Join us between 11 and 14 April 2025 for the Interpret Europe conference entitled
Heroes, anti-heroes and villains: How we (re)create, use and dismantle them.

We all have our ‘heroes’, personally or as a community. In common understanding, ‘heroes’ are significant people, or animals, that have done something brave, new or good. Whether
it’s a popular person or a group of silent heroes – there are always stories to tell. And this points to the second meaning of ‘hero’: in fiction, poetry and films, ‘heroes’ are the
protagonists, the main characters of a captivating story. Both meanings of ‘hero’ may overlap; both matter for interpreters of natural and cultural heritage.

Interpreters seek stories that trigger meanings beyond mere facts. Sometimes, a fictional character who engages with the heritage is used to create an interpretive story. Such
idealised creations allow us to condense historical, socio-cultural or ecological knowledge and arrange it into a sequence of events which resonate with universal values. Fictional
‘heroes’ typically face up to an adverse environment or antagonists who represent another set of values. This technique helps people to relate more easily to the heritage but it may
also raise questions: do interpreters who invent ‘heroes’ or ‘villains’ risk perpetuating clichés and stereotypes, and would this always be problematic?

Historical people are considered ‘heroes” because they symbolise particular community values which may change over time. Traditional stories about established ‘heroes’ frequently convey an idealised image by highlighting certain traits while omitting others. Should heritage interpretation challenge collective stereotypes by confronting clichés with counter evidence and reinterpret the heroes of the past? Should interpreters spearhead the replacement of old ‘heroes’ by new ones who represent progressive values? Or, rather, should we deconstruct the entire concept of ‘heroes’ and create interpretive stories around anti-heroes, or even depersonalise our interpretations?

Our 2025 conference will be organised in partnership with the Józef Piłsudski Museum at Sulejówek in the outskirts of Warsaw. This is an ideal place to discuss the interpretation of
‘heroes’ and the depiction of their counterparts. Józef Piłsudski is one of Poland’s national heroes, one who fought for an independent republic and for freedom for the Polish people.But he is also an ambivalent character, admired and criticised by different factions of Polish society for different reasons. The museum aims for dialogue with its audience, respecting their diverse personalities and sometimes separate points of view.

Let’s explore and discuss the depiction of a national hero from a European and other national perspectives – and to reflect critically upon what the concepts of ‘hero’ and
‘heroisation’ mean for interpreters and communities in different parts of Europe.

Warsaw and its surrounding countryside offer other great opportunities to explore various aspects of the conference theme. There will be study visits to nature sites where we can
discuss the pros and cons of creating an interpretive storyline by hero-protagonists such as individual animals or flagship species. The Marie Skłodowska Curie Museum is dedicated to
an outstanding woman who transcended the limits of gender bias and national identity. Other sites keep the memory of unnamed heroes and ordinary people alive…

Make sure you join us in April 2025 at the IE conference under the stirring title of Heroes, anti-heroes and villains: How we (re)create, use and dismantle them!

It will offer an exciting programme created by colleagues from all over the world with speeches, workshops, presentations, study visits and much more.

Find more about it on the dedicated conference page.

We look forward to welcoming you to Poland!

Under the theme ‘Creating learning landscapes through heritage interpretation’, we built on our current partnership with UNESCO, paving the way for all heritage to co-create more sustainable and mindful societies.

To foster peace and sustainability, UNESCO recently defined requirements for value-based heritage interpretation. Participation, co-creation and inclusion became buzz words and featured also in IE’s cooperation with UNESCO. But how can all those concepts be achieved in practice?

Can interpretation turn landscapes into learning landscapes, inspiring both locals and visitors for handling crisis and for transition towards sustainability? What is the value of direct heritage experiences in complementing formal learning? And how can value-based interpretation at UNESCO-designated properties enrich museums and other heritage sites?

The Historic Centre of Sighișoara World Heritage Site provided the ideal setting for discussing such questions at our 2023 conference. The oldest inhabited mediaeval citadel in Europe, with its multi-ethnic atmosphere, was our host and an ideal spring board for our study visits into the heart of mythic ‘land beyond the forests’ – Transylvania. We were enchanted by UNESCO-designated villages with fortified churches like Viscri and Saschiz where villagers play a leading role in the preservation and interpretation of traditional lifestyle.  Hateg Country UNESCO Global Geopark sent us on a time travel to our planet’s history from the dinosaurs’ time to the time of humans and their middle ages until the present and, last but not least, we were wandering along the narrow streets, with their fascinating architecture, of mediaeval Brasov.

In a packed programme of inspiring speeches, workshops, presentations and study visits we exploreed how value-based interpretation can pave the ground for all heritage sites to become inclusive, participatory and reflective learning landscapes.

Our IE conference Creating learning landscapes through heritage interpretation was organised by AICI Architecture Studio.

Conference proceedings (pdf)

Under the theme ‘Recreating tourism through heritage interpretation’, we have merged heritage interpretation with sustainable tourism in order to offer unique opportunities along the tourist service chain to both local people and visitors. Everything you have come to expect from an IE conference – inspiring speakers, hands-on workshops, thematic discussions and networking – has been included.

We need to rethink tourism’s success, both at the destination and visitor level, by encouraging heritage interpretation. Closer cooperation between tourism and heritage interpretation could lead to new approaches from which especially smaller communities might benefit.

Our 2021 conference aimed to share and exchange theory and practice of interpretive approaches to the development of tourism and to rethink the role heritage interpretation plays in tourism and in community development at tourist destinations.

The event attracted 114 attendees from 36 countries and it hosted 53 sessions throughout the four conference days.

Conference proceedings (pdf)

Keynote speeches (video)

Gianna Moscardo (James Cook University):
Think locally, Act globally: Interpretation stories for tourism sustainability
Iulia Niculica (European Travel Commission):
Towards the sustainable tourism sector of tomorrow
Ben Lynam (The Travel Foundation):
What does ‘authentic’ and ‘local actually mean in the context of ‘building back better’?
Albert Salman (Green Destinations):
Do heritage destinations need better sustainability interpretation?

Other recorded presentations

Our conference theme was ‘Fostering heritage communities’. Heritage communities are a cornerstone of the Council of Europe’s Faro Convention. But how do heritage sites actually become meaningful for everyone? What triggers volunteer engagement and what boosts someone’s sense of fulfilment?

People are better connected to heritage when they are actively involved as co-creators of interpretation. This includes lively debate and sometimes dealing with controversial opinions as to why that heritage is meaningful. Consultation broadens consideration about different narratives which, in turn, helps establish practices that accommodate the values people attach to heritage.

During four full days, a packed programme of more than 90 inspiring speeches, workshops, presentations and special features took place, to explore how interpretation can bring heritage communities to life. 162 attendees from 37 countries joined.

#iecon20

206 participants from 27 countries gathered in Inverness, capital of the Scottish Highlands, for a joint conference of Interpret Europe with AHI, the UK and Ireland Association for Heritage Interpretation

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Interpret Europe’s Spring Event 2017 was held in Prague with 75 participants from 23 countries taking part. The event was organised by SIMID, the Czech Association for Heritage Interpretation. It took place at Toulcův dvůr, a medieval farm estate which had recently been turned into an eco-centre.

The programme included three keynote speeches, 28 workshops and presentations, two study visits to the historic centre of Prague and a Market of Ideas with posters and speakers’ corner.

In order to increase the quality of their work, participants discussed the event theme ‘Crossing borders’ within four strands:

• Developments in interpretation theory and practice
• Heritage interpretation in Eastern Europe
• Heritage interpretation in higher education
• Interpret Europe’s training programme.

You can download some of the documents here:

Keynote Lenka Mrázová
Keynote Steven Timoney
Event proceedings

You can find IE newsletter articles about the event here:

Crossing borders: Join us at our Spring Event in Prague
Crossing borders in Prague: Join our Spring Event in May
Crossing borders: The success of the Spring Event
Interpret Europe in Prague: The view of a newbie
IE Spring Event through the eyes of a new member
Certified heritage interpretation sets bar high in Prague

#ieprague17

 

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