We are delighted to share the publication of the EMPATHS Manifesto, a collective call to reimagine how we interpret, share, and shape heritage today. The manifesto invites us to move beyond top-down storytelling and instead embrace participatory, community-driven approaches that make heritage meaningful, democratic, and future-focused .

Rooted in the Erasmus+ EMPATHS Project – Empowering Landscapes with Participatory Approaches to Heritage Interpretation Skills , the manifesto is more than a vision: it is the foundation of a 30-month European collaboration dedicated to equipping heritage professionals with new competences in dialogue, co-creation, and inclusive engagement. As the application outlines, EMPATHS will develop a replicable training framework, pilot blended learning programmes, and involve both professionals and local communities in shaping new practices for heritage interpretation.

The manifesto speaks to today’s urgent challenges—division, disconnection, and the need for shared responsibility—and responds with a clear vision: heritage as a bridge, communities as partners, and professionals as facilitators (see “Our Vision for the Future of Heritage Interpretation,” p. 9 of the manifesto) .

We invite you to read the manifesto, explore the project, and join us in shaping a more participatory, empathetic, and sustainable future for heritage.