Session: #136

Session, made up of a combination of papers, max. 15 minutes each

As stated in the conference announcement, the 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage is an occasion to celebrate European identity and diversity of cultures and historic dialogues between the two. Cultural Heritage, as an expression of European cultures, can be an important mediator between pasts and futures. New philosophical/methodological trends in public interpretation are reshaping the messages delivered at archaeological/cultural heritage sites throughout Europe and worldwide. The role of the experts, as well as the participatory engagement of audiences and stakeholders, is being redefined and reassessed. For example, the communication technique of facilitated dialogue is used by professional interpreters to connect and interact with audiences. Facilitated dialogue engages and fosters an environment where the experiences of participants are shared and explored. It is designed to join the experiences and expertise of participants to contemplate conditions and opportunities for impacting the topic or issue being discussed. Dialogue facilitators need not be topical experts. This session examines new trends and transnational perspectives, as well as levels of communication - from local to regional, national and international - on public interpretation of archaeological and cultural heritage. Do these activities represent new emphases in interpretation, and can they contribute to, or help mediate, dialogues between European identity and diversity of cultures? Can they be shared experiences as examples of best practice at national and international levels? What are the interpretation and presentation challenges for the future?

interpretation, communication, new trends, dialogues

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John H Jameson (United States) ^1,2

Professor Dr. Sergiu Musteata (Romania) ³