GOOD PRACTICES

Executive Summary

This Good Practices Handbook is the first project result of the “Helping Intangible Heritage Resilience through Storytelling” (HIGHRES) initiative, a Europe-wide project funded by the Erasmus+ Programme.

The project aims to empower rural communities with the skills necessary to understand, preserve, transmit, and promote their intangible cultural heritage (ICH) through digital narratives. By leveraging the power of digital storytelling, HIGHRES seeks to create new opportunities and address inequalities in rural areas.

The consortium includes six partners from five different countries, representing diverse cultural contexts within the EU, including Southern Europe (Spain, Portugal and Italy), Central Europe (the Netherlands), and Eastern Europe (Latvia).

HIGHRES promotes the use of digital storytelling to preserve ICH and enhance rural areas and sustainable cultural tourism. The initiative aims to contribute to rural development, economic growth, and social cohesion by actively involving rural communities and improving their digital skills. This handbook focuses on the identification, participatory management, digital storytelling, and promotion of ICH, providing valuable insights and methodologies for stakeholders to adapt and implement in their specific contexts.

Intangible Cultural Heritage extends beyond physical monuments and collections, encompassing traditions and living expressions passed down through generations, including:

Oral traditions and expressions

Performing arts

Social practices, rituals and festive events

Traditional craftsmanship

Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe

Digital Storytelling represents the modern evolution of storytelling, using digital tools to create immersive narratives that transport audiences to iconic places and moments of our cultural heritage. By combining these concepts, HIGHRES aims to preserve and promote ICH in a way that is engaging, accessible, and impactful.

The handbook presents ten case studies from five countries (Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain), showcasing innovative approaches to preserving and promoting ICH through digital storytelling. Case studies were selected, in participating countries, to cover different levels of expertise on Identification, Participatory Management, Digital Storytelling, and Promotion of Intangible Cultural Heritage, reflecting a wide range of approaches and contexts. Together, they complement each other to provide a comprehensive understanding of effective methodologies.

Project partners conducted desk research by reviewing available information about the selected initiatives. They also carried out semi-structured interviews with relevant stakeholders to gain further insights and gather additional material. An indepth analysis of the collected data was then performed to produce the content for this Good Practices Handbook.

Each case study is structured into six main sections:

Introduction
Description of the ICH Involved
Narrative Creation and Adaptation to Digital Communication Format
Audience and Methodologies
Innovative Aspects
Impact.

These sections collectively provide a comprehensive analysis of the diverse practices employed in different contexts to safeguard and disseminate ICH. The case studies are organised into thematic chapters, reflecting their primary focus and methodology. This structure aims to facilitate consultation and highlight the varied strategies used across different cultural and social landscapes.

We invite you to delve into these case studies and discover the innovative ways communities across Europe are preserving their heritage and shaping their futures. Let these stories inspire you to harness the power of digital storytelling to celebrate and safeguard our shared cultural legacy.

Chapter 1: Multimedia Storytelling and Immersive Experiences

Latvia

1. Aluksne Banitis Station: Preserving Heritage Through Multimedia Storytelling

Focus: Utilising multimedia technologies to create an immersive and engaging visitor experience that highlights local history and heritage, stimulating local economic development and promoting sustainable tourism.

This initiative uses multimedia projections to offer visitors an immersive narrative of the Banitis railway line, blending historical facts with personal stories from the community. The innovative approach includes video landscapes and local memories, providing an engaging visitor experience.

2. Araisi Ezerpils Archaeological Park: Integrating Legends and Archaeology for Cultural Tourism

Focus: Combining historical facts, mythology, and local folklore in a multimedia exposition to enhance visitor engagement and promote cultural tourism.

The park integrates archaeological findings with local legends through a multimedia exhibition. This approach not only preserves historical artefacts but also brings myths to life, engaging visitors with a dynamic storytelling format.

Chapter 2: Community Engagement and Collaborative Art

Spain

3. “Raíces”: Empowering Community Narratives Through Collaborative Art

Focus: Using collaborative art and storytelling to empower community members, document local heritage, and enhance social cohesion.

This project involves community members in creating artworks that reflect their life stories and local traditions. The collaborative nature of the project fosters a sense of ownership and pride among participants, enhancing social cohesion.

4. “Vientos del Tiempo”: Reviving Oral Traditions Through Theatre and Digital Media

Focus: Engaging the community in preserving and promoting local heritage through theatrical performances and digital media.

By blending theatre and digital media, this initiative revives oral traditions and local history. Community members actively participate in performances, making heritage preservation a shared, dynamic process.

Chapter 3: Digital Tools for Accessibility and Engagement

Netherlands

5. Spotting Intangible Heritage: Increasing Public Awareness with QR Codes

Focus: Using QR codes to make intangible cultural heritage accessible and engaging to the public, fostering greater appreciation and interaction.

This project uses QR codes to provide easy access to information about ICH at various locations. The digital approach increases public awareness and engagement, making heritage accessible to a broader audience.

6. The National Holocaust Museum: Digital Storytelling for Historical Preservation

Focus: Leveraging digital tools and personal narratives to educate and engage visitors about the Holocaust, ensuring historical preservation and impactful storytelling.

The museum employs digital storytelling to present personal narratives from Holocaust survivors. This method ensures a powerful experience that preserves historical memory through impactful, personal stories.

Chapter 4: Revitalising Traditional Practices

Italy

7. “Alberi di Maggio”: Revitalising Traditional Music and Crafts Through Digital Media

Focus: Using digital media to document and promote traditional music, crafts, and social practices, ensuring their preservation and transmission to future generations.

This project documents and promotes traditional music and crafts using digital media. By doing so, it ensures the preservation and transmission of these practices to future generations.

8. “Il Filò delle Agane”: Preserving Oral Traditions Through Community Storytelling

Focus: Engaging local communities in preserving and sharing oral traditions through storytelling, digital media, and educational programmes.

The initiative preserves and shares oral traditions through community storytelling, enhanced by digital media and educational programmes. This approach ensures the continuity of local heritage in a modern context.

Chapter 5: Rural Development and Cultural Integration

Portugal

9. Museum in the Village: Connecting Rural Communities with Cultural Institutions

Focus: Bridging rural communities and cultural institutions through participatory arts and storytelling projects that promote social cohesion and cultural awareness.

This project connects rural communities with museums through participatory arts and storytelling. The initiative fosters social cohesion and cultural awareness, integrating local heritage into broader cultural narratives.

10. Corvo Ecomuseum: Engaging Communities in Heritage Preservation and Education

Focus: Promoting local heritage through community participation, education, and digital storytelling to foster cultural identity and sustainable tourism.

The ecomuseum engages the local community in preserving and promoting its heritage. Through education and digital storytelling, the initiative fosters cultural identity and promotes sustainable tourism.

Conclusion

These case studies collectively present a diverse and comprehensive overview of good practices in preserving and promoting intangible cultural heritage through digital storytelling. They highlight the importance of community participation, the use of innovative digital tools, and the integration of cultural heritage into tourism and education. The different levels of expertise in the thematic areas are evident, with each case study offering unique insights and complementing the others in various ways.

Geographical Context and Type of Entities Behind the Initiatives

The case studies span different regions in Europe, each with its own cultural context and heritage. The entities behind these initiatives range from local municipalities and museums to community associations and universities, showcasing a wide variety of organisational structures and collaborative efforts.

Qualification/Training of People Involved

The level of qualification and training among the participants varies, with some initiatives relying on highly skilled professionals and others involving community members with limited digital expertise. This diversity highlights the importance of tailored training programs to enhance digital storytelling skills across different contexts.

Type and Level of Recognition of the ICH

The ICH recognized in these case studies includes a mix of local legends, traditional crafts, oral histories, and social practices. The level of recognition varies, with some heritage elements being well-known and others newly documented and promoted through these initiatives.

Level of Community Involvement and Ways of Participation

Community involvement ranges from passive roles, where community members serve as interviewees, to active coproducer roles, where they participate in the creation and dissemination of digital content. Participatory methodologies, such as workshops and collaborative art projects, are commonly used to engage the community.

Purpose of Sharing the Stories

The primary purposes of sharing these stories include promoting tourism, preserving traditions, raising awareness, and marketing. The initiatives often aim to attract visitors, educate the public, and ensure the continuity of cultural heritage for future generations.

Communication in a Digital Format

The communication strategies employed involve various digital tools and platforms, including social media, websites, multimedia expositions, and interactive games. These methods enhance the accessibility and appeal of the stories to a broad audience.

Frequency of Activities

The frequency of activities varies, with some initiatives offering permanent expositions and others organising punctual events or seasonal programs. This variation ensures ongoing engagement and provides opportunities for repeated visits and continuous community involvement.

Target Audience

The target audiences for these initiatives are diverse, including local residents, tourists, school groups, and cultural heritage professionals. Efforts are made to tailor the content and activities to different age groups and interests, ensuring broad and inclusive participation.

Innovative Aspects

The innovative aspects of these initiatives include the use of multimedia technologies, interactive games, and QR codes, as well as the integration of local legends and folklore into digital formats. These innovations enhance the storytelling experience and engage audiences in novel ways.

In conclusion, these case studies provide a valuable resource for understanding and implementing good practices in the preservation and promotion of intangible cultural heritage. By examining these diverse approaches, stakeholders can gain insights into effective methodologies and adapt them to their specific contexts, ensuring the sustainable preservation of intangible cultural heritage across Europe and beyond.