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, costumed storytelling grounded in the interpretive triangle and value-based methodology.

After a training course that took place in Rochester, UK, in March, and a successful spring session at Trakošćan Castle in Croatia, the momentum carried into summer with a dedicated MLI Trainer Upgrade Programme held in Vrsar, Croatia, on 29 June 2025.

The Vrsar upgrade offered a unique setting: coastal views, a 17th-century backdrop, and a circle of committed IE trainers coming together to explore, reflect, and co-create the future of live interpretation. Led by Iva Silla (Croatia), the training followed a compact one-day format, structured around the real content of the MLI course.

The programme included:

• Individual presentations 
• Peer-led exercises 
• Collaborative sessions 
• A final round of reflection, where future trainers shared their intentions and formed a working group dedicated to further MLI development

The upgrade for trainers provided the new MLI trainers with a solid foundation to lead the programme independently. Interpret Europe now has five trainers in live interpretation: Bojana Čibej from Slovenia, Vasilka Dimitrovska from North Macedonia, Michal Medak from the Czech Republic, Iva Silla and Ivana Zrilić from Croatia. Contact them to arrange the inspiring training that will bring your heritage site to life. 

What makes the MLI unique?

Over the course of two days, the MLI leads participants through a full journey: from embodying a character, to crafting interpretive scenes, to performing in costume. Rooted in Interpret Europe’s values-based methodology, the programme blends play, critical thinking, empathy, and dramaturgy.

In the Vrsar session, the imagined world of the 1600s came to life. One group channelled the voices of sailors’ wives waiting on the shore. The other focused on the town’s enduring stonemasonry heritage. The resulting scenes were not only engaging and authentic but deeply emotional — a testament to the potential of live interpretation to reveal hidden stories and human connections

Looking ahead

The team of MLI trainers formed in Vrsar is already working together to strengthen the module and encourage its integration into heritage institutions across Europe. With more sessions planned in 2026, and a growing interest from museums and cultural sites, the MLI is poised to become one of the most experiential and transformative offers in Interpret Europe’s training portfolio.

Whether you’re a guide, an educator, a curator, or an actor — if you believe that heritage comes to life through human connection, the MLI might be your next professional step.

Vasilka Dimitrovska is an active Interpret Europe trainer. She is also the Creative Director of HAEMUS – Center for Scientific Research and Promotion of Culture, and the founder of the educational interpretive programmes Storytelling Skopje and Storytelling Macedonia, which bring heritage to life through innovative, experience-based approaches. Contact her at dimitrovska@haemus.org.mk.

Iva Silla is an experience designer and an interpretive performer, owner of Secret Zagreb tours and activities. She is an active Interpret Europe trainer and has been involved in the development of the MLI training. Contact her at iva@questoftales.com.

To cite this article: Dimitrovska, Vasilka & Silla, Iva (2025) ‘Dress up for interpretation’ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 3-2025, p. 12.
Available online: Newsletter autumn 2025

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 in the IE Certified Interpretive Planner (CIP) course. The first day of the course started by presenting ourselves to the group through a timeline of our lives. It made us reflect on our own lives but at the same time we started to think about the life that flourished in Ulpiana. 

The roots of Ulpiana go back to prehistory, with traces of life from the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages. However, the city’s true transformation came after the Roman conquest at the end of the 1st century AD when the settlement grew into a thriving Roman city. Inspired by this history we began working on the interpretation plan. Our first challenge was to identify the phenomena and create specific themes for them. Each theme needed to combine facts with meaning while still being catchy, and that became our second challenge. We had to think outside of the box and get creative with our stories and what we wanted to achieve. 

Divided into three groups, we worked both individually and together. Each day, we learned something new about interpretation, discussing the universal values of each phenomenon and how to turn them into meaningful experiences. At the end of the day, we came back to our groups to share what we had learned and, piece by piece, our interpretation plans began to take shape.  

On the last day of the course, each group presented their ideas for an interpretation plan for Ulpiana. We then evaluated each other’s presentation and gave feedback and suggestions. Through theoretical lectures and practical activities this training became a meaningful experience where we gained knowledge and connected with each other.

Gresa Kelmendi is an architect working at CHwB Kosova (https://chwbkosova.org/) . In her free time she likes to crochet, drink tea and watch anime. You can contact her at: gresakelmendi38@gmail.com. 

To cite this article: Kelmendi, Gresa (2025) ‘Have you heard of Ulpiana, the ancient city in Kosovo?’ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 3-2025, p. 11. Available online: Newsletter autumn 2025

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 engaged in the field of cultural heritage. It was an intensive and demanding programme, but one that proved to be deeply rewarding and transformative.

Over the course of several days, we were challenged not only intellectually but also physically. Rain or shine, we worked tirelessly towards a shared goal: to create a single interpretive panel that would embody the principles we had been learning. The process was not always easy, but it was precisely the persistence and effort that made the experience so valuable.

What stood out most was the fresh perspective we gained on heritage phenomena. Instead of looking at heritage through a traditional academic lens, we were encouraged to step into the shoes of our future visitors and users. This shift in perspective, placing the audience at the heart of interpretation, was eye-opening. It reminded us that heritage is not only about objects, sites, or history, but about the meaningful stories we can craft to connect people with them.

Storytelling was at the centre of the course, teaching us how to weave narratives that bring cultural phenomena to life. We practiced interpreting within contexts that highlight meaning rather than just facts. Working in pairs and groups fostered a strong sense of collaboration and mutual support. Peer reviews of our work provided invaluable feedback, sparking new ideas and motivating us to refine our approaches.

At the end of the course, the interpretive panel we produced was more than just a sign, it was a testament to teamwork, resilience, and the new knowledge we had gained. For many of us, it symbolised the transition from thinking about heritage as a subject to be studied to experiencing heritage as a story.

The Osijek course not only equipped us with practical skills but also renewed our inspiration for teaching and professional practice. It reminded us that interpretation is not simply about transferring knowledge, but about creating connections that make heritage relevant, engaging, and alive.

Many heartfelt thanks to the wonderful professional IE trainers for their immense enthusiasm, dedication, passion, and love for heritage interpretation, which they successfully passed on to us during this truly intensive and commendable course. Their ability to balance rigorous expectations with encouragement and joy made a lasting impression. You succeeded in awakening our poetic soul, so much so that even today, verses about certain phenomena still linger in our minds. The memories will stay with us forever, as will the invaluable knowledge you managed to implant in us in such a short time. There was plenty of work, laughter, but also unique shared moments born from the beautiful heritage we interpreted together. 

To anyone wishing to deepen their knowledge of heritage, we can wholeheartedly recommend this course, as it will open up new perspectives and perhaps even awaken a hidden talent within you, just as it did for us.

Lana Skender is an assistant professor at the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, Croatia. You can get in touch with her at lanaskndr@gmail.com. 

Marta Borić is an assistant professor at the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, Croatia. You can get in touch with her at marta.boric5@gmail.com.

To cite this article: Skender, Lana & Borić Cvenić, Marta (2025) ‘Inspiring journey into heritage interpretation’ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 3-2025, p. 10.
Available online: Newsletter autumn 2025

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 education in primary and secondary schools. I perceive forests, rivers, and mountain communities as unified living spaces, where cultural heritage unites people, strengthens communities, and inspires actions for a shared sustainable future.

One of the most interesting and challenging aspects of my work in terms of communication is the ecological and cultural interpretation of both the university’s research fields and, more broadly, the mountain ranges and the activities they support, such as livestock farming, agroforestry, and small-scale traditional activities such as logging, hunting, and gathering herbs, fruits, and mushrooms.

With this background and motivation to strengthen my communication skills, I participated in the Interpret Europe Certified Interpretive Writer (CIW) course held in Zagori from August 25-29, 2025. The course was hosted in the old Girls’ School of Kato Pedina (built in 1902).

During the training, we worked in the field and in the classroom, individually and in groups, practicing the use of interpretation principles as a means of transforming visitors’ experience of a place into something personally meaningful, while also cultivating their critical thinking and allowing them to make connections to universal values, such as respect and sustainability. We were given various opportunities to experiment with different types of writing (haiku, interpretive signs, audiovisual interpretation, etc.) with the ultimate goal of being able to design interpretive signs for specific elements of the natural and cultural heritage of each place we know well.

As our trainer aptly stated: “We learn how to bring words to life in order to present the nature and culture of our region through texts. In this way, Zagori becomes a link to the past and an inspiration for the future.”

I congratulate and thank the organisers and the bodies that supported them, both for the excellent training we received on the interpretation of the natural and cultural environment, and for daring to do so in mountain communities that are not at the centre of tourist traffic. The communities of Kato Pedina and Koukouli Zagori supported our educational experience holistically with the authenticity and breadth of their thematic fields.

As a new member of the Interpret Europe community, I feel that I share common ideals and communication tools in the service of the natural and cultural heritage of the Mediterranean and the whole world! After graduation, we are not just colleagues, but partners and friends, continuing our creative collaboration.

Vasiliki has studied educational science, forestry and ecology. As a researcher at the Department of Forestry and Natural Environment Management at the Agricultural University of Athens in Karpenisi, she  supports research projects on the resilience of forest and agroforest ecosystems, focusing on old growth forests, dendrochronology and forest soil science (https://agroforestry.dasologia.gr/). Vasiliki can be contacted at: vaslappa@aua.gr. 

To cite this article: Lappa, Vasiliki P. (2025) ‘An educational experience that motivates and unites’ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 3-2025, p. 9.
Available online: Newsletter autumn 2025

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 initiative (LLI) which, in Greece, is implemented through the project ‘Learning Aspects of the Zagori Cultural Lanscape’, under the coordination of the Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos (MedINA). The Zagori region has a cultural landscape which offers a multi-layered learning experience due to its traditional architecture, cultural history and natural ecosystems. 

The workshop combined a theoretical and practical part which took place in Its Kale, an inner fortress of the old town of Ioanina city.

Τhe course brought together an extraordinary mosaic of participants of different occupations and education, such as biologists, mountain summits, architects-conservators of art, nature pedagogues, cultural heritage consultants, librarians, hoteliers, geographers, physical education teachers, ecotuners, cultural ecologists, environmental education specialists, theatre educators-outdoor pedagogues, historians- archaeologists, National Parks curators and tour guides. Under the excellent guidance of the trainer, these people created original interpretation plans and presented them in front of an audience with whom the participants had a fertile discussion. The workshop was completed with a visit to Tristeno village of Zagori, where the group discussed with villagers about the difficulties to highlight the local heritage due to the local depopulation. 

Over six inspiring days, we had the opportunity to connect with others and exchange  approaches and strategies on authenticity, sustainability and collaboration. Also, we had the experience of using modern methodologies to sense the spirit of a place, decode difficult or controversial meanings of intangible heritage and especially how to cope with different opinions or emotions of people.

It is well known that connecting the present with the future comes with hidden challenges and responsibilities. This connection often demands dynamic decisions on a personal and a local level. A landscape isn’t just a backdrop to people’s lives. It influences us and guides how we perceive history and how we create an authentic identity. Also, it relates nature to people. This  dynamic workshop gave us practical tools to confront these challenges and find applicable solutions. 

Personally, I had an inspiring and exciting journey. I experienced how to “see beyond the view”, and find out emotions, memories, or even hidden conflicts, that a landscape always carries. I have to say, the diversity of participants was a pleasant surprise for me, due to the interesting and unexpected dialogues it created within the group. Finally, this workshop helped me a lot to think ‘out of the box’ and dare to follow my visions on interpreting cultural heritage.

Olga Kostoula is a biologist from Greece, specialised in diagnostic mycology with teaching and research experience on environmentally friendly bioapplications. In her free time, she loves to read and write books about natural and cultural heritage. You can contact her at: olkostul@hotmail.com.

To cite this article: Kostoula, Olga (2025)  ‘Kostoula: Beyond the Zagori cultural landscape view’ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 2-2025, pg.11.
Available online: Newsletter summer 2025 

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, it stands as one of the most pristine, secluded, and ecologically important areas in the country. Beyond its natural wonders, Kočevsko holds a long history of traditions, and stories waiting to be discovered. This unique blend of wilderness and heritage offers a powerful foundation for storytelling—especially when paired with thoughtful interpretation that brings meaning, context, and emotional connection to the surface.

In early 2025, Kočevsko hosted a series of heritage interpretation workshops, bringing together local professionals to explore new ways of presenting the region’s heritage. Supported by the HealthyForestRegions project (Interreg Central Europe) and led by Interpret Europe certified trainers, the programme focused on guiding, writing, and planning.

The Certified Interpretive Planner (CIP) course launched the series in January. It introduced structured methods for analysing heritage sites, sites, identifying the potential for meaningful connections, and designing inclusive, sustainable visitor experiences. Emphasising long-term thinking and stakeholder involvement, the course set a strong foundation.

Participant Nevenka Klun reflected: “I recently attended the planner training, and it was both engaging and educational. The seminar offered deep insights into planning for cultural and natural heritage. Balancing the needs of visitors, stakeholders, and heritage itself can be challenging—but when done right, it benefits everyone. Since Kočevsko is so forested, we must present this natural heritage in a way that informs and captivates, turning the experience into something truly memorable.”

Next came the Certified Interpretive Writer (CIW) course. This module focused on turning factual content into emotionally engaging narratives. Through exercises, peer feedback, and thematic reflection, participants learned to tailor texts that can reach diverse audiences.

For some, it was a chance to build on earlier experience. As Dr. Petra Draškovič Pelc noted:
“I was glad to build on my previous writer and planner training. This approach offers a clear structure for reaching guests more deeply—inviting them to reflect and adding that ‘something extra’. The trainers turned complex ideas into something both practical and inspiring.”

The final workshop was the Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) course. Held outdoors over five days, it brought interpretation theory into practice. Participants delivered interpretive talks, used sensory engagement, and learned how to prompt reflection—even in unpredictable weather.

Janez Konečnik, an experienced local guide, said: “When I was first invited, I thought—why do I need this? I already know how to guide. But the training changed my perspective. Even with decades of experience, I left with fresh insights and a better understanding of how differently people perceive the same thing.”

Offered free of charge, the workshops not only improved individual skills but also strengthened community bonds. Participants described the experience as transformative—both personally and professionally.

Together, these trainings helped form a new network of interpreters—ready to tell Kočevsko’s stories in ways that speak to both heart and mind.

Nadija Kolmanič is a cultural anthropologist and public relations advisor at the Institute for Tourism and Culture Kočevje, Slovenia (www.kocevsko.com). She works on developing content and strategies for local tourism promotion and manages communication across various platforms. You can reach her at nadija.kolmanic@kocevsko.com. 

To cite this article: Kolmanič, Nadija (2025)  ‘Shaping stories of nature and heritage‘  in Interpret Europe Newsletter 2-2025, pg.10.
Available online: Newsletter summer 2025

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 friend of Odysseus. When Odysseus was abroad for 20 years, in the Trojan War and on the Odyssey, Mentor advised his son Telemachus. 

Mentoring of IE course participants doesn’t last as long as that, but IE trainers need to be good mentors for two reasons:

• IE seeks to encourage and enable people to interpret more on their own in order to grow people’s mindfulness through heritage. Consequently, IE trainers when acting as mentors should encourage and enable interpreters to facilitate this process.
• IE recently extended its training portfolio from teaching about interpretive services and plans to supporting the co-creation of interpretive strategies for entire regions. IE trainers as mentors play a critical role in this.  

The key output of IE’s certification courses are homework assignments in which participants transfer the newly acquired knowledge and skills to their own areas. But besides this output the process plays an increasingly important role.

On the one hand, it includes the experiences participants can take away for their personal growth. On the other hand, it grows the participants’ competences for their career development, not only regarding exchange with guests (e.g. in encouraging and facilitating dialogue in interpretive walks) but also with local stakeholders (e.g. in negotiating narratives when co-creating interpretive plans).

So far, the time available for the IE Certified Interpretive Trainer (CIT) course was too short to pay tribute to this increased demand. But since the course has now grown into a full 40-hour course, we can also include mentoring as a session.

We don’t start from scratch. A critical prerequisite is that, although IE trainers usually don’t have a permanent working relationship with their participants (e.g. they are not their superiors), due to the exclusively face-to-face courses, they first experience their mentees personally. This extends over five days in formal and casual settings, alone and in collaboration with others, in successes and failures, under time pressure and in exam situations. Our trainers also teach peer reviewing throughout all our courses. From the very beginning, participants are encouraged to provide feedback and to critically examine their work results together without flattery. This is only possible when the exchange is based on trust, fairness, and goodwill; qualities we systematically foster through our methodology. After introducing the IE Certified Interpretive Planner (CIP) course, we also started to run post-course online meetings to discuss the state of the individual homework assignments, looking for a balance between individual mentoring and group mentoring.

So, what needs to go into the CIT course that is not already good practice? At our recent summer school we collected hints from our trainers on what knowledge and skills are needed, what values we should foster and what practical points and potential pitfalls need to be taken into account. Based on the topics our trainers brought together, we are now discussing what we need to research further, what should go into a dedicated session on mentoring, and how we can more organically integrate the subject in the trainer course, from where it will hopefully trickle down into all IE training events and beyond.

We now have six months to develop this. The new elements will then be introduced to our trainer candidates in the CIT course in February and shared with our active trainers at the next summer school.

Thorsten Ludwig (MSc Interpretation) first studied archaeology and worked in a national park until 1993, when he founded Bildungswerk interpretation. Together with Valya Stergioti, he has been training all IE trainers since 2016. Within the IE Training Team, he took responsibility for the CIT course.

To cite this article:  Ludwig, Thorsten (2025)  ‘Mentoring becomes part of our trainer training‘  in Interpret Europe Newsletter 2-2025, pg.9.
Available online: Newsletter summer 2025

Do you want to become a Certified Interpretive Trainer?
To be eligible to take part in the  training course, you must:

• hold a certification in any IE course by the start of the CIT course,
• have prior experience in adult learning, and
• be active in a  field relevant to the course or module you wish to deliver (e.g. guiding, writing, planning).

Yet becoming an IE trainer is much more than meeting formal requirements.

It means becoming part of a strong and inspiring community of over 30 trainers who deliver IE courses across Europe in their own languages. It also means acting as an ambassador for heritage interpretation, actively shaping IE’s training programme and growing through collaboration, mentoring and shared challenges.

The IE CIT course is just  the starting point. The real journey begins once the course ends.

Course format
The IE CIT course will last five days on-site and will be preceded by four mandatory online sessions in the months leading up to the course. These online meetings are designed to build connections, exchange approaches, and prepare for the on-site training.
After the IE CIT course, participants will have the opportunity to join three-day upgrade sessions to become trainers for specific IE courses (CIG, CIW, CIP). These will take place throughout 2026, depending on demand.

How to apply
Places are limited so if you would like to join the CIT course, please make sure you submit your complete application by 9 September 2025.

Your application should include the following:

• a motivational letter explaining why you wish to become an IE trainer,
• proof of your previous experience 
• a selected part of the homework (translated into English if necessary) which you submitted for your IE course to secure certification
• a completed pre-course questionnaire

Please ensure that all required documents are submitted in a single email by the deadline to Valya Stergioti: vster@outlook.com

Course fee
Following IE’s fairer fee system, the cost for the CIT course is as follows:

An additional fee of €470 will be charged to cover accommodation, shuttle service, full board catering, and museum entrance fees.

This amount includes:

• 6 nights of accommodation (from the evening of 1 February to the morning of 7 February 2026)
• Full board catering (from dinner on 1 February to breakfast on 7 February), including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and coffee breaks
• Entrance fees for all scheduled museum visits

Please note that course upgrades to be organised later in 2026 are not included in this fee.

A first selection of participants will be announced by 30 September. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to read IE’s training policy and confirm their interest before the final list of participants is concluded. Once the list is finalised, selected participants will receive a pro forma invoice with payment details.

For any questions, feel free to contact us:

Andrijana Milisavljević (logistical information): andrijana.milisavljevic@interpret-europe.net
Valya Stergioti (content-related information): vster@outlook.com

The venue– Jugendherberge Frankfurt
The upcoming IE CIT  course will take place in the centre of Frankfurt, Germany, at the Jugendherberge Frankfurt – Haus der Jugend. This urban youth hostel overlooks the Main River and is just a few steps away from many of the city’s cultural institutions and venues, Most importantly, it offers a stimulating setting where we can connect the course content with the reality of urban heritage, participation, and community life.

All participants will stay in twin rooms with private bathrooms, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided throughout the training.
Thanks to its central location, the course venue allows us to integrate on-site exploration into the course programme. Participants will join curated study visits and engage in discussions on location, from museum galleries to public spaces, directly linked to core IE CIT themes:

• the four qualities of interpretation (heritage, participation, meanings & values, stewardship),
• sustainability,
• conflict and dialogue,
• co-creation and
• local engagement.

Whether we are reflecting on inclusive narratives in a museum exhibition, exploring participatory tools along the riverbank, or sharing professional experiences over dinner, Frankfurt will become part of the learning process.

Feel free to find out more about our venue: https://www.jugendherberge-frankfurt.de/

Want to know more?
We are organising an online event for all those interested in applying to the IE CIT course.

Date: 2 September 2025
Time: 15:00–16:00 CEST

This will be an open Q&A session with the trainers. The session will be recorded. If you are unable to attend live, you can request the recording at: andrijana.milisavljevic@interpret-europe.net

CIT 2025/2026 – Timeline

We look forward to receiving your application and welcoming you at this next step of your interpretive journey.

The CIT course is supported by a four-year network grant that is part of the European Union Creative Europe programme.

*Photo Credits: Michal Medek, CIT course 2023 in Arnoga, Italy.

The main task throughout the IE Certified Interpretive Planner (CIP) course held in Kotor during the last week of March tested participants to do just that.

The course was run as part of the UNESCO project Learning Landscapes with the aim of fostering landscapes in active learning and engagement. The Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor, as the property with stunning universal value, is a pilot project which will have to obtain the integral Strategy of heritage interpretation in the next few months. 

The MPI “Museums” Kotor, on the side of the Municipality, took a part in its implementation, delegating two agents, Mileva Mršić and Jelena Čečur. Their task will be to consider the architectural quality of this property, including its fortified and open cities, settlements, palaces, and monastic complexes, which are in harmony with the surrounding natural environment. They will also have to take into account when developing the Strategy, the unique testimony to the Bay’s historical role in the transmission of Mediterranean cultures into the Balkans over the centuries.

The course, run as a partnership between Interpret Europe and the UNESCO Regional Office of Science and Culture, gathered 17 participants from different fields of expertise. Over the course of five intensive days of educational, interactive, and hands-on sessions, we developed and enhanced our skills in presenting and communicating the value of our cultural and natural heritage through various methods and techniques of heritage interpretation.

The main square in Kotor, the Square of Arms, served as the central point of our exploration. Although it represents just a small section of the UNESCO-protected area, this space offered a rich setting for examining various heritage-related phenomena. We explored the key stages of heritage interpretation, learning how to assess its value and how to present it in ways that are engaging and meaningful for both visitors and the local community. 

This course contributed to our understanding from multiple perspectives. Given the diverse professional backgrounds of the participants, we gained valuable insight into the importance of both cultural and natural heritage, and how the method of interpretation significantly influences its recognition and appreciation. Considering that the workshop focused on universal values and involved the exchange of diverse experiences applicable in numerous ways to heritage interpretation, with an emphasis on innovation, sustainability, and universality, this experience is undoubtedly significant for the personal development of participants.

Visiting the site of this square multiple times and observing it from a completely different perspective proved that everything depends on the angle of perception and the way a particular phenomenon is presented to its audience. The education served as an introduction to the broader challenges that lie ahead: raising awareness of the significance of the environment we inhabit, addressing the continuous and alarming degradation of this heritage, and recognising the urgent need for actions aimed at its preservation and meaningful interpretation.

Using the interpretation of the main square as a case study, and guided by the overall goals of the course, we were challenged to create an interpretation plan for a specific site of our choice within Kotor’s UNESCO-protected area. This task will allow us to apply what we’ve learned, combining the theory and practice through thoughtful engagement with the cultural and natural layers of the place.

Milica Kašćelan is a master’s student in Journalism at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Montenegro. She is currently an intern at the MPI “Museums” Kotor. She can be contacted at: milica.kascelan@gmail.com. 

Jelena Čečur holds an MSc in International Relations. She has worked for ten years as a documentarist and archivist at MPI “Museums” Kotor. Her research focuses on the history of the Bay of Kotor, presenting the cultural heritage of Perast through exhibitions and articles. She can be contacted at: jelena.cecur@muzejikotor.me.

To cite this article: Kašćelan, Milica & Čečur, Jelena (2025) ‘Layers of meaning: A journey through Kotor’s living heritage‘ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 1-2025, pg. 15.
Available online: PDF Newsletter Spring 2025 

That’s how the IE Certified Interpretive Planner (CIP) course I joined started. The pond we were standing next to was our heritage for that week. The main phenomenon for us to learn the interpretive planning method. The first day was focused on getting to know each other, getting to know ourselves better and on learning the first things about interpretive planning. 

The pond as our phenomenon

Our heritage that week was a small pond in the Mariëndal park. Most of the week we were working in our group to explore the area around the pond, talk to stakeholders, do some background research on the history of the pond, learning about how to come to good themes and interpretive services and cultivating the needed input for our proposal. 

We learned the best ways to interview stakeholders and to learn more about how they use the phenomenon and how it makes them feel. The difference between fact and meaning was something I liked. Especially as my background is in marketing, I found it very exciting to learn more about this. On what people can feel or do when they’re at a heritage site and how interpretive planning can nudge them into actions or give the information in an appropriate and understandable way. 

Field research trips

The course also included two fieldtrips to do research on sites. The first one was Fort Kijk Duin. An old fortress in Den Helder which has an exhibition on the fortress. Here we experienced true storytelling and there was also an aquarium. The combination was quite unique, and the main theme was that both exhibitions touched on defense and attack (from the fortress and the animals in the sea). By walking around, we learned more about interpretive services, and about the interpretive tenet of: provoke, relate and reveal. On the last day we went to an old wharf. They restored Helderse Botters to keep the heritage of those vessels alive. The trips allowed us to experience interpretation in real life and gave some useful insights into what works or what doesn’t.

Completing the course after five days

The course was a whole week where we learned the ins and outs on interpretive planning. We worked on our proposal in our groups, and we got to know each other much better. There was a nice energy in the whole group. Both groups discovered and interpreted some interesting phenomena, themes and interpretive services for ‘our’ pond. Because that’s the feeling we got at the end of the week – that we belonged there and took some ownership of the site. The reactions from the stakeholders to our proposals where good, and some of the ideas could actually be implemented. We finished the week with a delicious dinner at the nearby pancake restaurant. Now it’s time to focus on our course homework – the interpretive plan for our own sites, and to demonstrate that we have learned the skills. 

Korrie de Boer joined IE at the beginning of 2025 and participated in the Certified Interpretive Planner course in Den Helder in February. Korrie is senior marketer at the WEC in Lauwersoog. This centre is the new home of Sealcentre Pieterburen and opens on April 26. Korrie can be contacted at: korrie.deboer@ontdekwec.nl

To cite this article: De Boer, Korrie (2025) ‘Learning the interpretive planning method at a pond‘ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 1-2025, pg. 14.
Available online: PDF Newsletter Spring 2025