A dynamic workshop exploring value-based heritage interpretation, bringing together theory and practice at the heart of Speyer’s UNESCO sites.
It is not who you are, but what makes you unique! Not what I can learn about you, but what fascinates me about you – and, in a broader sense, what connects me to you. With these thoughts in my head and a similar mindset amongst other participants, the World Heritage Interpretation workshop kicked off on the first weekend of December at the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Speyer: the magnificent Speyer Cathedral and the Jewish Courtyard, part of the shared Jewish heritage of the SchUM cities.
Organised by the State Conservation Office of Rhineland-Palatinate and the German UNESCO Commission, in collaboration with Interpret Europe, the workshop aimed to explore innovative ways of engaging people with World Heritage, making it more personally relevant and sparking conversations about presenting and interpreting universal values.
The focus was on value-based heritage interpretation, a relatively new approach developed by the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, in partnership with Interpret Europe. This method encourages participants to reflect deeply on the values attached to World Heritage sites and how these can inspire sustainable practices, fostering a lasting connection with future generations.
The workshop combined theory and practice, allowing participants to engage with the concept of value-based heritage interpretation in a hands-on way. They experimented with new approaches to presenting these World Heritage sites, immersing themselves in the spirit and atmosphere of both locations, which led to a lively exchange of ideas and fresh insights.
Thorsten Ludwig from Interpret Europe guided the group through the workshop, providing valuable insights into the methods behind value-based heritage interpretation. The relaxed, collegial atmosphere of the event encouraged participants to experiment with on-site interpretation texts and to immerse themselves more deeply in the authentic spirit and feeling of the places. This dynamic exchange of ideas challenged conventional methods of interpreting cultural and natural heritage.
The Speyer Cathedral and the Jewish Courtyard provided the perfect setting for the workshop, where participants could experience the essence of these heritage treasures while also exploring new ways of presenting them.
The workshop sparked numerous new ideas and approaches, ensuring that World Heritage interpretation remains engaging, relevant, and sustainable. By focusing on universal values, the event demonstrated how the communication of heritage can evolve to better engage contemporary audiences and promote a lasting connection with these remarkable sites.
Held at the Bishop’s Ordinariate in Speyer, the event proved to be the ideal venue for a creative and collaborative workshop dedicated to cultural heritage.
Katharina Bach is a heritage conservator working as site manager at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Mathildenhoehe Darmstadt, Germany (www.mathildenhoehe.de). You can get in touch with her at: katharina.bach@darmstadt.de.
To cite this article: Bach, Katharina (2024) ‘Two in one: Hands-on workshop for interpreting world heritage‘ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2024, pg.10.
Available online: https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Newsletter-2024_4.pdf
