WEBINAR Children and Living Heritage: Inspiration and Good Practices

Tuesday 20^th October 13.00 -15.30 CET (14 - 16.30 EET)

What is the role of children and young people in safeguarding and transmitting living heritage? How can organizations support this work? What inspiring methods and tools are being used across Europe?

Children safeguard living heritage by learning from older generations and making traditions meaningful in their own lives. Through their participation, heritage is both transmitted and renewed. Organizations support this process by creating opportunities for learning, participation, and collaboration, helping living heritage remain vibrant and relevant for future generations.

Join us on the 20 of October for a webinar exploring how children and young people contribute to keeping living heritage alive, and how organizations can create opportunities for learning, participation, and transmission. The webinar is organized by the Finnish Heritage Agency, in cooperation with the Association of Children's Culture in Finland, Kansalaisfoorumi (Citizens’ Forum), and the Association of Cultural Heritage Education in Finland.

The webinar will showcase inspiring examples from Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, Belgium, and Spain/Portugal, highlighting projects, methods, and tools that can be adapted to different contexts. You will also learn more about two UNESCO registered elements: Land of Legends (SE) and Ponte… nas Ondas! (ES/PT). The focus will be on practical work with children and young people in the field of living heritage.

The UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage has now been ratified by 185 countries worldwide. Intangible cultural heritage refers to living traditions, expressions, knowledge, and skills that communities recognize as part of their cultural heritage, such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, and craftsmanship. It is practiced today, passed on between generations, and continuously recreated over time.

The webinar marks the International Day of Intangible Cultural Heritage, celebrated around the world on the 17 of October, and is part of European Heritage Days 2026: Heritage at Risk.

The webinar will be held in English and is free of charge and open to everyone.

Register on the button below by the 16^th October the latest. You may also register to receive access to the recording after the event.

PROGRAMME (13-15.30 CET / 14-16.30 EET)

13.00 Welcome and introduction, Leena Marsio, Finnish Heritage Agency

13.15 Tell It On! – Children, Oral Storytelling and Living Cultural Heritage, Tine Winther, Sagobygden (SE)

13.30 Children as Heritage Makers: Lessons from PNO! Laura García, Ponte… nas Ondas! (ES/PT)

13:45 Get Inspired by Cultural Heritage! A Handbook for Living Cultural Heritage in Children’s Culture Activities, Annina Ylikoski, Association of Children's Culture in Finland / BARK (FI)

14.00 Learning through heritage + art = HEART, Annamari Martinviita, Kansalaisfoorumi (Citizens' Forum, FI)

14.15 From generation to generation: Varenas living heritage, Aiste Slajute, Varenos cultural centre (LT)

14.30 WOOL-Lab, from Wool Knowledge to Sustainable Innovation, Wendy Van Leuven, Workshop intangible heritage (BE)

14.45 Commentary, Ira Vihreälehto, Association of Cultural Heritage Education in Finland.

15.00 Discussion and questions

15.30 End of the webinar