ECHOES Workshop Open Call “Documentation and Interpretation of Traditional Knowledge”

🔗 Registration open until 4/12

We invite you to the next Capacity Building Workshop of the ECHOES programme, dedicated to a theme at the heart of cultural continuity and community resilience: Documentation and Interpretation of Traditional Knowledge.

Traditional knowledge, whether expressed through craft skills, oral histories, land-based practices, or local ecological wisdom, forms an essential part of our cultural heritage. As many of these practices face pressures from social and environmental change, the need to document and interpret them responsibly, respectfully, and collaboratively has never been more important.

This workshop will help participants understand the principles, methods, and ethical considerations of documenting and interpreting traditional knowledge, while also exploring new technologies and participatory approaches that can enhance community involvement and long-term preservation.

Workshop Focus

• Understanding the role of traditional knowledge, ethical and cultural considerations
• Documentation methods: audiovisual, oral/written, mapping
• Community-driven participatory practices for interpretation
• Archives and repositories, and ways to exhibit field experiences
• Case studies from ECHOES partners and invited experts

Speakers

Valya Stergioti, Heritage Interpretation Consultant
Talk title: “Co-creating interpretation: why should we and how can we?”

Valya Stergioti is a heritage interpretation consultant with rich experience in interpretive training, writing, and planning. She is mostly interested in engaging the local communities for the co-creation of interpretive services and plans for their natural and cultural heritage. As a trainer, she always strives to find ways that will inspire interpretive professionals to go beyond mere communication, into developing mindfulness, critical thinking and inspire universal values through their work. Since 2000, she has run workshops and certification courses in multiple countries (amongst others: Greece,the Czech Republic, Montenegro, Austria, N. Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Albania, Croatia, Kosovo, Lithuania, Rwanda, the Netherlands, etc). For eight years (2015-2023) she was the inaugural training coordinator of Interpret Europe – The European Association for Heritage Interpretation. In that position, she coordinated a network of 35 European interpretive trainers, to develop and implement IE’s training programme. She has worked with NGOs and institutions, of both private and public sector in a variety of projects regarding interpretive planning and interpretive training in Greece (amongst others: Ministry of Culture – Dpt. Of Intangible Heritage, Future Library, WWF Greece, Nature Conservation Consultants, Mediterranean Centre for the Environment, Heritage Management Organisation, Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos, Ministry of Environment, etc.) and in Europe (amongst others: UNESCO Regional Office in Venice, Interpret Europe, Mayopolski Instytut Kultury-Poland, Vilnius Old Town Renewal Agency-Lithuania, Split County-Croatia, Past Pleasures Ltd-Un. Kingdom, CIM do Ave-Portugal, Cultural Heritage without Borders- Kosovo, World Heritage Centre Wadden Sea- The Netherlands, etc).

Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer, Galway County Council and Brídin Feeney GIS Analyst, Galway County Council
Talk title: “StoryMaps of Galway’s Past and Present”

Marie Mannion has served as Galway County Council’s first Heritage Officer since 2000. Before taking up this role, she lectured in Heritage Studies at Atlantic Technological University, Galway, and managed the Galway West Genealogy Centre. She holds an MA in Geography and a Higher Diploma in Education from the University of Galway, along with additional heritage-related qualifications. Marie works closely with communities across County Galway to implement actions in the Galway County Heritage and Biodiversity Plan. In collaboration with the GIS Office, she has worked extensively on the development of Heritage StoryMaps, providing an innovative digital platform that makes the county’s built, natural, and cultural heritage accessible to schools, communities, and the wider public. Marie also contributes nationally as a member of Ireland’s Expert Advisory Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Brídín holds a Denominated Earth Sciences Degree from NUI Galway and a Higher Diploma in Remote Sensing and GIS from NUI Maynooth, with over 25 years of experience in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) across academic and local government sectors. Brings deep expertise in spatial technologies and their strategic application in public service. Has led and contributed to numerous GIS initiatives, including the award-winning Heritage and Biodiversity Story Maps and Digitizing Galway’s Graveyard Heritage project in collaboration with the Heritage team. Committed to delivering user-friendly, data-driven solutions that enhance decision-making, public engagement, and operational efficiency.

Programme Overview

15’ – Introductory session
40’ – Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer, Galway County Council “Story Maps of Galway’s Past and Present.”
40’ – Valya Stergioti, Heritage Interpretation Consultant, “Co-creating interpretation: why should we and how can we?”
30’ – Echoes from the Field presentations by invitees from partner organisations

• Filip Šrajer, Dragodid – Mapping Croatian dry stone heritage through Suhozid.hr
• Anne-Karolin, OSM – History Buffs

50’ – Open Discussion / Q&A

This workshop is designed for:

• Cultural associations
• Digital humanities professionals
• Educators
• Community members and practitioners interested in heritage documentation

Join us to explore how traditional knowledge can be recorded, preserved, and shared through meaningful, ethical, and collaborative processes. We look forward to your participation!