Heritage is more than monuments and artifacts; it is a living, breathing narrative shaped by communities. The EMPATHS project is pioneering a shift towards inclusive and participatory heritage interpretation (HI), ensuring that multiple voices contribute to the way we understand and present heritage landscapes. By fostering new methodologies, training professionals, and raising awareness, EMPATHS is setting a new standard for community-driven heritage storytelling.

Fostering Participatory Practices for Inclusive Heritage Narratives

For too long, heritage interpretation has been dominated by top-down narratives, often excluding local voices and alternative perspectives. EMPATHS seeks to change this by supporting heritage professionals in engaging communities through participatory approaches. The EMPATHS Compendium provides a structured methodology, equipping professionals with skills in stakeholder negotiation, conflict resolution, and ethical storytelling. This shift is vital in ensuring that heritage narratives reflect diverse histories, cultural identities, and lived experiences.

Empowering the Multiple Voices of Heritage

Empowering communities to participate in heritage interpretation means more than just consultation; it requires active engagement and co-creation. To achieve this, EMPATHS has developed a comprehensive training programme, offering heritage professionals a mix of digital learning and on-site practical experience. This initiative equips professionals with skills in facilitation, mediation, and interpretive strategy development, enabling them to integrate multiple perspectives into heritage narratives.

In addition, the EMPATHS Trainers’ Methodology Manual ensures that this training model is scalable and adaptable, allowing training providers across Europe to implement and customize the methodology for different heritage contexts. By supporting VET (Vocational Education and Training) providers, EMPATHS is building a sustainable framework for participatory HI that extends beyond the lifespan of the project.

Interpreting Heritage Landscapes Together

Heritage landscapes are complex spaces where historical, cultural, and environmental narratives intersect. EMPATHS recognizes the importance of collective interpretation, ensuring that heritage landscapes are understood, valued, and preserved through inclusive dialogue. The EMPATHS Digital Platform serves as a hub for sharing knowledge, hosting training materials, and promoting the broader impact of participatory HI on civic engagement, sustainability, and European values.

By emphasizing the importance of participation, EMPATHS is redefining how we engage with heritage, making it a dynamic, inclusive, and evolving process. Through its methodological framework, training programme, scalable trainer’s manual, and digital platform, the project is paving the way for a more democratic and community-centered approach to heritage interpretation.

Heritage belongs to everyone, and with EMPATHS, we can ensure that everyone’s voice is heard.