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
Empaths training programme takes shape
October 13, 2025Empaths turns its focus on the structure and content for a pilot training programme on participatory HI for heritage professionals. The Empaths project partners from Germany, Austria/Slovenia, Italy and Greece met in Athens on 18-19 September for the second in-person transnational project meeting, hosted by HERITΛGE. Almost ...Read More - Empaths training programme takes shape
Kula Hasanbegovića and Semizova Kula
October 13, 2025The story of two ancient houses standing as witnesses of social and cultural history, and reminding us of our place in the historical chain. South of Ilidža in Bosnia and Herzegovina, below the famous Olympic mountain Igman, lies the suburban settlement of Hrasnica. It was first mentioned in the Ottoman ...Read More - Kula Hasanbegovića and Semizova Kula
Learning Landscapes: The new call
August 4, 2025Ready to turn your region into a Learning Landscape? Help shape a future where heritage inspires connection, care and co-creation. Together with UNESCO, Interpret Europe has developed the Learning Landscapes initiative – an innovative approach to transforming regions into vibrant spaces where heritage connects people, strengthens communities, and inspires action ...Read More - Learning Landscapes: The new call
Interpret Europe conference 2026 – Save the date!
August 4, 2025We will meet 16-19 April in Faro, Portugal with the theme: Re-interpreting heritage in the light of Faro. Interpret Europe's Conference Coordinator Bettina Lehnes and Country Coordinator Portugal, Pedro Morais, are just back from Faro where they spent some packed and exciting days. It’s now time ...Read More - Interpret Europe conference 2026 – Save the date!
7 Most Endangered
August 4, 2025Nominations are now open for the Europa Nostra programme to recognise heritage at-risk. All over Europe, our shared cultural heritage is under growing threat: from natural and human-made disasters to the impacts of climate-change, conflict, neglect, poorly planned development, violation of the rule of law, and lack ...Read More - 7 Most Endangered
3rd National Forum of heritage interpreters Croatia, 2025
August 4, 2025A new attire for heritage: Possibilities and values of live interpretation in cultural and natural heritage Trakošćan Castle / 8–9 November 2025 This year’s Forum aims to raise awareness among a wide range of stakeholders working at heritage sites and in collaboration with visitors and communities – from museums and ...Read More - 3rd National Forum of heritage interpreters Croatia, 2025
Representation in the Balkans
August 4, 2025IE Croatia participated at the Balkan Museum Network conference. The ‘Meet, See, Do – Museum Trends’ conference, which was organised by the Balkan Museum Network in partnership with Zagreb City Museum and NEMO – Network of European Museum Organisations, took place in Zagreb on April 28-29. It brought together museum and ...Read More - Representation in the Balkans
Revitalizing Durres’ heritage
August 4, 2025A year-long journey of awareness, education, and community engagement in Albania. Durres, one of Albania’s most ancient and historically rich cities, is undergoing a remarkable cultural revival thanks to a year-long collaboration between Durresi Aktiv and MuZEH Lab, supported by the EU4Culture initiative. This comprehensive project is ...Read More - Revitalizing Durres’ heritage
Bringing ancient inscriptions to life: The Prometheus Project
August 4, 2025When the academic community embraces interpretation—bridging the gap between ancient science and everyday visitors. In the last decade, heritage interpretation has gained visibility as a method that not only conveys facts but invites connection, collaboration, and co-creation. But what happens when academic disciplines—traditionally focused on research—begin ...Read More - Bringing ancient inscriptions to life: The Prometheus Project
Every story has its hero
August 4, 2025Life in a student dormitory blooms with the help of an interpretive hum. How can heritage interpretation enrich teenagers' living space? This article brings one possible answer to that question through a case study of an unusual application of IE methodology. Every story has its hero, a character we meet ...Read More - Every story has its hero
Become a Certified Interpretive Trainer
August 1, 2025Apply now for CIT 2026 in Frankfurt and join the IE team of trainers The next Certified Interpretive Trainer (CIT) course will take place in Frankfurt, Germany, from 2-6 February 2026. The CIT course will be led by Thorsten Ludwig and Valya Stergioti, who together train all IE trainers ...Read More - Become a Certified Interpretive Trainer
Heritage came alive
August 1, 2025A module on live interpretation was held in the Trakošćan Castle, Croatia. For the first time in Croatia, the two-day IE module on live interpretation was held. It took place at the Trakošćan Castle, a protected cultural property of national importance. The historical and natural entity consisting of the ...Read More - Heritage came alive
Interpretive writing in Greece: it’s a girl’s job!
August 1, 2025A diverse group of women dive into interpretive writing, exploring heritage, creativity, and storytelling in the heart of Athens. In March, an IE Certified Interpretive Writer (CIW) course was held in Athens, Greece. The weather was so sunny and warm, that we joked it was better suited for the summer ...Read More - Interpretive writing in Greece: it’s a girl’s job!
Kostoula: Beyond the Zagori cultural landscape view
August 1, 2025Learning to see beyond the view and unravel the potential advantages of a well-structured interpretation plan of Zagori cultural landscape. In March 2025 an Interpret Europe course took place in the city of Ioannina, in the region of Epirus, northwestern Greece. It was part of IE's Learning Landscape ...Read More - Kostoula: Beyond the Zagori cultural landscape view
Shaping stories of nature and heritage
August 1, 2025Three interpretation workshops in Kočevsko trained locals to share the region’s rich natural and cultural heritage in deeper, more engaging ways. Nestled in the heart of Slovenia, Kočevsko is a region defined by vast forests, rich biodiversity, and cultural depth. With over 90% of its landscape covered in forest ...Read More - Shaping stories of nature and heritage
Mentoring becomes part of our trainer training
August 1, 2025As the IE training programme expands to entire regions and the relevance of co-creation increases, the role of trainers as mentors is growing. A mentor is an experienced advisor fostering personal and professional growth of a mentee. The term originates from Greek mythology: Mentor was the name of a ...Read More - Mentoring becomes part of our trainer training