IE Webinar: Evaluation – What are we doing in Europe?
April 24, 202629 April at 15:00 CEST. We would like to invite you to a discussion on evaluating heritage interpretation provisions, taking place on the 29th of April at 15:00 CEST. Evaluation is an essential part of creating meaningful and effective heritage interpretation experiences. Whether you are assessing individual interpretation ...Read More - IE Webinar: Evaluation – What are we doing in Europe?
Open space for your voice at iecon
March 15, 2026Many of us will meet soon in Faro and we are looking forward to hearing your opinions. Even if you cannot join, there will be food for thought. It is really great that this year’s topic and location seem to have proven popular before we even begin, with the ...Read More - Open space for your voice at iecon
Funding opportunities
March 15, 2026Several European funding programmes are currently open or forthcoming. The following calls may interest organisations working in heritage interpretation, museums, and cultural heritage. Please always check the original links for full, up-to-date details and how to apply. A good place to start is the overview of open calls ...Read More - Funding opportunities
Interpreting with the LGBTQIA+ community in mind
March 15, 2026A new free guide supporting confident, care-led LGBTQIA+ interpretation through practical questions and real-world examples is available from AHI. Heritage professionals are increasingly engaging with LGBTQIA+ histories, lives and experiences, yet many report uncertainty about how to do so responsibly, confidently and with care. Questions around language, representation ...Read More - Interpreting with the LGBTQIA+ community in mind
NextGen Heritage Ambassadors
March 15, 2026An important milestone for youth engagement in Europe’s cultural heritage landscape. Youth.Heritage.Europe, together with Europa Nostra — Project Leader of the European Heritage Hub — is proud to announce the NextGen Heritage Ambassadors (NGHA). Following a highly competitive selection process with more than 300 applicants, 12 exceptional young professionals ...Read More - NextGen Heritage Ambassadors
Why can’t interpretation do more to tackle society’s problems?
March 15, 2026We consider ten ways to make heritage interpretation more holistic for greater impact. Interpretation might play on a field two sizes too small. Of course, you may not be sure if your interpretation does or not, until you zoom beyond the small field. It is hard to imagine the feel ...Read More - Why can’t interpretation do more to tackle society’s problems?
In This Place: A soundwalk at the former KL Plaszow site
March 15, 2026Exploring through a soundwalk, which integrates multiple stories and engages with its palimpsest nature and difficult heritage. History The Plaszow German Nazi concentration camp (KL Plaszow) was established in two districts of Kraków – Podgórze and Wola Duchacka – on the grounds of two pre-war Jewish cemeteries. The camp operated...Read More - In This Place: A soundwalk at the former KL Plaszow site
Listening to forest narratives
March 15, 2026Forest bathing invites us to slow down and hear the multiple narratives living in the landscape. Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, is often described as a wellbeing practice, an immersion in the sensory atmosphere of the forest. Rather than offering a structured story, it offers a space where participants slow ...Read More - Listening to forest narratives
Finding inspiration in unlikely places
March 15, 2026Making connections via the often-overlooked cities of Gračac and Obrovac in search of lasting inspiration and deeper meaning. It’s hard to believe it’s been three months (at time of writing) since the Interpret Europe Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) course that I attended. Nestled between the start of ...Read More - Finding inspiration in unlikely places
What truly makes a difference in a CIG course?
March 15, 2026Looking at the key ingredients of an IE Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) course. Beyond careful planning and organisation, other powerful elements shape the experience: the place itself and the people who live there, the participants, and the relationships they share with the trainer. These were the key ingredients that made ...Read More - What truly makes a difference in a CIG course?
CIT Frankfurt: Raising the bar together
March 15, 202616 trainers from ten countries enjoyed a high-level CIT week in Frankfurt, linking values, practice and participation in a new blended format. Three years after the last IE Certified Interpretive Trainer (CIT) course, 16 participants from ten European countries gathered in Frankfurt am Main for an intensive week of ...Read More - CIT Frankfurt: Raising the bar together
European projects update
March 15, 2026Busy as bees enjoying the spring, and there’s plenty of action to catch up on. The HI-People project HI-People, supported by the European Union Creative Europe programme, has begun its second year (of four) with some exciting developments for IE members. First, our new mentoring and peer ...Read More - European projects update
What the online symposium left behind (and why it matters)
March 15, 2026We met online. 27 presentations. 130 participants. The slides are gone — what stayed is harder to package, and far more useful. On February 26 and 27, we held our first online symposium to allow a greater depth of exploration and discussion on one topic: The role of narratives in...Read More - What the online symposium left behind (and why it matters)
To misname an object is to add to the misery of the world
March 15, 2026If language hides the truth, people are misled and harmful acts on others are easier to justify. “To misname an object is to add to the misery of the world.” French philosopher and author, Albert Camus, wrote this in 1944 as Europe entered the final phase of a bloody global ...Read More - To misname an object is to add to the misery of the world
Dear Nature
March 15, 2026When we say ‘people-centered’, are we placing humans above nature or finally admitting we are part of it? Aren’t we nature too? Dear Nature, I'm writing to you, even though we keep insisting you are ‘non-human’. As if that word solved anything. We invent terms to ...Read More - Dear Nature
IE Webinar: The penguin exhibit at Two Oceans Aquarium – its design and build
March 4, 202610 March at 15:00 CET. This presentation explores how to design an interactive exhibit focused on an endemic, endangered species. Using the African penguin as a case study, we learn how to translate conservation science into accessible, engaging experiences, integrate interactivity to drive emotional connection and balance education with ...Read More - IE Webinar: The penguin exhibit at Two Oceans Aquarium – its design and build
Interpret Europe Mentoring Programme
February 13, 2026Following our recent announcement about the new Interpret Europe Mentoring Programme, we’re delighted to invite you to our first online workshop marking the start of the 2026 cycle! About the programme Interpret Europe has teamed up with Italian VET provider and cultural participation specialist Melting Pro, to run a ...Read More - Interpret Europe Mentoring Programme
IE Webinar: West Coast Fossil Park communicates palaeoscience to the public
February 6, 202610 February 2026, 15:00 CET The West Coast Fossil Park (WCFP) is an important centre for palaeontological research, education, and tourism. Located in a rehabilitated former phosphate mine, the Park supports ongoing fossil research and opened to the public in September 1998. It initially operated as a partnership between ...Read More - IE Webinar: West Coast Fossil Park communicates palaeoscience to the public
IE Webinar: From ABCs to Azores, Birds and Campaigns
January 20, 202627 January 2026, 15:00 CET The SOS Cagarro campaign was launched in the Azores in 1995 and aims to protect young Cory's Shearwaters disoriented by artificial lights during their first night flight. The initiative, which has become one of Portugal's oldest environmental education campaigns, mobilizes the community ...Read More - IE Webinar: From ABCs to Azores, Birds and Campaigns
New for 2026! IE training programme scholarship scheme
January 9, 2026Our training programme is one of the hallmarks of Interpret Europe. Reflecting our mission and vision, its purpose is to foster a community of highly competent professional consultants and/or trainers who can demonstrate the value of heritage and the profession of heritage interpretation from local communities to strategic bodies ...Read More - New for 2026! IE training programme scholarship scheme
Reflections on the 50th anniversary AHI conference
January 3, 2026The UK’s Association for Heritage Interpretation (AHI) turned 50 in October and it was a fantastic opportunity to attend this milestone event. This year, in the same year that our ‘big sister’ from the UK turned 50, Interpret Europe reached its own significant birthday. The initial establishment of the ...Read More - Reflections on the 50th anniversary AHI conference
The #iecon26 conference in Portugal is simply a must
December 22, 2025Co-creation sessions, artivism and south Portuguese landscapes are just some of the experiences our conference has never offered before. Join us to co-create our Interpret Europe conference 2026: Re-interpreting Heritage in the Light of Faro, which will take place in Faro, Portugal in April. We will explore ...Read More - The #iecon26 conference in Portugal is simply a must
Learning Landscapes symposium – Call for proposals
December 22, 2025Are you ready to contribute to the Learning Landscape initiative symposium in February? As part of the joint Learning Landscapes initiative, Interpret Europe and UNESCO are organising an online symposium, which will take place on 26-27 February 2026. It will address the role of narratives in 21st century heritage ...Read More - Learning Landscapes symposium – Call for proposals
When outreach begins with values
December 22, 2025Outreach begins with listening but grows from shared values, helping regions and professionals create interpretation that truly matters. I have just taken over the role of Outreach Coordinator for IE and my new role begins with a question: What truly matters to the people we hope to reach? This question ...Read More - When outreach begins with values
Culture Compass for Europe
December 22, 2025The European Commission’s report, published in November, sets out the importance of cultural heritage – with implications for interpretation. Have you heard about the Culture Compass report? It was published in November by the European Commission, presented by Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Culture, Youth and Sport. It ...Read More - Culture Compass for Europe
When a costume retires: Rethinking live interpretation
December 22, 2025Reflecting on how live interpretation differs from performance, and why dialogue remains at the core of meaningful visitor engagement. Retiring a costume can seem like a practical decision, but in my recent work it became a moment of deeper reflection on what distinguishes live interpretation from performance. I have embodied ...Read More - When a costume retires: Rethinking live interpretation
Living Images: A creative tool for interpreters of history
December 22, 2025An innovative, human-centered interpretive project using living history to engage communities interactively and personally with Croatian heritage. The Living Images project at the Zagreb City Museum represents an innovative museological interpretation model based on the method of living history, which was the first of its kind in Croatia. Launched ...Read More - Living Images: A creative tool for interpreters of history
A phenomenal opportunity to learn about a phenomenon
December 22, 2025Phenomenon, phenomenon, phenomenon! — was the word echoing in our minds throughout the entire week of the CIG course. Already after the first day of the first IE Certified Interpretative Guide Course (CIG), held at the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of Serbia in September 2025, the word...Read More - A phenomenal opportunity to learn about a phenomenon
When the interpreter meets the guide
December 22, 2025Creating personal experiences for visitors in relation to heritage, we forge connections that transcend the mere presentation of facts. In collaboration with the Municipality of Kotor and the Public Institution 'Museums' Kotor (OJU 'Muzeji' Kotor), a heritage interpretation course was held in early December this year at the Multimedia Hall ...Read More - When the interpreter meets the guide
Autumn colours mean change: A CIG course in Greece
December 22, 2025In October, a Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) course in a small village in northern Greece sparked reflection. The course was organised within the framework of Interpret Europe’s Learning Landscapes Initiative, supported by the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe (Venice Office). Eastern Zagori is a remote ...Read More - Autumn colours mean change: A CIG course in Greece
Interpreting across nature and culture
December 21, 2025A Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) course in Lubmin raised big questions. I wasn’t a model participant. The Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) training recently hosted by the Tourism Association of German Western Pomerania was split across two weekends in October and November. A six-week hiatus gave participants ample time ...Read More - Interpreting across nature and culture
Distilling meaning together at the Wadden Sea
December 21, 2025The IE Certified Interpretive Writer (CIW) course offers an opportunity to step out of one’s own sphere and find meaning through collaboration. Writing is usually a solitary activity. However, during the Interpret Europe CIW course we found a unique opportunity to step out of our own perspective (and from ...Read More - Distilling meaning together at the Wadden Sea
IE’s monthly webinar programme is still going strong
December 21, 2025We recently had some interesting lessons shared from the Humanity Exhibit at the Iziko South African Museum. Amy Sephton and Wendy Black joined us for our monthly webinar series to share what they learned from the development of the Humanity Exhibit in South Africa. This exhibition was to be truly ...Read More - IE’s monthly webinar programme is still going strong
Why work alone when you can have a helping hand?
December 21, 2025IE’s online networking events are here for you to find other professionals to work with – Aren’t two brains better than one? IE recently launched an online networking event to help connect our members who wish to find partners to collaborate with. The last event was an intimate affair ...Read More - Why work alone when you can have a helping hand?
European project update: Empaths
December 21, 2025As the year ends, it’s time for an update on our two European projects. Here we find out about Empaths. Empaths is our second European project, a classic transnational cooperation action, funded by the European Union Erasmus+ programme. Empaths supports IE’s work to pilot a new training course ...Read More - European project update: Empaths
European projects update: HI-People
December 21, 2025As the year ends, it’s time for an update on our European projects. Here we discuss HI-People. HI-People is our largest project, supported by the European Union Creative Europe programme. The programme invests in network organisations like IE that it believes can help transform the cultural and ...Read More - European projects update: HI-People
Reflections from the 14th Advisory Forum on Cultural Routes
December 21, 2025Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe recognised interpretation as the central pillar for their development. At the 14th Advisory Forum on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe in Türkyie, heritage interpretation was placed as a central pillar and a cross-cutting priority for developing Cultural Routes across Europe ...Read More - Reflections from the 14th Advisory Forum on Cultural Routes
A new mentoring programme for heritage interpreters
December 9, 2025Interpret Europe has engaged Italian VET provider and specialist in cultural participation, Melting Pro, to run a professional mentoring and peer support programme over the next three years, starting this winter. While principally intended for IE members, the programme will also reach out to non-member heritage professionals to join ...Read More - A new mentoring programme for heritage interpreters
CALL FOR PROPOSALS – Online Symposium 26-27 February 2026
December 1, 2025Join our online symposium on 26-27 Feb 2026. Contribute your ideas on the role of narratives in 21st century heritage interpretation. As part of the joint Learning Landscapes initiative, Interpret Europe and UNESCO are pleased to announce the online symposium “The role of narratives in 21st century heritage interpretation ...Read More - CALL FOR PROPOSALS – Online Symposium 26-27 February 2026
“Share your story, find your meaning”
October 16, 2025Interpret Europe is launching the first of four annual promotion campaigns on key themes for the interpretive community. The overall campaign concept is “Change perspective”. This signature reflects IE’s longstanding contribution to personal meaning-making through value-based and people-centred heritage interpretation which thrives on exchange and participation ...Read More - “Share your story, find your meaning”
Learning Landscapes Initiative symposium
October 13, 2025Save the date! More details of this online symposium will be published soon. This is the pre-announcement for an online symposium that Interpret Europe and UNESCO are organising on 26-27 February 2026 under the title ‘The role of narratives in 21st century heritage interpretation’. In recent years, a ...Read More - Learning Landscapes Initiative symposium
Re-interpreting heritage in the light of Faro: #iecon26
October 13, 2025Come to Portugal in April to discuss what the Faro Convention means for heritage interpretation and how we can contribute to its implementation. Faro, at the very Southwestern edge of the continent, is the right place to reflect on a theme which we consider of central importance for the future ...Read More - Re-interpreting heritage in the light of Faro: #iecon26
Hands-on with the Romans: Re-imagining Stobi through live interpretation
October 13, 2025The archaeological site of Stobi (North Macedonia) came alive through a series of interpretive workshops that re-imagined Roman daily life. Rooted in hands-on engagement and value-based storytelling, the programme that brought this site to life during the summer months invited participants not just to learn about history ...Read More - Hands-on with the Romans: Re-imagining Stobi through live interpretation
Hello, my name is Pettrike
October 13, 2025Protecting women from poverty after hard working lives – an audio guide bringing to life the timbers of one of Bergen’s oldest institutions. In the early 1600s, the Norwegian address of 28 Klostergaten, Bergen, was a highly-prized location for widowed and unmarried working-class women. It was, in fact ...Read More - Hello, my name is Pettrike
Dress up for interpretation
October 13, 2025A year of live interpretation – a new IE training module takes the stage across Europe 2025 has been a landmark year for Interpret Europe’s newest training offer: the Module on Live Interpretation (MLI). The MLI invites participants to quite literally step into character — to explore heritage through first-person ...Read More - Dress up for interpretation
Have you heard of Ulpiana, the ancient city in Kosovo?
October 13, 2025Cultural heritage professionals gathered to share their ideas and learn how to create an interpretation plan for Ulpiana Archaeological Site. This September, the first Interpret Europe course in Kosovo was held in Gračanica, about 2km from the ancient city. Seventeen of us from all over Kosovo gathered to take part ...Read More - Have you heard of Ulpiana, the ancient city in Kosovo?
Inspiring journey into heritage interpretation
October 13, 2025Through rain, sun, and teamwork, we learned to see heritage anew, crafting stories, signs, and skills for meaningful interpretation. The Interpret Europe Certified Interpretive Writer (CIW) course held at the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, Croatia, and organised by the Center for Cultural Heritage, brought together university teachers ...Read More - Inspiring journey into heritage interpretation
An educational experience that motivates and unites
October 13, 2025Greek mountain villages, with distinctive traditional architecture of local stone and wood, can offer much more than just a tourist attraction. I was born and raised in the mountains of South Pindos, in Evrytania. I have been working for more than two decades in education, specialising in environmental and cultural ...Read More - An educational experience that motivates and unites