In connection with the 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage, the European Union and UNESCO have developed a new project to strengthen links between young people, heritage and education.
The project, which is expected to start in January 2019, will run for 15 months and has two main components. The first aims to bring intangible cultural heritage into the classroom. For instance, the project partners will develop a set of guidance materials to support teachers in integrating intangible cultural heritage in school curricula and extracurricular activities. UNESCO will also organise training workshops for a group of selected schools to integrate intangible cultural heritage in core subjects of educational curricula.
Activities could include, for example, the use of traditional bells to explain the expansion of soundwaves in physics. The second component seeks to empower a new generation of heritage professionals through the Young Heritage Experts’ Forum in Zadar, Croatia. The event will feature hands-on activities enabling participants to develop skills related to preserving and promoting heritage, as well as workshops, group discussions and site visits.
Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Tibor Navracsics, said: “I am delighted that we are joining forces with UNESCO for this project. Enabling young people to engage with Europe’s rich and diverse cultural heritage is key in building a cohesive, resilient society for the future.”
The joint project contributes to two of the ten European initiatives developed by the European Commission for the European Year that seek to ensure its lasting impact: Heritage at School and Youth for Heritage. More information on the project can be found here
