Published 22 April 2021
The Rediscovering the Antonine Wall Project will host a peer-learning session for delegates from across Europe after the Project was chosen as an example of best practice.
The virtual session, titled ‘Social inclusion and involvement of communities through cultural heritage’ is being held as a forum to exchange knowledge and expertise on cultural heritage.
The project offered to host the visit after being picked as one of only 30 sites to be included in the European guide for Cultural Heritage in Action, and the only one from the UK.
The visit will take place over five days from Monday 26 April, with delegates being shown a range of videos which showcase key sites along the wall, projects that have come about as part of Rediscovering the Antonine Wall, and interviews with communities who have helped to co-develop projects.
The virtual visit will cover topics including access to cultural heritage, audience development, regeneration, partnerships and culture for social inclusion.
In addition, delegates have identified preferred topics for discussion including how to involve hard to reach groups, developing socially inclusive programmes, organising funding, working with partners and involving communities.
The visit will be managed by a team from the EU and hosted by both the project team from West Dunbartonshire Council and Historic Environment Scotland.
Participants are attending from countries including Denmark, Italy, Dublin, Poland, Spain, Belgium, France, Germany and Finland in addition to elsewhere in the UK.
Emma McMullen, Project Manager for Rediscovering the Antonine Wall, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming participants from a range of organisations based across Europe with the common interest in learning about cultural heritage and sharing expertise with each other to take our respective projects forward.
“Unfortunately the visit was unable to take place in person, however the videos created for the visit by Eurocities will give delegates a great virtual insight to everything we have achieved so far as part of the Rediscovering Antonine Wall Project particularly with regard to engaging more diverse audiences.”
Patricia Weeks, Antonine Wall World Heritage Site Co-ordinator, Historic Environment Scotland said: “This virtual visit gives us the opportunity to showcase the ways in which the Antonine Wall, such a significant heritage asset across Central Scotland, can be used by local communities and contribute significantly to local regeneration and regional place-making.”
The project is being funding by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Kelvin Valley & Falkirk LEADER, WREN, Falkirk Environment Trust, and Falkirk Community Trust alongside the local authorities and Historic Environment Scotland.