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, consultation, organisational context and public response can feel complex, particularly when there is no single ‘right’ way to proceed.
In response to this, the Association for Heritage Interpretation (AHI) has recently published a new Best Practice Guidance on LGBTQIA+ Heritage Interpretation, developed collaboratively by a working group of LGBTQIA+ interpreters from across the sector. Rather than offering prescriptive rules or checklists, the guide is structured around a set of open, practical questions designed to support reflection, discussion and better decision-making in real-world contexts.

The guidance is aimed at interpreters working in any heritage setting, museums, galleries, archives, historic sites or community projects, and at any scale or budget.

Its core premise is simple – good LGBTQIA+ interpretation begins not with certainty, but with thoughtful questioning. The guide invites teams to pause and consider where they are starting from, how care is embedded in their work, who is involved in shaping interpretation, how words and images are used, and how organisations respond to feedback or challenge. There are no right or wrong answers, just more informed, thoughtful ones that emerge through reflection, collaboration and care. A key strength of the guide is its emphasis on process. It was developed through shared discussion and debate – through a working group of LGBTQIA+ interpreters representing a breadth of practice in natural, cultural and historic interpretation; activism; design; writing; collections; communications; in-person interpretation; interpretive planning and a range of career stages and geographies. It quickly became clear that queer interpretation is far too complex for a simple list of ‘dos and don’ts’. The resulting guide reflects the reality that LGBTQIA+ heritage interpretation is not a single story, voice or approach. This collaborative development really mattered to us. Interpretation is rarely at its best when created in isolation. Multiple perspectives strengthen practice. And in work that seeks to address LGBTQIA+ heritage, lived experience, collaboration and care are essential. Case studies and suggested further reading offer inspiration rather than templates, while a short glossary supports those who may be new to the terminology often used in this field.

Importantly, the guidance also acknowledges the organisational context in which interpretation takes place. It encourages heritage professionals to consider values, ethics and institutional responsibility alongside creativity and storytelling, and to distinguish between genuine questions from audiences and bad faith responses that may require firm boundaries. In line with AHI’s commitment to inclusive and ethical practice, the guide is free to download and intended for international use. While developed within a UK and Ireland context, its questions and principles are designed to be adaptable across different cultural, legal and institutional landscapes. Ultimately, the guide does not aim to provide definitive answers. Instead, it offers a framework for better conversations, conversations that can support more authentic, confident and care-led LGBTQIA+ heritage interpretation over time.

Download the free guide here:
https://ahi.org.uk/resource/lgbtqia-heritage-interpretation/

Find out more about AHI here:
https://ahi.org.uk/

Free webinar

In addition to the guide, AHI is also hosting a free webinar: LGBTQIA+ heritage interpretation.
When? Thursday 21 May 2026 at 17.00 BST/ 18.00 CEST
Join us for this online session where we will showcase the contents of the new guide, discuss how we attempted to ‘queer’ the interpretation process and highlight some of the case studies from across the UK and Ireland.

Queer heritage is embedded in society and can be found in museums, galleries, heritage properties, outdoor sites and beyond. But some interpreters tell us they are unsure as to how to approach this subject. This guidance and webinar aim to offer some reassurance, some insight and some inspiration through reference to some inspirational queer interpretation. There will be time for questions and conversation during the session. The webinar will be hosted by Steve Slack (FAHI) with members of the collective who created the best practice guide. Find out more and register here: https://ahi.org.uk/event/lgbtqia-heritage-interpretation-webinar/

Danni Gilbert is Marketing & Communications lead at the Association for Heritage Interpretation (AHI). She works with heritage organisations to support inclusive, ethical interpretation practice and leads on sector wide guidance, campaigns and knowledge sharing initiatives. Contact: marketing@ahi.org.uk.
Steve Slack is a heritage interpretation consultant in the UK and a Fellow of the Association of Heritage Interpretation (FAHI). His current work focusses on including audiences in participative exhibition making processes and in engaging visitors through interpretive experiences that provoke dialogue and active meaning making. He can be contacted at: steve@steveslack.co.uk. 

To cite this article:
Gilbert, Danni & Slack, Steve (2026) “Interpreting with the LGBTQIA+ community in mind”, Interpret Europe Newsletter Spring 2026, p. 28.
Available online: Interpret Europe Newsletter Spring 2026.

I am pleased to write to you on behalf of Europa Nostra in my capacity as Programme Manager of the European Heritage Awards/Europa Nostra Awards.

On 30 May we announced the 26 outstanding heritage achievements from 18 countries that have been awarded Europe’s top honour in the field. You can find the official press release (and translations into some languages), along with videos and photos of the winners, on our website https://www.europanostra.org/2024-winners-of-europe-top-heritage-awards-announced-by-the-european-commission-and-europa-nostra/.

Among the 26 winners, I thought these two might be of particular interest to Interpret Europe members:

• The Square Kilometre, Ghent, Belgium

https://www.europeanheritageawards.eu/winners/the-square-kilometre  

For the past five years, a ‘historian in residence’ has been travelling the most diverse parts of Ghent. Per ‘square kilometre’, she has invited locals to bring forth ‘hidden histories’. Each residency culminates in an exhibition within STAM Ghent City Museum and numerous heritage guides where the narration is shaped by the locals. 

• The Silence that Tore Down the Monument, Kamenska, Croatia

https://www.europeanheritageawards.eu/winners/the-silence-that-tore-down-the-monument  

The anti-fascist ‘Monument to the Victory of the People of Slavonia’ in Kamenska, created by renowned artist Vojin Bakić from 1958 to 1968, was destroyed in 1992, during the 1990s’ wars in former Yugoslavia. This project resurrected the monument through Augmented Reality technology, a pioneering approach in the heritage conservation field. 

You are also invited to vote for the Public Choice Award through our online platform https://vote.europanostra.org/. The deadline for voting is 22 September. The winner of the Public Choice Award will be announced alongside the Grand Prix winners on 7 October at the Romanian Athenaeum, the most prestigious concert hall in Bucharest.

Elena Bianchi is the Programme Manager for the European Heritage Awards at Europa Nostra. She can be contacted at: eb@europanostra.org.

To cite this article:  Bianchi, Elena (2024) ‘Outstanding heritage ‘in Interpret Europe Newsletter 2-2024, pg.23.
Available online:https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/PDF-Newsletter-2024_2.pdf 

Inspired by the topic of childhood and the complexity of social life today, but also witnessing that childhood can be lost for many others, we chose to address this topic in the spirit of historical reflection.

‘The Toy Stories’ is related with the connection of memories, feelings and experiences proposed through interpretation of heritage. As our childhood is part of our aging, the emotional feelings, memories and comparison with childhood is inevitable, but it differs in individuals. Based on emotional connection and storytelling we wanted to provoke the deeper feelings of our audience.

How many children during the war in Ukraine, who could not enjoy the games of their time, and who were in danger of their lives, recreated for themselves in the basements of their homes, or returned to the memories of their parents’ games to fill the emptiness of the day?

Have we kept the games of our childhood, and how are they practiced and enjoyed by children now when technology is so prevalent in our lives? Would today’s children know how to recreate memories for themselves in difficult conditions?

Through ‘The Toy Stories – and the forgotten childhood’, a project was supported by the Balkan Museum Network, MuZEH Lab created an exhibition wall display which tells the stories of toys and exhibits them, starting from prehistory to the 21st century. Through an engaging approach with the visitor, the exhibition and animated videos brings back elements from our intangible heritage, conveying education through emotions, participation and nostalgia. The exhibition contributes to re-using the games of the past to inspire us to be creative today and keeps memories and our heritage alive.

Dorina Xheraj Subashi and Inesa Sulaj are both founders of MuZEH Lab, a non-profit organisation and community centre located in Durres, Albania. Dorina is IE’s Country Coordinator Albania and can be contacted at: dorina.subashi@interpret-europe.net. Inesa is IE’s Office Manager and can be contacted at: inesa.sulaj@interpret-europe.net.

To cite this article: Subashi Xheraj, Dorina & Sulaj, Inesa (2023) ‘Toy Stories‘  in Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2023, pg.16.
Available online: https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IE-Newsletter-2023_4-winter.pdf

19 May, 18:00 CEST 

The Global Alliance for Heritage Interpretation is inviting all interpreters around the world to a series of webinars in 2022.

Join us for the next one: Whose Story is it Anyway: Interpreting the Cultural Mosaic of Canada

Interpretation is often used as a way of encouraging our audiences to walk in someone else’s shoes.  But… don’t you need someone’s permission to borrow their shoes before you go walking around in them?

In Canada, interpreting within a cultural mosaic compels us to grapple with how to present multiple perspectives. We may not have permission to tell stories from cultures that aren’t our own. At the same time, we must acknowledge that every story can be seen from multiple perspectives, and presenting these perspectives is often the reason our sites exist in the first place. When interpretation seeks to help people understand and connect with viewpoints other than their own, what does that mean for us as interpreters?

Join Global Alliance for Heritage Interpretation for a discussion about the intersection of story, culture, empathy, and interpretation.

The Faculty of Humanities of the University of Primorska (UP FHŠ), in partnership with the Škocjan Caves Park (PŠJ), has established the UNESCO Chair of Interpretation and Education for Enhancing Integrated Heritage Approaches. The new Chair was approved by the UNESCO headquarters in Paris in August 2021 and it was formally established on 17 December 2021.

The Chair fills a gap in existing UNESCO Chairs globally. It recognises the key to sustainable heritage management in interpretation and education through integrated heritage approaches to answer the need for an inclusive approach to cultural and natural heritage management. The main guiding principles are participatory and value-based strategies, which can achieve integrated and sustainable natural and cultural heritage management through community involvement.

The department’s activities build upon the internationally renowned International Summer School of Museology and other educational and research activities of UP FHŠ, intertwined with the activities of Slovenia’s oldest UNESCO site, Škocjan Caves Park.

The newly established UNESCO Chair covers heritage studies, anthropology and cultural studies, archaeology, geography, history, intercultural studies, management, and biology from the scientific point of view.

As the core of an international network for joint research projects and an educational platform, the Chair will develop approaches and skills for heritage interpretation and education in a holistic perspective, based on the various discourses addressed by both partners’ research and activities (natural/cultural, tangible/intangible, authorised/alternative heritage discourse, etc.). With an innovative way of delivering education (aimed at both students and the general public), the Chair seeks to overcome stereotypical divisions between nature and culture, nations and ethnicities, professional sectors dealing with heritage, etc., and promote inclusion, cooperation, and awareness, empathy and peace. The main goal is to develop interpretation and education for professionals and the general public in an integrated approach to heritage.

The leading institutions of the UNESCO Chair complement each other with their rich experience in connecting different heritage discussions and approaches: UP FHŠ with an interdisciplinary approach to different heritage discourses in ethnically disputed territories and diverse types of heritage; and PŠJ with integrated heritage and nature management through the involvement of various stakeholders and communities. Both institutions are committed to overcoming the division between natural and cultural heritage: while PŠJ focuses on protecting natural values ​​and natural heritage, with the inclusion of a cultural component, UP FHŠ focuses on holistic research of cultural heritage, including the dimensions of nature protection. In the frame of the UNESCO Chair, UP FHŠ acts as an official institution in heritage education, with an interdisciplinary approach integrating archaeology, anthropology, art history, history, geography, conservation, museology, heritage tourism, intercultural studies, and heritage management. PŠJ has the role of the centre of non-formal education of the general public through UNESCO, MAB, Ramsar, etc. Institutional cooperation intertwines theory and practice as the starting point for sustainable education. Objectives of the UNESCO Chair complement the goals of the UP-research programme group on heritage.

The specific goals of the UNESCO Chair are to:

• create forms of interpretation that go beyond stereotypical divisions in the field of heritage;
• promote new approaches in heritage management and preservation and its promotion through participation and integration of traditional knowledge into development strategies;
• actively participate in the implementation and definition of new guidelines and policies in the field of heritage conservation, protection and monitoring, with an emphasis on conflict prevention and sustainable development;
• implement knowledge transfer through international and cross-border application and research projects.

Professor Irena Lazar, the Dean of UP FHŠ, is the head of the UNESCO Chair. The creation of the UNESCO Chair was supported by 30 established national and international institutions worldwide, such as universities, existing UNESCO chairs and other professional associations.

The UNESCO Chair presented its activities at the inauguration event in February, at which IE’s Managing Director, Helena Vičič, was present. The event’s main focus were the inauguration speeches delivered by Günter Köck (Austrian Academy of Science, Austrian delegate at UNESCO MAB-ICC, Vienna, Austria) and Darko Babić (University of Zagreb, president of ICOM ICTOP, Zagreb, Croatia).

Zrinka Mileusnić is the Head of the Department for Archaeology and Heritage at the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Primorska. She is an assistant professor in archaeology, heritage and heritage tourism programmes. She is also an active member of the newly established UNESCO Chair. You can contact her at: zrinka.mileusnic@fhs.upr.si.

To cite this article: Mileusnić, Zrinka (2022) ‘New steps for interpretation in Slovenia’ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 1-2022, pg.18-19

Available online:https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/PDF-Newsletter-2022_1-spring_draft-5.pdf

The game seeks to promote the Faro Convention and the value of cultural heritage for society in innovative ways whilst actively engaging different stakeholders in its implementation.

With the aim of fostering a better understanding of the use of the Faro Convention and an increased role of civil society in cultural heritage management, it offers users an opportunity to take on the roles of different heritage stakeholders and develop heritage projects featured in the game, thus acquiring hands-on knowledge of how to implement such projects in practice.

The important role of authorities (national, regional, local) in lending support to civil society initiatives, as well as in the adoption and implementation of the Convention, is specifically emphasised.

The role-playing game seeks therefore to educate, transfer knowledge and facilitate the exchange of views and a better understanding of the Faro Convention principles (Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society – https://www.coe.int/en/web/culture-and-heritage/faro-convention). Ultimately, it aims at providing every user with an opportunity to discover more practical implications of these principles, by finding his or her “Faro Way”.

This innovative instrument can become a platform with long-term impact and the potential to be developed with new features over time.

The trailer of Your Faro Way game is now available online and the game will be officially launched soon.
https://www.coe.int/en/web/culture-and-heritage/-/the-new-faro-convention-role-playing-game-your-faro-wa-2?fbclid=IwAR2tPT3b472Eig9Anr1NeEbFwTbqRCMSoUojX-qszUZVXOS1A_Zwe-3r95M

To cite this article: IE News Team (2021) ‘Discover Your Faro Way’ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2021, pg.34

Available online: https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Newsletter-Winter-2021.pdf

UNESCO is working in partnership with PRAXIS at the University of Leeds, UK and with support from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to deliver a series of brief reports honing in on key themes within the cultural heritage for sustainable development sphere.

Agreed in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) unite 193 Governments with the shared aim of leaving both our planet and societies on a sustainable footing for future generations.

The Heritage and Our Sustainable Future conference was held online in March 2021 and we have previously reported on how relevant it was to our interpretive work and IE’s current Tourism initative.

One of the latest reports in the series to come out of the conference follow-up work, released on 18 November 2021, was the Creative Industries and Tourism: Beyond Economic Development Brief Report. The conference session explored the role of heritage-based tourism, intangible heritage and creativity in promoting more inclusive, people-centred and sustainable approaches to socio-economic development. Contributors discussed how it is possible to unlock the potential of heritage to rethink and reframe our (unsustainable) models of development, which have often focused solely on economic growth and its immediate benefits. The session took into consideration a wider range of quality-of-life elements, and a variety of global challenges, including gender equality and climate change.

One of the key insights was:

“Heritage can be a driver for promoting sustainable tourism and generating new economic activities – from arts, crafts and creative industries to sustainable fishing, organic farming and agriculture – while also stimulating solidarity and empowering marginalised and disenfranchised groups.”

Recommendations from the report include:

• Create linkages between traditional heritage practices, contemporary arts and design, and modern techniques
• Increase heritage awareness and stimulate creativity
• Harness the potential of museums and heritage institutions as unique environments for community engagement, co-creation, networking with stakeholders and long-term heritage management

Of course, we can see how heritage interpretation could help to meet these goals.

The report can be found here:
https://unesco.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Creative-Industries-and-Tourism-Report.pdf

Why not look through the full series of thematically arranged reports:
https://unesco.org.uk/conference/heritage-and-our-sustainable-future/research-practice-policy-and-impact/

• Biocultural Heritage and Landscapes: Linking Nature and Culture
• Bridging the Gaps: Cultural Heritage for Climate Action
• Re-thinking Capacity Strengthening for Sustainable Development
• Reducing Inequalities and Decolonising Heritage Practices: People Centred Approaches
• Using Digital Technology to Innovate in Heritage Research, Policy and Practice
• Heritage, Mental Health and Well-Being
• Creative Industries and Tourism: Beyond Economic Development
• Heritage, Disaster Response and Resilience
• Inclusive Development for Sustainable Cities
• Evaluating the Impact of Cultural Heritage for Sustainable Development

To cite this article: IE News Team (2021) ‘UNESCO: Heritage and Our Sustainable Future series’ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2021, pg.33

Available online: https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Newsletter-Winter-2021.pdf

How to write interpretive texts about heritage? – the first CIW course for Poland
MIK was really pleased to run the first Certified Interpretive Writer (CIW) course in Poland. The Polish pilot version of the course was developed as part of cooperation with the Interpret Europe network and the Visegrad Fund.

The course invited people who write texts on the phenomena of heritage (objects, places, characters), including the creation of descriptions of exhibits in museums, galleries, parks and other institutions providing cultural heritage in its broad sense. The programme was based on the methodology for interpreting heritage developed by Interpret Europe. The competence developed by the participants was the ability to write interpretive texts, i.e. those that engage the reader’s attention, when the possibilities of acquiring long and complex content are limited. The course offered the opportunity to acquire or structure the skill of writing texts with strong messages and to exchange professional experiences. Participants were delighted to enter the network of hundreds of professionals involved in heritage interpretation for many years. 

Interpretive guiding for Poland
In March, MIK also organised a two-day training in interpretive guiding, prepared especially for people working in the open-air museums of the Małopolska region. Participants learned about selected tools and techniques in the field of heritage interpretation and practiced their use. An additional value of the course was the fact that the training was carried out at the Skansen (open air museum) in Wygiełzow (near Krakow). Thanks to this location, it was possible to use phenomena related to issues of the Western Krakowiaks ethnic group (attire, architecture, handicrafts, everyday household life, local art) for training purposes. The planned effect of the training, which was based on the methodology developed by Interpret Europe, was the introduction of participants to independently develop Interpretive Talk tales, as well as encouraging participants to develop stories in their museums in the form of interpretive walks.

Sebastian Wacięga works for the Małopolska Institute of Culture (MIK) in Krakow, Poland, where he is a facilitator of participatory strategic planning and heritage interpretation. He is co-author of the book, A local museum in a global world, and training games inspired by history, Peasant Business School and Oil City – Galician Black Gold Rush, published by MIK. He can be contacted at: waciega@mik.krakow. 

NEMO is the Network of European Museum Organisations. Find out more at: www.ne-mo.org.
The NEMO annual conference, Museums out of the box!, will be held in Malta from 15-18 November 2018 (see the Upcoming Events listing).

Erzsebet Kovács is an architect, specialising in conservation. She represents the Hungarian national committee of ICOMOS. She can be contacted at: erzsebet.kovacs@icomos.hu  

To cite this article: 
Kovács, Erzsebet (2018) ‘András Román summer university course on monument protection’. In Interpret Europe Newsletter 1-2018, 35. 
Available online:
www.interpret-europe.net/fileadmin/Documents/publications/Newsletters/ie-newsletter_2018-1_spring.pdf