Our project team in Crete, Greece recently held an important meeting with the European Union Project Officer reposponsible for AHEAD, Vincent Roles, as well as local culturla heritage managers, and officials from the Ephorate of Antiquities of Heraklion. The meeting was hosted by the Messara Archaeological Museum on July 9th and marked an important step forward for the creation of the local network and our mission to enhance heritage accessibility and engagement across Europe.
Roles’ participation underscored the EU’s support for AHEAD’s initiatives and reinforced the commitment of the AHEAD Crete team, local heritage professionals and the community to make cultural heritage accessible to all.
“It was a very interesting day. The Messara Archaeological Museum opened its doors to present us its beautiful collections. The AHEAD team explained what they wanted to do and how it will benefit the museum and the local communities. I am excited to see how they will implement the results of the AHEAD project in Crete!” said Vincent Roles.
The meeting attendees included Mrs. Sythiakaki, Head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Heraklion, Dr. Evangelos Kyriakidis, Director of the Heritage Management Organization, a member of the AHEAD consortium and local professionals Calliope Gkalanaki, Despoina Markaki, Xanthippi Kontogianni and Alexandra Skalochoriti.
The AHEAD team provided an update on the current status of the AHEAD project, showcasing the ongoing work at Messara Archaeological Museum, Altamira, and the Parco Arhceologico Ostia Antica. They highlighted the successful completion of a sereis of AHEAD seminars that trained cultural heritage professionals in implementing the ACED methodology, focusing on various aspects of audience development. The cultural heritage professionals present emphasized the importance of co-designing actions with the target audience to ensure greater engagement and relevance.
Discussions also focused on the upcoming phases of the project, including the study visits planned for next year and the collaboration with artists who will create works within the project framework. Emphasis was placed on how the project’s outcomes will benefit local communities by promoting cultural heritage while considering environmental impact.
