In the framework of H2020 BE.CULTOUR project, coordinated by CNR-IRISS, a series of local workshops has been launched in November 2021 making it possible for local stakeholders (from private, public, academic and civil society) to join the local Heritage Innovation Networks.

The Community of Practice (CoP), being one of the four levels of engagement in the broader Be.CULTOUR Community, is set to foster regional development through circular cultural tourism in Europe. The Community of Practice consists of six pilot regional ecosystems actively engaged in knowledge-sharing and exploitation of Be.CULTOUR approach, methodology, tools, and innovative solutions for sustainable and circular cultural tourism. One of the main objectives is to co-develop 6 Action Plans for sustainable and circular cultural tourism by establishing collaborative Heritage innovation networks. The CoP includes heritage sites in Larnaca (Cyprus), Aragon (Spain), Basilicata (Italy), Västra Götaland (Sweden), North-East Romania (Romania) and Vojvodina Region (Serbia).

In particular, the CNR-IRISS is supporting as scientific mentor the team of the Agenzia di Promozione Territoriale – APT Basilicata – assisted by MateraHub – in the implementation of the project in the selected pilot area of Vulture and Alto Bradano. It is a pilot initiative that is fully in line with the new Regional Strategic Plan for Tourism Marketing. The first Local Workshop, held on 25 November, has involved about 25 participants from the tourist-cultural, agrifood and craft sectors.

In general, the main goals of the first Local Workshops are to share common challenges and create opportunities, gain theoretical knowledge and discover best practices in circular cultural tourism, but also learn about human-centred design and experiment with participatory approaches and co-creation methodologies in online and offline spaces.

In the first part of 2022, the members of the Be.CULTOUR Community of Practice will organise the second sessions of the Local Workshops. In the meanwhile, the CoP will participate in some training sessions in which the scientific team of the project will present strategies for the project activities planned for the coming months.

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