These lines contain some thoughts about the questions and concerns related to the most recent developments in heritage that started occupying my head after the two most recent events I was invited to as an IE representative to give a keynote. Naturally, a keynote needs to provide some strong ideas, a vision for the sector and some positive encouragement for the listeners. However, I can well imagine that some listeners of my speeches felt puzzled or even annoyed. I catch myself too, in doubt whether our high-flying vision might be too demanding, or too abstract to be easily translated into practical solutions, too conflicting with current structures and processes, or even too conflicting with prevailing ideas around the roles of heritage or heritage experts?

On these pages we have already spilled quite some ink sharing vision and ideas about the development of the interpretive profession and value-based interpretation, however, I’d like to share some very concrete quotes for you to contemplate with me. What is it about? I will get to that soon, but I’m impatient and thrilled to first share the news about the two events that are signs of a new development.

The first event – International seminar on heritage interpretation happened in the Museum of Józef Piłsudski in Sulejówek (Poland). The interesting fact is that the event closed the Erasmus+ project in which 30 employees of the same museum were trained and most of them also gained IE certified status for interpretive guiding and writing. This makes the museum as an institution quite unique in its field. A public organisation that is implementing interpretation systematically across their structures, designing their future development around it, and even actively promoting it to the sector, is well worthy of IE’s support and visibility. We’re looking forward to hearing about the actual effects and visitor feedback from them in future.

The second event was the closing of a COST Action project – Underground4Value – in Brussels, led by the CRN in which partners co-developed a toolkit for community heritage valorisation. During the project they have come across various approaches, among them also with Interpret Europe and interpretation as a discipline that can clearly complement their endeavours in future.

These are all positive developments for IE and in my speeches I shared with them some lines from the related international conventions and papers that outline the changing paradigm in culture, in which the heritage sector (not only cultural) could hopefully finally recognise an important role interpretation plays in fulfilling the international policies’ agenda.

The first paper is the Faro Convention (COE, 2005) according to which:

• Cultural heritage should help “…in the construction of a peaceful and democratic society, and in the process of sustainable development and in promotion of cultural diversity”.
• Besides people, increasingly important is becoming the role of human values in heritage. In particular European founding values.
• What is even more important for us interpreters is clause II / 7 / d: signatory states should “integrate these approaches into all aspects of lifelong education and training”. (Heritage interpretation IS a structured approach to non-formal learning, so in theory, interpretation should systematically include human values in communication and content with the goal to build peace and democracy, to promote cultural diversity.)
• Further, the Faro Convention suggests that cultural heritage should be included in all levels of education, “not necessarily as a subject of study in its own right, but as a fertile source for studies in other subjects.” (We can understand this in a way that we interpret heritage not only because of heritage itself, but with an aim to open up discussions about other subjects, such as sustainability, justice, peace and other critical issues of our time.)

The heritage and cultural sector is, furthermore, called ‘to a concerted action’ by the European Commission (Stormy Times, 2022) towards sustainability, climate change and social justice along with all other sectors, mobilising all resources.

The Stormy Times report suggests:

• “Green deal challenges Europeans to change the way they live and think”. The report Stormy Times calls for artists and cultural organisations to play a full part in this transformational cultural change.
• “…Fact based communication is obviously not enough to mobilise energies and courage for change.”
• 7Rs: Rethink, Reduce, Repair, Reuse, Refurbish, Recycle, and Recover. (RETHINK is the first R in the row)
• “It is culture that gives man the ability to reflect upon himself”. (We couldn’t agree more, heritage interpretation should encourage reflection of people upon their lifestyles. I believe the cultural and natural sites, as non-formal learning settings, can offer food for thought by creating meaningful experiences.

Furthermore, the Climate Heritage Network, in which Interpret Europe takes part, is gearing up for the UN Conference of the Parties (COP28) that will take place in December 2023, to achieve  that “mainstreaming art, culture, and heritage perspectives into international climate change policy would support local cultural-based climate action by helping to deliver policy and funding frameworks that valorise this work.”

So where are we interpreters in this story?
The general challenge I see is (as usual) in the bottleneck between policies and practice. If we want to be up to date with the current discourse in heritage, if for nothing else, to be successful in applications for European funding, we should be perceptible for new ideas. However, many European projects have questionable results on the ground and interpretation services are often remaining of a shy face somewhere in the average still predominantly following the “teaching endgame” as Sam Ham called it and the latest design practices. Are we doing enough?  Where is our passion for the ‘provocation’ approach? Are we doing everything to evolve to our maximum of creativity and boldness without compromising on scientific truth? I believe heritage interpretation offers sufficient knowledge and skills to bring into practice these high-flying ideals. Nevertheless, our ongoing collaboration with UNESCO has already resulted in the acknowledgement of value-based interpretation as a valuable approach to achieving UNESCO mission at World Heritage Sites. This gives us enough wind in our backs.

The question is whether interpreters are ready to follow international policies and conventions.

I think my concerns will not calm down until Interpret Europe mobilises examples and case studies that can serve as inspiration, and we have built enough trust that we do represent the best practice. I’d be most thrilled to proclaim that what we teach and preach, ‘our’ interpreters also practice!

Yes, changes don’t happen overnight and people also don’t change from one day to another. We need to accept that it will take time. Both, for interpretation practice to improve its own approaches as well as for society to transform itself towards sustainability. However, it is time to act and work together. Like the Croatian and Polish partners on the Erasmus+ project.

IE is a forum, a place for exchange and mutual learning. The first step should be to share ideas and good practice examples on how you managed to engage communities on the highest level of the participation scale, how you managed to negotiate a value-based approach at your institution, what are your ideas about sustainability experience design?

We’ll also try to get financial means and pilot test some ideas, but hey, colleagues out there! If you work on an interpretation project that can really be a good example of inclusion, sustainability interpretation (not education!), climate change interpretation and social justice interpretation, please come forward!

We can give you a floor at one of our webinar sessions, or save your ammunition for next year’s conference, Sustainability: Challenging mindsets through heritage interpretation. The call for papers is out and we are ready. Don’t wait!

Helena Vičič is IE’s Managing Director. She can be contacted at: helena.vicic@interpret-europe.net.

To cite this article: Vičič , Helena  (2023) ‘Are heritage experts challenged?‘in Interpret Europe Newsletter 3-2023, pg. 4-5.
Available online:  https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/PDF-Newsletter-2023_3-autumn.pdf

The Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) course I attended at the end of June this year was held in the magnificent environment of the manorial estate Novi Dvori in Zaprešić, a town close to the Croatian capital, Zagreb. The owner of Novi Dvori was the most famous Croatian ban, Josip Jelačić.

After completing this exciting, full of energy, wonderful and useful course, a written homework was required for obtaining the certificate. Although we could choose any topic, my decision was to ‘stay’ in the Novi Dvori, which, although I had known since childhood, I literally fell in love with.

Usually when it comes to manorial estates and castles somehow men are most often in the foreground. For that reason, I chose women in Ban Jelačić’s Novi Dvori as a topic. The women who had their home there, and who gladly accepted and hosted others into that home. Women who were also benefactors – such as the ban’s wife, Sofija, the ban’s sister, Anka, and Hanika the castle’s cook.

Over the next two weeks, I put everything down on paper, and wrote my homework according to all IE criteria and sent it to my trainer. Thanks to the excellent feedback I received, I started to think about turning my homework into reality. And it happened: I offered the idea to the Tourist Board of the city of Zaprešić and they accepted it!

In mid-October, in Novi Dvori, ‘Ban Jelačić’s Days’ were held on his birthday. A wonderful tradition that has been successfully running for years. My tour called ‘Women in Novi Dvori of Ban Jelačić’ also got its place there. The excellent reactions of the people who were involved in this tour made me feel satisfied and happy.

Therefore, I would like to thank Toni Ganjto, director of the Tourist Board Zaprešić, as well as our trainer, Ivana Zrilić, for their support and encouragement. I am joyful and proud to have had the opportunity to interpret at least part of the heritage of my beautiful country. And that so soon after the course.

Marina Krivošić has been a certified tourist guide for Zagreb city and Zagreb County since 2009 and works as a freelance tourist guide in Croatia. She became an IE Certified Interpretive Guide in June 2020. Marina can be contacted at: marina.krivosic@gmail.com. 

To cite this article:
Krivošić, Marina (2020) ‘How my CIG homework turned into reality‘. In Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2020, 21.

Available online: http://www.interpret-europe.net/fileadmin/Documents/publications/Newsletters/IE_newsletter_2020_4_winter.pdf

The guides of the Split-Dalmatia region in Croatia enjoyed theoretical and practical instruction during a five-day IE Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) course delivered in October at different locations in Split.
The first day was overwhelming, especially when we realised that on the last day we would have to take our written and oral exams. However, the indoor and outdoor presentations and workshops made us more confident and relaxed.

We all agreed that open-ended questions provided the most engaging problems for us, and the difference between theme and topic was not clear at first. The excercises of using stepping stones, engaging senses, drama techniques and making unusual sensory experiences were the most amusing part of the outdoor activities. In the group work we all demonstrated our collaboration and cooperation to achieve the main goal. Our communication skills improved, especially in interpretive critiquing. The participants showed high motivation, enthusiasm, appreciation and friendliness.

Personally, I liked making mind maps to remind myself of keywords and notions of my interpretive talk.

By changing the role of a guide that instructs into the role of an interpreter who inspires participants, we also became learners.

This was all possible because our trainers, Magdalena Ku’ and Samia Zitouni, were very instructive, helpful and always ready to lead us. Through their knowledge, experience, and above all patience, all participants enhanced their competences in presenting and interpreting the heritage phenomena of macro and micro locations of Croatia. We were provided with many examples of how to touch emotions and open minds to different aspects and situations in interpretation.

Ana Jakić is a teacher and a tourist guide in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia. She teaches young and teenage learners English language and simple cooking, provides different walking and riding tours in Croatian, English and Italian languages, and organises wine and oil tasting. You can get in touch with her at: a.ivica@yahoo.com.

To cite this article:
Jakić, Ana (2020) ‘Dalmatia’s first heritage interpreters’. In Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2020, 16. 

Available online: http://www.interpret-europe.net/fileadmin/Documents/publications/Newsletters/IE_newsletter_2020_4_winter.pdf

The Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) training was held for the second time this year in Zaprešić, in the Novi Dvori castle of the governor Jelačić. The course was organised by the Tourist Board of the City of Zaprešić. The course usually lasts five days but the tourist board provided an additional day of training dedicated to communication skills and public speaking.

Attendees learn from each other
Building on their previous work from various interactive tasks and detailed exercises, the participants gradually revealed the meaning in their final interpretive talks and showed the difference between great interpretation and what a presentation or tourist guide looks like when they use only facts. Everyone designed a gift to give to the other attendees, although it was neither an instruction nor an obligation. They put a lot of effort into the visual presentation and included all of our senses. Precisely because of the diverse society and numerous group tasks, the participants learned a lot from each other.

As a Chinese proverb says: “Teachers open the door, but you have to enter on your own”.
I believe that these participants entered the methodology and understood the importance of heritage interpretation and preservation, how they can use various techniques to increase the interest and involve visitors and provide them with leadership experience and arouse emotions to find a deeper meaning. The spark of interpretation was thrown in and the fire started. And the proof of that was in the great creative and detailed presentations of intangible heritage that the participants presented on the last day of their course. We were treated to presentations on topics from the traditional housewife and woollen socks to the history of the castle, coats of arms, tiny nativity scenes and gingerbread hearts.

Looking to the future
Adrenaline, desire for certification, and the good energy created among the participants are the best incentives. After the first CIG training in Zaprešić in June this year, several participants have already experienced change in their lives, securing jobs leading interpretive walks and even working in theatre. Lifelong learning never ends and it is always a good idea to invest in yourself.

Ivana Zrilić is an IE Certified Interpretive Trainer. She is a licensed tourist guide for several Croatian regions and since February 2017 has been working as a mentor/ teacher in the Lifelong Learning of the Baltazar University in Zagreb, sharing her knowledge and more than 20 years’ experience in guiding with new generations of tour guides. You can contact her at: ivana_zrilic@yahoo.com.

To cite this article: Zrilić, Ivana (2020) ‘The second CIG course in Zaprešić‘. In Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2020, 15.

Available online: http://www.interpret-europe.net/fileadmin/Documents/publications/Newsletters/IE_newsletter_2020_4_winter.pdf

Žminj is a small hilltop town in the centre of Croatia’s biggest peninsula – Istria. A very specific place hides amazing local traditions. On a Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) course in October, a group of ten participants discovered local heritage and their own deeper meanings.

We hope this video will stimulate your imagination and by watching it you will also open your colourful umbrellas and fly with us – feeling at least a part of that wonderful, positive atmosphere and discovering some of the cultural, natural and rich gastronomic heritage of this beautiful region. Maybe you’ll join us live, somewhere, next time… until then, click the link.

Max Dubravko Fijačko is an IE Certified Interpretive Trainer and is the IE Gastronomic Heritage Coordinator. You can get in touch with him at: dubravko.fijacko@gmail.com.

To cite this article:
Dubravko Fijačko, Max (2020) ‘Take a look at CIG’. In Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2020, 14.

Available online: http://www.interpret-europe.net/fileadmin/Documents/publications/Newsletters/IE_newsletter_2020_4_winter.pdf

Recreating tourism through interpretation was the main idea when Interpret Europe co-organised the course for Certified Interpretive Guides (CIG) in Žminj, Croatia, with the local tourist board. Although a new approach for the local community, Lenka Šajina from the tourist board immediately accepted the idea and fully seized all the advantages of this cooperation. It was a real honor and pleasure to work with such an enthusiastic person, who saw this course as a possibility for the development of tourism in their local community.

The CIG course was held over two weekends in October and was attended by a dozen participants, of course, all within the measures introduced due to Covid-19.

The whole idea was totally supported by the local authorities, especially the Mayor of Žminj, Mr. Željko Plavčić, who also recognised the potential in raising the quality of human resources of the Žminj region´s guides. Also, what a change in the tourist offer, significant for the recreation of tourism and turning to guests from the region, it will bring.

In addition, in the training, we included the local community, people who still live that heritage. Thus, among other phenomena that we discovered together, one of the most interesting was a local cake, known as the Crown of Christ, with the wholehearted help of a local expert in preparing this cake – Grandma Melija. Other local people were also happy to get involved in all the activities, feeling that their heritage was becoming relevant in the way we want to actually preserve it. That way, the synergy of proactive local stakeholders and the Interpret Europe method of heritage interpretation brought added value. Fortunately, this potential value was recognised even at the very beginning, and especially during the course itself, in which the director of the Žminj Tourist Board also participated. In this way, Ms. Šajina was able to personally participate very actively in the training. In fact, she was in a dual role: both participant and organiser – which always proves to be a great foundation for successful collaboration. This shows how the local partner is truly future-oriented.

This recognition of the importance and benefits of such lifelong learning resulted in the exceptional coverage of the entire event by local and national media. Thus, we can confirm over 20 articles in newspapers, on web portals, as well as an exceptional report that was broadcast on the national central news. What great coverage! What a great cooperation!

Max Dubravko Fijačko is an IE Certified Interpretive Trainer and is the IE Gastronomic Heritage Coordinator. You can get in touch with him at: dubravko.fijacko@gmail.com.

To cite this article:
Dubravko Fijačko, Max (2020): Fruitful cooperation with local stakeholders in Žminj. In Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2020, 13.

Available online: http://www.interpret-europe.net/fileadmin/Documents/publications/Newsletters/IE_newsletter_2020_4_winter.pdf

Phenomena. The uniqueness of phenomena.
Facts, true facts.
Meaning, meaning before facts, deeper meaning.
Universal terms, love, happiness, maybe sadness, emotions. Definitely emotions.

Message. A message with meaning. But what is the meaning? Listen! Listen? Yes, listen! Listen to what the phenomena are whispering. Whispering? Lucija, you must have lost your mind! No, wait! I can hear something!  Yes, there it is! I can hear it, what a beautiful sensation. But what do I do with it?  Maybe I should follow it. Yes, follow the message!  A message that guides me, a lighthouse. My lighthouse. Isn’t it wonderful, just the idea of it?  Having your own bright lighthouse. I don’t know about you, but to me, it brings peace and joy.

These were the thoughts roaming through my head while I was walking through my hometown’s park forest, looking for new cultural phenomena to interpret. For a matter of fact, this happens every time I indulge myself in interpretation and the process that comes with it. I must say that since the CIG course, I have reached new perspectives. A lighthouse, a metaphor for the idea which keeps you on track during cultural heritage interpretation. As our CIG trainer, Max, would say, it is your own theme, your own lighthouse, it is there just for you, connect with it. What an abstract idea, but it makes perfect sense, doesn’t it? And when you think about it, it is quite logical too. Would participants like to follow me to my lighthouse – or do they have other lighthouses where they would like to guide me?

“Lucija, look!”. I have sunk so deep in my thoughts that for a brief moment I forgot I was with my friend Tijana. “Look! A lighthouse!”. Tijana noticed a tablecloth with a lighthouse drawn on it, which belonged to a nearby beach bar. “A lighthouse, can you imagine?”. A coincidence or not, it brought a big smile to our faces and a warm fuzzy feeling inside. I remembered the first time I was introduced to the Certified Interpretive Guide course principles and Interpret Europe’s approach to heritage interpretation. We were a small group with different backgrounds and of all ages. I was listening in awe to our trainer, eager to learn, trying to comprehend that vision on heritage, which I had never heard before.

I always wondered why people lack an appreciation for heritage, starting with their own. One could say these individuals are ignorant. But what if there is something more to it? What if they are not aware of what is standing right in front of them. What if there is someone who could bring them close to what they are seeing, to acknowledge, to make them think, to feel. As our trainer says, address people’s minds, but most importantly, address their senses and their hearts.

Lucija Šorić recently obtained her MSc and MA degree in International leisure, tourism and events management. During her studies at NHL Stenden in The Netherlands and University of Derby in the UK, she collaborated with ETFI, VVV Nederland information centres and their Knowledge platform tackling contemporary issues. Lucija can be contacted at: lucijasoric6@gmail.com.

To cite this article:
Šorić, Lucija (2020) ‘Lucija’s lighthouses‘. In Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2020, 12.

Available online: http://www.interpret-europe.net/fileadmin/Documents/publications/Newsletters/IE_newsletter_2020_4_winter.pdf​​​​​​​

An IE Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) course was held in San Sebastian – Donostia (Basque Country) in October. It was organised by Aktibatu-Bizibiziki consultancy agency (www.aktibatu.eus) and led by Evarist March Sarlat. A group of twelve people shared diverse knowledge and experiences, enhancing creativity through their collective brains and cooperation.

They were five intensive days held in Ekogunea, a space specially designed to extend ecological culture from environmental awareness to action (www.ekogunea.es). Our training took place among happy animals, community gardens and a space specifically designed to support environmental education, which we used to test our individual and group skills.

Combining theory and practice, indoors and outdoors, in different individual and group activities, we assimilated the bases of interpretation and the six principles of Tilden, training in the use of resources and the structure that allows us to design talks and interpretive tours in a professional way, and so contributing to improving the understanding, connection and involvement of people in the care of our planet.

Three examples of messages we explored through new eyes:

How to talk about biomimicry… without mentioning it
Here, for instance, a group of colleagues brought us closer to nature as a source of inspiration in modern design: what does the shape of the egg, the plumage of geese or the membranes of ducks have to do with the design of tools, instruments and even vehicles?

Traditional games and the commons
We saw how hopscotch, a popular children’s game, can serve as a bridge to talk about aspects of culture in relation to cooperation and the commons.

Bio and cultural diversity
We looked at different oak tree leaf shapes, the result of hybridization between native and non-native species, to conclude that the richness of a territory is deeply linked to biodiversity and that cultural diversity is one more expression of it.

We ended the course even more convinced that guiding, more than a trivial pastime, can become an educational and empowering act. Today, more than ever, interpreting is key to transmit a holistic vision of the territory, which will facilitate a deeper connection between people and nature, not as tourists but as responsible citizens in a resilient world.

We are excited about generating new interpretive routes with content and messages that contribute to regenerating our relationship with our territory, the Basque Country, and our planet.

Karlos Solana Arruti is an educator and mountaineer, a passionate guide of Gipuzkoa, his herrialde – or territory – in the Basque Country. Karlos can be contacted through social networks: @Karlos Solana.Solana.

Flor Savanti is an anthro-archaeologist designing and guiding cultural and natural experiences in the Basque Country and the Pyrenees. Connect with her at: info@bakeana.com or www.bakeana.com. 

To cite this article:
Solana Arruti, Karlos and Savanti, Flor  (2020) ‘Cooperation and love for the land’. In Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2020, 11.

Available online: http://www.interpret-europe.net/fileadmin/Documents/publications/Newsletters/IE_newsletter_2020_4_winter.pdf