge, communities as co-creators, and professionals as facilitators rather than sole authorities.

As articulated in the manifesto’s Vision for the Future of Heritage Interpretation, participatory approaches can help heritage become a space for dialogue, mutual understanding, and sustainable futures — grounded in local contexts but open to multiple voices and perspectives.

Read the manifesto and join the conversation

We invite heritage professionals, practitioners, researchers, and community members to read the EMPATHS Manifesto, explore the project’s work, and join us in shaping a more participatory, empathetic, and sustainable future for heritage interpretation.

The post The EMPATHS Manifesto: Reimagining Heritage Interpretation Through Participation appeared first on The Heritage Management Organization.

What are the challenges heritage professionals face in developing inclusive and participatory approaches to heritage interpretation? HERITΛGE is a proud partner in EMPATHS, a project co-funded by the European Union to enhance community participation in heritage interpretation and empower heritage professionals.

In the framework of the project, HERITΛGE and the Ethnological Museum of Thrace facilitated two recent co-design sessions held in Alexandroupoli and Rizía, Greece, that explored the realities faced by heritage professionals and cultural organisations in developing inclusive, community-based approaches to heritage interpretation.

In Alexandroupoli, the team worked with Dromeas Thrace, a local group that emphasised the potential of experiential walks that combine local storytelling, well-being, and cultural identity. However, they also highlighted the need for clearer participatory methods, improved internal coordination, and better tools for managing community input.

In Rizía,  the local Educational and Cultural Association raised concerns about sustaining volunteer-led initiatives and involving younger generations. Key challenges included a lack of collaboration among local groups, limited access to digital tools, and insufficient training in project design, memory work, and heritage interpretation.

The sessions confirmed the importance of working with existing community strengths while introducing practical tools to ensure sustainable participation. These insights will directly shape the EMPATHS training model, helping to support more inclusive, locally grounded approaches to heritage interpretation across Europe.

The findings of these sessions, as well as a series of others being run by our partners around Europe, are directly informing the EMPATHS training programme scheduled for release in 2026. Find our more on the EMPATHS website.

The post Challenges to participation in heritage interpretation: Insights from the First EMPATHS Sessions in Greece appeared first on The Heritage Management Organization.