Diverse group collaboratively constructing a monument representing shared history.

Unlocking the Past Together: How Participatory Heritage is Changing Our Understanding of History

Lena Voss in Culture & Society August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Dive into the world of participatory heritage and discover how collaborative research and design are reshaping the way we connect with the past, making history more inclusive and engaging for everyone."

Heritage is no longer just about preserving old objects; it's about engaging communities and fostering a sense of shared ownership. The 'Critical Heritage and the Future of Europe' (CHEurope) project, a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (ITN) initiative, is at the forefront of this movement. This project brings together 15 PhD students to explore how we can make heritage more inclusive and participatory.

At the heart of CHEurope is a commitment to participatory design (PD). This approach involves working directly with communities to co-create exhibitions and research projects. By including diverse voices, CHEurope aims to challenge traditional narratives and create a more nuanced understanding of the past.

Imagine an exhibition that evolves as more people contribute to it, where visitors become active participants in shaping the story being told. This is the vision of CHEurope. Through a series of PD workshops, students are collaborating with experienced designers to develop an exhibition that critically engages with different perspectives on heritage.

Why Participatory Design Matters for Heritage

Diverse group collaboratively constructing a monument representing shared history.

Critical heritage studies emphasizes the importance of diverse and democratic understandings of heritage. This means moving away from top-down approaches and embracing collaborative methods that involve different stakeholders. Participatory design, co-design, and co-creation are becoming increasingly popular in the heritage sector as ways to achieve this.

However, it’s crucial to recognize that simply including participation isn’t enough. We need to critically examine how power dynamics influence these processes. Are we truly empowering communities, or are we merely reinforcing existing inequalities? This is a key question that CHEurope researchers are grappling with.

Potential: Participatory design can uncover hidden stories and perspectives, making heritage more relevant and accessible to a wider audience.
Limitations: Without careful consideration, participatory processes can be dominated by certain voices, leading to the marginalization of others.
Tools & Methodologies: Cultural probes, visual storytelling, and games can be powerful tools for engaging communities and gathering diverse perspectives.

The CHEurope project recognizes the challenges of working collaboratively, especially with a large group of researchers from different disciplines. Developing a shared curatorial framework requires navigating a plurality of notions, concepts, and approaches. It also means finding a common language to communicate effectively with diverse audiences.

The Future of Heritage is Collaborative

The CHEurope project is paving the way for a more inclusive and participatory approach to heritage. By embracing collaborative design and critically examining power dynamics, we can unlock the full potential of heritage to connect communities and foster a deeper understanding of our shared past. The exhibition, set to be finalized in April 2020, promises to be a testament to the power of participatory heritage.

About this Article -

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Everything You Need To Know

What is participatory heritage and how does it differ from traditional approaches to preserving history?

Participatory heritage is an approach that emphasizes community engagement and shared ownership in understanding and interpreting the past. Unlike traditional methods focused on preserving objects and top-down narratives, participatory heritage, exemplified by the 'Critical Heritage and the Future of Europe' (CHEurope) project, involves collaborative research and design, empowering diverse audiences to actively shape the story of heritage. This contrasts with conventional methods where experts often dictate the narrative.

Can you elaborate on the 'Critical Heritage and the Future of Europe' (CHEurope) project and its goals?

The 'Critical Heritage and the Future of Europe' (CHEurope) project is a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (ITN) initiative focused on making heritage more inclusive and participatory. It involves 15 PhD students exploring how to challenge traditional narratives and create a more nuanced understanding of the past through collaborative design. The project aims to foster a sense of shared ownership and engage diverse communities in shaping the story of heritage, ultimately culminating in an exhibition developed through participatory design workshops.

How does participatory design work within the context of heritage projects, and what are some tools and methodologies used?

Participatory design (PD) in heritage projects involves working directly with communities to co-create exhibitions and research. It aims to include diverse voices and challenge traditional narratives. Tools and methodologies used include cultural probes, visual storytelling, and games, which facilitate community engagement and the gathering of diverse perspectives. CHEurope uses PD workshops where students collaborate with designers to develop exhibitions that critically engage with different perspectives on heritage.

What are the potential benefits and limitations of using participatory design in heritage projects like CHEurope?

The potential benefits of participatory design include uncovering hidden stories and perspectives, making heritage more relevant and accessible to a wider audience. However, limitations exist. Without careful consideration, participatory processes can be dominated by certain voices, leading to the marginalization of others. CHEurope researchers grapple with how power dynamics influence these processes, emphasizing the need to critically examine whether communities are truly empowered or if existing inequalities are reinforced.

What are the key challenges CHEurope faces in implementing participatory heritage, and how does it address the plurality of notions and concepts among researchers and audiences?

The CHEurope project faces challenges related to collaborative work with a large group of researchers from different disciplines. Developing a shared curatorial framework requires navigating a plurality of notions, concepts, and approaches, as well as finding a common language to communicate effectively with diverse audiences. By embracing collaborative design and critically examining power dynamics, CHEurope aims to pave the way for a more inclusive and participatory approach to heritage, connecting communities and fostering a deeper understanding of a shared past. The final exhibition in April 2020 served as a testament to this collaborative effort.