Funding opportunities
July 17, 2026Several European funding programmes are currently open or forthcoming. Please always check the original links for full, up-to-date details and how to apply. A good place to start is the overview of open calls maintained by the European Commission: https://culture.ec.europa.eu/funding/calls Tip: Many ...Read More - Funding opportunities
The newsletter needs you!
July 17, 2026This is YOUR newsletter … What would you like to see more of? We are thinking about some changes to how we package and deliver news, but we’d love to hear your views first. Thank you to those who joined for the Market of Ideas session at iecon26 in Faro ...Read More - The newsletter needs you!
Interpret Europe Conference 2027 – In the planning stage
July 17, 2026We will meet in Nuremberg, Germany, next Spring for our next annual conference. Times are changing—and with them, the work of heritage interpreters. Digitalisation and AI introduce entirely new challenges. At our conference in Nuremberg, we will explore and discuss from every angle the risks and new opportunities brought ...Read More - Interpret Europe Conference 2027 – In the planning stage
Heritage Adapts
July 17, 2026Take the pledge to take climate adaptation action for heritage sites and cultural practices by 2030. Climate change is the fastest growing threat to heritage sites and cultural practices worldwide, yet many are unable to take needed action—there’s already so much to do, it’s hard to know ...Read More - Heritage Adapts
‘Heritage as the Soul of Mare Nostrum’ – The European Cultural Heritage Summit, May 2026
July 17, 2026Heritage, climate, cultural diversity, conflict, cooperation, mutual understanding. Is there a sustainable future without heritage? Culture is important; without heritage, there is no future. It seems we are all aware of this, but are we really? It is always worth repeating this, speaking out loud, so that everyone who cares ...Read More - ‘Heritage as the Soul of Mare Nostrum’ – The European Cultural Heritage Summit, May 2026
Weaponising the past in Belarusian schools
July 17, 2026How the Lukashenko regime turns school history into a weapon of authoritarian survival, and what the 2020 protests revealed about its limits. Contemporary heritage interpretation rests on the conviction that the past is best engaged through multiple voices, open dialogue, and inclusive narratives. But what becomes of this vision in ...Read More - Weaponising the past in Belarusian schools
Reimagining Beļava Manor through shared values
July 17, 2026An abandoned manor house in north-east Latvia is trying out new functionality and interpretation based on values and community participation. The Beļava Manor House is a mid-18th-century Baroque monument of national importance located in north-east Latvia. After losing its function in 2019, the manor was left ...Read More - Reimagining Beļava Manor through shared values
When heritage interpretation enters the classroom
July 17, 2026A school journey using heritage interpretation to turn a familiar neighbourhood into a field of stories and meanings. Heritage interpretation often reaches schools through museums and organised visits to monuments, where students encounter interpretations prepared by others. This project began closer to home: in Tavros, a neighbourhood of Athens shaped ...Read More - When heritage interpretation enters the classroom
When flamingos took to the Albanian streets
July 17, 2026Pretty pink protests are raising awareness of unsustainable tourism development on protected habitats. For more than 25 years, I have worked in environmental education in Albania. In the early years, whenever we designed a project, donors would ask the same question: What will be the outcome? The answer is not ...Read More - When flamingos took to the Albanian streets
Interpretive writers at The New Shore
July 17, 2026How to put the Certified Interpretive Writer (CIW) skills into use – An idea from Zagreb. Is there a future for interpretive writers? All of us interpreters, and especially interpretive writers, are facing huge challenges and threats as artificial intelligence tools develop rapidly. It probably comes down to a choice:...Read More - Interpretive writers at The New Shore
Interpreting heritage, discovering yourself
July 17, 2026Can a training course change the way you see heritage—and yourself? My CIG experience in Zagreb. Attending a Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) course is not only about learning and practising heritage interpretation—it is also a valuable opportunity for personal growth, meaningful connections, and discovering new strengths. Before attending ...Read More - Interpreting heritage, discovering yourself
Trainers’ Summer School – Where exchange leads to change
July 16, 2026For four unforgettable days, 4-7 July 2026, Mekinje Monastery in Kamnik, Slovenia, was a vibrant hub of learning, communication and inspiration. The IE Trainers’ Summer School 2026 was the third in a row, confirming it as a cherished tradition of great significance for the IE training community. It is ...Read More - Trainers’ Summer School – Where exchange leads to change
Is it possible to co-create a summer school?
July 16, 2026This year’s IE trainer summer school took place from 4-7 July in Slovenia – and it turned into an exciting ride through more than 50 subjects. The Training Team had discussed the event for several months. A former monastery in Mekinje, near Kamnik, appeared to be the ideal location ...Read More - Is it possible to co-create a summer school?
Liberation Route Europe is creating a Youth Ambassadors Network
July 16, 2026Interpret Europe’s participation in an Erasmus+ Project supporting WW2 heritage projects for a better future. Last year, Interpret Europe joined the consortium of an Erasmus+ project called LRE Youth Ambassadors Network. The project kicked off at the end of 2025, and the team has been working behind the scenes ...Read More - Liberation Route Europe is creating a Youth Ambassadors Network
Online symposium proceedings
July 16, 2026Reimagining our connection with heritage through learning landscapes. The Learning Landscapes initiative’s final event brought together more than 70 partners and stakeholders online on 8 June to reflect on an inspiring journey, connecting people and heritage through learning, participation, and community engagement. As the initiative concludes, its legacy continues ...Read More - Online symposium proceedings
IE General Assembly and new Supervisory Committee member
July 16, 2026The IE community of members, Directors and the Supervisory Committee gathered online to talk business and share opinions before voting commenced. In a change from previous years, when the General Assembly has been held in-person in conjunction with the annual conference, with online presence an optional extra for those ...Read More - IE General Assembly and new Supervisory Committee member
iecon26 wrap-up
July 16, 2026Shifting paradigms in heritage interpretation, in the light of Faro. You know that feeling… when you walk into a dark room and you can't see anything? Then someone lights a small candle. Not to show you the whole room. Not to give you all the answers. Just enough light ...Read More - iecon26 wrap-up
Faro at 21!
July 16, 2026Community, conversation and the Spirit of Faro: Reflections from an inspiring Interpret Europe conference. In April I attended the Interpret Europe conference wearing my Association for Heritage Interpretation (AHI) hat, as I am the current Chair of AHI. It was my first IE conference and what an inspiring few days ...Read More - Faro at 21!
Bow your views to reviews
July 16, 2026Adapting, people-pleasing and self-censoring in interpretation. Freedom of expression is making way for ‘feardom’ of expression in every area of our lives, and heritage interpretation isn’t exempt. Some fields have been pointing to issues such as self-censorship, commercial pressure, societal sensitivity, cancel culture, backlash, neutrality, and ...Read More - Bow your views to reviews
IE Webinar: Walking tours and interpretation with Europeana
June 2, 20269 June at 15:00 CEST. In 2025, Europeana published five new walking tours in Amsterdam, Dublin, Gdansk, London and Pisa. Each tour was illustrated and interpreted with digital collections from museums, galleries, libraries and archives around Europe. In this practical webinar, you will hear from Europeana about tour best ...Read More - IE Webinar: Walking tours and interpretation with Europeana
IE Webinar: Evaluation – What are we doing in Europe?
April 24, 202629 April at 15:00 CEST. We would like to invite you to a discussion on evaluating heritage interpretation provisions, taking place on the 29th of April at 15:00 CEST. Evaluation is an essential part of creating meaningful and effective heritage interpretation experiences. Whether you are assessing individual interpretation ...Read More - IE Webinar: Evaluation – What are we doing in Europe?
Open space for your voice at iecon
March 15, 2026Many of us will meet soon in Faro and we are looking forward to hearing your opinions. Even if you cannot join, there will be food for thought. It is really great that this year’s topic and location seem to have proven popular before we even begin, with the ...Read More - Open space for your voice at iecon
Funding opportunities
March 15, 2026Several European funding programmes are currently open or forthcoming. The following calls may interest organisations working in heritage interpretation, museums, and cultural heritage. Please always check the original links for full, up-to-date details and how to apply. A good place to start is the overview of open calls ...Read More - Funding opportunities
Interpreting with the LGBTQIA+ community in mind
March 15, 2026A new free guide supporting confident, care-led LGBTQIA+ interpretation through practical questions and real-world examples is available from AHI. Heritage professionals are increasingly engaging with LGBTQIA+ histories, lives and experiences, yet many report uncertainty about how to do so responsibly, confidently and with care. Questions around language, representation ...Read More - Interpreting with the LGBTQIA+ community in mind
NextGen Heritage Ambassadors
March 15, 2026An important milestone for youth engagement in Europe’s cultural heritage landscape. Youth.Heritage.Europe, together with Europa Nostra — Project Leader of the European Heritage Hub — is proud to announce the NextGen Heritage Ambassadors (NGHA). Following a highly competitive selection process with more than 300 applicants, 12 exceptional young professionals ...Read More - NextGen Heritage Ambassadors
Why can’t interpretation do more to tackle society’s problems?
March 15, 2026We consider ten ways to make heritage interpretation more holistic for greater impact. Interpretation might play on a field two sizes too small. Of course, you may not be sure if your interpretation does or not, until you zoom beyond the small field. It is hard to imagine the feel ...Read More - Why can’t interpretation do more to tackle society’s problems?
In This Place: A soundwalk at the former KL Plaszow site
March 15, 2026Exploring through a soundwalk, which integrates multiple stories and engages with its palimpsest nature and difficult heritage. History The Plaszow German Nazi concentration camp (KL Plaszow) was established in two districts of Kraków – Podgórze and Wola Duchacka – on the grounds of two pre-war Jewish cemeteries. The camp operated...Read More - In This Place: A soundwalk at the former KL Plaszow site
Listening to forest narratives
March 15, 2026Forest bathing invites us to slow down and hear the multiple narratives living in the landscape. Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, is often described as a wellbeing practice, an immersion in the sensory atmosphere of the forest. Rather than offering a structured story, it offers a space where participants slow ...Read More - Listening to forest narratives
Finding inspiration in unlikely places
March 15, 2026Making connections via the often-overlooked cities of Gračac and Obrovac in search of lasting inspiration and deeper meaning. It’s hard to believe it’s been three months (at time of writing) since the Interpret Europe Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) course that I attended. Nestled between the start of ...Read More - Finding inspiration in unlikely places
What truly makes a difference in a CIG course?
March 15, 2026Looking at the key ingredients of an IE Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) course. Beyond careful planning and organisation, other powerful elements shape the experience: the place itself and the people who live there, the participants, and the relationships they share with the trainer. These were the key ingredients that made ...Read More - What truly makes a difference in a CIG course?
CIT Frankfurt: Raising the bar together
March 15, 202616 trainers from ten countries enjoyed a high-level CIT week in Frankfurt, linking values, practice and participation in a new blended format. Three years after the last IE Certified Interpretive Trainer (CIT) course, 16 participants from ten European countries gathered in Frankfurt am Main for an intensive week of ...Read More - CIT Frankfurt: Raising the bar together
European projects update
March 15, 2026Busy as bees enjoying the spring, and there’s plenty of action to catch up on. The HI-People project HI-People, supported by the European Union Creative Europe programme, has begun its second year (of four) with some exciting developments for IE members. First, our new mentoring and peer ...Read More - European projects update
What the online symposium left behind (and why it matters)
March 15, 2026We met online. 27 presentations. 130 participants. The slides are gone — what stayed is harder to package, and far more useful. On February 26 and 27, we held our first online symposium to allow a greater depth of exploration and discussion on one topic: The role of narratives in...Read More - What the online symposium left behind (and why it matters)
To misname an object is to add to the misery of the world
March 15, 2026If language hides the truth, people are misled and harmful acts on others are easier to justify. “To misname an object is to add to the misery of the world.” French philosopher and author, Albert Camus, wrote this in 1944 as Europe entered the final phase of a bloody global ...Read More - To misname an object is to add to the misery of the world
Dear Nature
March 15, 2026When we say ‘people-centered’, are we placing humans above nature or finally admitting we are part of it? Aren’t we nature too? Dear Nature, I'm writing to you, even though we keep insisting you are ‘non-human’. As if that word solved anything. We invent terms to ...Read More - Dear Nature
IE Webinar: The penguin exhibit at Two Oceans Aquarium – its design and build
March 4, 202610 March at 15:00 CET. This presentation explores how to design an interactive exhibit focused on an endemic, endangered species. Using the African penguin as a case study, we learn how to translate conservation science into accessible, engaging experiences, integrate interactivity to drive emotional connection and balance education with ...Read More - IE Webinar: The penguin exhibit at Two Oceans Aquarium – its design and build
Interpret Europe Mentoring Programme
February 13, 2026Following our recent announcement about the new Interpret Europe Mentoring Programme, we’re delighted to invite you to our first online workshop marking the start of the 2026 cycle! About the programme Interpret Europe has teamed up with Italian VET provider and cultural participation specialist Melting Pro, to run a ...Read More - Interpret Europe Mentoring Programme
IE Webinar: West Coast Fossil Park communicates palaeoscience to the public
February 6, 202610 February 2026, 15:00 CET The West Coast Fossil Park (WCFP) is an important centre for palaeontological research, education, and tourism. Located in a rehabilitated former phosphate mine, the Park supports ongoing fossil research and opened to the public in September 1998. It initially operated as a partnership between ...Read More - IE Webinar: West Coast Fossil Park communicates palaeoscience to the public
IE Webinar: From ABCs to Azores, Birds and Campaigns
January 20, 202627 January 2026, 15:00 CET The SOS Cagarro campaign was launched in the Azores in 1995 and aims to protect young Cory's Shearwaters disoriented by artificial lights during their first night flight. The initiative, which has become one of Portugal's oldest environmental education campaigns, mobilizes the community ...Read More - IE Webinar: From ABCs to Azores, Birds and Campaigns
New for 2026! IE training programme scholarship scheme
January 9, 2026Our training programme is one of the hallmarks of Interpret Europe. Reflecting our mission and vision, its purpose is to foster a community of highly competent professional consultants and/or trainers who can demonstrate the value of heritage and the profession of heritage interpretation from local communities to strategic bodies ...Read More - New for 2026! IE training programme scholarship scheme
Reflections on the 50th anniversary AHI conference
January 3, 2026The UK’s Association for Heritage Interpretation (AHI) turned 50 in October and it was a fantastic opportunity to attend this milestone event. This year, in the same year that our ‘big sister’ from the UK turned 50, Interpret Europe reached its own significant birthday. The initial establishment of the ...Read More - Reflections on the 50th anniversary AHI conference
The #iecon26 conference in Portugal is simply a must
December 22, 2025Co-creation sessions, artivism and south Portuguese landscapes are just some of the experiences our conference has never offered before. Join us to co-create our Interpret Europe conference 2026: Re-interpreting Heritage in the Light of Faro, which will take place in Faro, Portugal in April. We will explore ...Read More - The #iecon26 conference in Portugal is simply a must
Learning Landscapes symposium – Call for proposals
December 22, 2025Are you ready to contribute to the Learning Landscape initiative symposium in February? As part of the joint Learning Landscapes initiative, Interpret Europe and UNESCO are organising an online symposium, which will take place on 26-27 February 2026. It will address the role of narratives in 21st century heritage ...Read More - Learning Landscapes symposium – Call for proposals
When outreach begins with values
December 22, 2025Outreach begins with listening but grows from shared values, helping regions and professionals create interpretation that truly matters. I have just taken over the role of Outreach Coordinator for IE and my new role begins with a question: What truly matters to the people we hope to reach? This question ...Read More - When outreach begins with values
Culture Compass for Europe
December 22, 2025The European Commission’s report, published in November, sets out the importance of cultural heritage – with implications for interpretation. Have you heard about the Culture Compass report? It was published in November by the European Commission, presented by Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Culture, Youth and Sport. It ...Read More - Culture Compass for Europe
When a costume retires: Rethinking live interpretation
December 22, 2025Reflecting on how live interpretation differs from performance, and why dialogue remains at the core of meaningful visitor engagement. Retiring a costume can seem like a practical decision, but in my recent work it became a moment of deeper reflection on what distinguishes live interpretation from performance. I have embodied ...Read More - When a costume retires: Rethinking live interpretation
Living Images: A creative tool for interpreters of history
December 22, 2025An innovative, human-centered interpretive project using living history to engage communities interactively and personally with Croatian heritage. The Living Images project at the Zagreb City Museum represents an innovative museological interpretation model based on the method of living history, which was the first of its kind in Croatia. Launched ...Read More - Living Images: A creative tool for interpreters of history
A phenomenal opportunity to learn about a phenomenon
December 22, 2025Phenomenon, phenomenon, phenomenon! — was the word echoing in our minds throughout the entire week of the CIG course. Already after the first day of the first IE Certified Interpretative Guide Course (CIG), held at the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of Serbia in September 2025, the word...Read More - A phenomenal opportunity to learn about a phenomenon