COVID-19 has had a massive impact on the travel and tourism industry, both of which are vital for the cultural sector. Heritage YOUth Perspectives is a strategic project partnership of 18 months that aims to promote cultural heritage sites and crafts from 5 European countries: Romania, Denmark, Portugal, North Macedonia, and Spain. The main intellectual outputs of the projects are: a digital toolkit, an Insta-mapping platform of cultural sites, a collection of short videos on national heritage crafts from the 5 countries and an interactive platform. These long-term activities will be possible with the participation and active involvement of 25 youth workers and 250 young people, 30 representatives of cultural institutions and artisans. The project will achieve the following projects by the end of its duration. 1. to engage young people, youth NGOs from non-formal educational field, public institutions to stimulate cultural heritage awareness and to empower artisans to face the COVID-19 situation. 2. To equip 25 youth workers with know-how and key-competencies to facilitate. 3. 250 young people identify, exhibit the European “cultural gems” and develop their social, civic and intercultural competencies. 4. Raise awareness about European cultural heritage and create spaces for dialogue between 100 stakeholders and 500 youth through 5.Strengthen the operational capacity of 30 cultural public institutions and artisans in order to face COVID-19 situation Description of the activities: = Digital toolkit containing the methodology Heritage YOUth Perspective and related instructions in 6 languages = International campaign “Heritage YOUth Perspective” Recognising cultural heritage opportunities - that can be used as a tool or seen as a way of raising consumer awareness of cultural and natural heritage = A collection of digital maps of cultural heritage sites and videos of cultural heritage crafts developed in partnership with young people from Romania, Denmark, Portugal, North Macedonia, Spain =Discover Heritage platform - open space for youth interested in european cultural heritage - open space for youth interested in european cultural heritage. The partners represent a variety of NGOS, public institution, firm, associated partners ( Ministry of Culture from North Macedonia ) and other NGOS coming from 5 countries across Europe dealing with cultural heritage will commit to effectively share results of the project with local stakeholders groups . The expected results: = transfer of know-how and tools between trainers team to the 25 youth workers from various Youth NGOs from 5 countries during 2 staff training events; = 250 young people from 5 countries actively involved in the process of mapping and promoting the “hidden, less known or forgotten cultural gems” from Europe and discuss with key-stakeholders about the future of the cultural heritage and their role. = 30 cultural public institutions, craft institutions and artisans will directly benefit from the maps with itineraries created and become aware of the possibilities to preserve it and valorize it. The platform connects young people, NGOs and public institutions from all Europe, develops a sense of belonging, and encourages them to raise awareness among Generation Z about their mission to promote cultural heritage as a way of building bridges towards different cultures. The impact on the participating organisations: = Increased capacity to connect young people with culture heritage in their communities through digital tools = Better capacity to help the culture institution, craft institute or artisans form their communities to promote their work among young people and adapt to the new realities The impact on other the target groups: = 5000 young people and general public from 5 countries actively involved in the process of mapping and promoting the “hidden, less known or forgotten cultural gems” from Europe and discuss with key-stakeholders about the future of the cultural heritage and their role. Heritage YOUth Perspective addresses the themes identified in the Extraordinary Erasmus+ calls to support digital education readiness and creative skills as Coronavirus response and will develop methods for a sustainable long term care strategy where heritage is understood in connection with young people, youth workers, cultural institutions and the community as a tool for the production of human and social capital.
By implementing this project we wanted to develop innovative tools and creative methods, so as to contribute to the development of new skills for youth workers, teachers and youth experts, so that they are able to promote and include in their activities values such as cultural heritage, legacy, traditions and young local entrepreneurs that promote the craft and keep the traditions alive. Cultural heritage is something that defines us as a nation and the basis of our esthetic development. Promoting old aesthetics with new technology will make the past more interesting to young people. This way they can go back to the roots for a bit and revive the beauty of tradition. Through all the actions we have undertaken in the 21 months of the project, we strongly believe that we have managed to bring added value in: = To stimulate cultural heritage awareness and to empower artisans to face the COVID-19 situation = To equip youth workers and educators from 5 countries during 2 short-term joint staff training events with the necessary key competencies, methodology, and tools to facilitate intercultural learning experiences for young people to acknowledge and appreciate their cultural heritage. = To exhibit the “local and national cultural gems” stories and reflect on how to protect, safeguard and promote cultural heritage through 1 interactive platform and a series of 5 = Recognition and validation of work with young people, non-formal/informal learning at both European and national, regional and local levels, through the methods of achieving all intellectual results. All intellectual results were achieved based on non-formal learning methods. = Through project intellectual outputs by the development of creative and innovative tools and methods that can be used easily and free of charge by all those interested in the topic of the project.
The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically impacted the arts and culture. To answer at this question, the project context is about cultural heritage, legacy through our common history and values. It represents the richness and diversity of our cultural traditions. It is also about promoting and empowering young people, youth workers and cultural institutions. These actions will result in an improvement of culture’s position in tomorrow's societies to face the future. The project “ Heritage YOUth Perspective ” was designed to answer 3 main questions: 1. In what ways do young people engage with cultural heritage? 2. How can we make young people be more attracted to elements of cultural heritage like important sites and crafts? 3. How can we help the cultural field to face this period affected by the pandemic COVID - 19? The needs: According to the needs, which come from both the public bodies and NGOs sector, Heritage YOUth Perspective provided opportunities that can also leverage the economic and social impacts of culture in their broader recovery packages and efforts to transform local economies. This strategic partnership represents a learning experience where was identified how to discover their motivation to develop local initiatives to contribute to long-term and sustainable development of those places. The Covid-19 has also massively exposed the pre-existing vulnerabilities of the art sector including the precarious livelihoods of cultural workers, as well as the tight budgets of many cultural institutions and indirectly through the tourism sector.