Re-interpreting heritage in the light of Faro

How can heritage interpretation foster connection rather than division?
Whose voices and values shape the stories we tell about heritage?
And how can interpreters strengthen democracy, dialogue, and sustainability through their practice?

Twenty years after the adoption of the Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (the Faro Convention), its call for a people-centred and value-based approach to heritage remains highly relevant. The Convention emphasises that everyone has both the right to engage with heritage and the responsibility to respect the diversity of meanings that others attach to it.

Despite this, Europe today faces increasing polarisation. Over-simplified, one-sided narratives and outright disinformation are amplified to stir resentment against others. Europe’s rich natural and cultural heritage  is too often  instrumentalised for exclusionary narratives that ignore, misrepresent or even disparage what other people value. In this climate, professional interpreters have a crucial task: to mediate between perspectives, facilitate understanding and co-create inclusive narratives that recognise complexity while fostering shared ground.

Interpretation inspired by the Faro spirit aims to strengthen democratic values, mutual respect and sustainable development.
It seeks to make heritage a space for lifelong learning, based on empathy and dialogue, where the past can inform the present and inspire a more inclusive future.

Questions to inspire proposals

• How can interpreters meaningfully include the perspectives of diverse and marginalised heritage communities?

• How can interpretation respect differing viewpoints while challenging exclusionary or harmful narratives?

• What competences do interpreters need to facilitate dialogue around complex or contested heritage?

• What has worked well and what has not?

• How can interpretation contribute to public conversations about democracy, diversity and coexistence with nature, and with different-minded people?

• How should professional standards and accreditation systems evolve to reflect these ethical responsibilities?

We welcome proposals for presentations and workshops that are clearly linked to the main conference theme. But, as always, a limited number of other contributions may be accepted if they cover aspects deemed highly significant for furthering heritage interpretation at the European or international level.

Format

Interpret Europe conferences attract up to 150 attendees from as many as 40 countries. Besides three keynote addresses in the plenary, 40-60 workshops and presentations are run over three days in parallel, in different strands.
The call refers to these parallel sessions.

Presentations can be 15 or 45 minutes long, followed by ten minutes for exchange of views.
We generally recommend keeping presentations as short and as inspiring as possible.
Workshops can be 55 or 85 minutes long and must ensure active involvement of the participants.

Submissions

Please submit an abstract of your presentation or interactive workshop by 5 January 2026 using the template here. 

Selection

A dedicated review team will consider all paper abstracts and decide whether they are a sufficient basis for a workshop or presentation. You will receive a first feedback by 15 January 2026.

Deadline for submission: 5 January 2026

Please note that each accepted paper must have at least one author who is registered for the conference.

Conference proceedings will be published on the IE website from the day that the conference begins.
They will have their own ISBN and include all full papers received by Friday 15 March 2026.

Delivering a full paper is not mandatory for giving a presentation or workshop. Either can also be based on the paper abstract. Paper abstracts are published as part of the proceedings.

Guidelines for authors (PDF)