The "Miretage - European Pathways to Minority Religious Heritage: Inclusive Heritage in Adult Education" is a groundbreaking initiative, funded by the Erasmus+ program, that aims to foster greater inclusion in the field of heritage education. Spanning three years, the project is a strategic partnership between eight esteemed institutions across three countries: the University of Groningen, Storytelling Centre, and Muslim Archief from the Netherlands, KADOC from Belgium, and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, La Xixa Teatre, and Mozaika from Spain.
Context and Needs
Cultural heritage is increasingly seen as a cornerstone of European social cohesion, especially following the Faro Convention, which positions cultural heritage as a vehicle for civic participation and social integration. Despite the growing number of museums and heritage institutions across Europe, many of these institutions struggle to engage with minority communities. Historically, these communities have often been excluded from mainstream narratives surrounding national heritage. Simultaneously, minority-led grassroots heritage initiatives frequently face challenges in sustaining their efforts due to limited resources and institutional support.
In this context, the Miretage project seeks to bridge the gap between established cultural institutions and minority communities. By connecting these sectors, the project aims to develop innovative methods for inclusive heritage education, allowing minority communities to actively participate in the preservation and promotion of their cultural and religious heritage.
Participants
The Miretage project targets a wide range of stakeholders, including:
Heritage and creative institutions
Grassroots organizations and heritage communities
Adult learners from minority backgrounds
Adult education professionals
Researchers and community workers
Policy makers and heritage activists focused on minority religious heritage
This diverse group will collaborate to enrich the cultural heritage landscape across Europe and foster a more inclusive approach to heritage education.
Objectives
The primary goal of the Miretage project is to enhance civic engagement and social participation through adult education focused on minority religious heritage. To achieve this, the project has set the following specific objectives:
Assess the current state of minority religious heritage in Europe: A comprehensive diagnosis of existing challenges and opportunities will provide a foundation for future activities.
Empower adult learners from minority religious backgrounds: Through targeted educational programs, minority community members will be encouraged to engage in heritage-making activities, promoting their cultural narratives and contributions.
Develop innovative methods for inclusive heritage education: Miretage aims to create and implement new approaches that can be used across Europe to foster inclusivity in cultural heritage.
Disseminate project outputs through European networks: The findings and methodologies developed through Miretage will be shared with heritage and education networks across Europe, ensuring that the project's impact reaches far beyond its immediate participants.
Through these efforts, the Miretage project seeks to make a lasting contribution to the inclusion of minority religious heritage in Europe’s cultural narrative, ensuring that diverse voices and stories are recognized and valued.
Comments