Local Creative Guides

The overarching objective was to strengthen small-town communities by recognising and valorising their cultural heritage as a resource for identity, education, and sustainable development. More co...

The overarching objective was to strengthen small-town communities by recognising and valorising their cultural heritage as a resource for identity, education, and sustainable development. More concretely, we aimed to safeguard intangible heritage by collecting local stories, traditions, and legends and transforming them into engaging cultural experiences accessible to both residents and visitors. At the same time, the project had a strong educational component: by training 16 local guides, we created opportunities for skills development in areas such as storytelling, theatre methods, intercultural communication, and the use of digital mapping tools. These guides became ambassadors of their towns, capable of leading cultural routes and inspiring others to value local heritage. A further objective was to foster civic participation and social cohesion. By inviting residents of all ages and backgrounds, from young people to the elderly, from migrants to long-standing locals, to co-create routes, the project gave communities a platform for dialogue and exchange. Finally, the project ensured sustainability by developing an online course and platform, allowing the methods and results to be replicated in other towns interationally.