12th Training Academy on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe
Torres Vedras, Portugal
11-13 June 2025
The 12th edition of the Training Academy on Cultural Routes will take place in Torres Vedras, Portugal, from 11 to 13 June 2025, organised by the European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR) and the European Federation of Napoleonic Cities, carrier network of the Destination Napoleon (Cultural Route of the Council of Europe since 2015) and the European Federation Iter Vitis, carrier network of the Iter Vitis Route (Cultural Route of the Council of Europe since 2009) in cooperation with the Rota Histórica das Linhas de Torres, the Association of Portuguese Wine Municipalities (AMPV) and the Torres Vedras Municipality.
The 2025 edition of the Training Academy will be dedicated to “Cooperation and Cultural Routes”. The event will be held in English.
Participation is limited to representatives of the 48 certified Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe only. A dedicated invitation containing the link to access the registration form will be sent to certified Cultural Routes presidents and managers. Each route can select up to 2 (two) representatives to attend the event.
Despite being an invitation-only event, the proceedings of the Training Academy will be disseminated on the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe website following the event for all interested stakeholders
PROGRAMME
VENUES:
11 June 2025 - Day 1
Paços do Concelho Auditorium, Torres Vedras
Praça do Município, 2560-303 Torres Vedras, Portugal
https://maps.app.goo.gl/aMSyQPZGqdpenAAk9
12 June 2025 - Day 2
Arruda dos Vinhos Municipal Auditorium
https://maps.app.goo.gl/R8SMutEMGSNimqPT7
13 June 2025 - Day 3
Vila Franca de Xira, Quinta de Subserra
https://maps.app.goo.gl/t9raw7L6FZdYJ3E67
WEDNESDAY, 11 June
PLENARY SESSION 1: The future of Cultural Routes cooperation
Keynote speech: The role of Cultural Routes in strengthening European heritage and sustainability LEVAN KHARATISHVILI, CEO & Founder – Creative Strategies Lab
Panel discussion:
Synergies & strategic alliances among Cultural Routes
Cross-route collaborations: success stories
Overcoming challenges in building partnerships
- An agreement between the European Federation of Saint James Way and the European Association of the Via Francigena Ways, ILDEFONSO DE LA CAMPA MONTENEGRO, President, European Federation of Saint James Way; ELENA DUBININA, Project Manager, European Association of Via Francigena Ways
- MEDRoutes Project, BENEDETTA DIAMANTI, Director, European Route of Ceramics
- Italy-Slovenia project GO WALKING- The cross-border circular route of St-Martin Ljubka's Trail: A cross-border literary route of poetry and equality, MARTINE CAMPANGNE, President, Saint Martin of Tours Route, ANDREJA RIHTER, President, Women Writers Route
- NEXT ROUTES – Upskilling of staff through digital, creative gamification and innovative strategies for the enhancement of EU Cultural Routes, SARA FERRARI, Vice Director, Phoenicians’ Route
Workshop 1: Strengthening partnerships within Cultural Routes Introduction to the topic and facilitation: JORDI TRESSERRAS, Professor, University of Barcelona
Workshop 2: Funding opportunities for Cultural Routes Introduction to the topic and facilitation: VINCENT ERNOUX, Coordinator, Interreg Next MED
Workshop 3: Visibility & Marketing Strategies for Cultural Routes Introduction to the topic and facilitation: TINA ŠEGOTA, Professor, University of Maribor
Workshop 4: Project Development & Hands-on Training Introduction to the topic and facilitation: AGNES RAFFAY-DANYI, Professor, University of Pannonia
THURSDAY, 12 June
PLENARY SESSION 2: The business of Cultural Routes
Keynote speech: How to ensure long-term financial sustainability for Cultural Routes, TINA ŠEGOTA, Professor, University of Maribor
Roundtable discussion:
Business models for Cultural Routes
Public-private partnerships
Monetization strategies beyond funding
- SERGIO ORTEGA MUÑOZ, Ministry of Culture, Chair of the EPA Governing Board, Representative of Spain to the EPA on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe
- CATARINA OLIVEIRA, Ministry of Culture, Representative of Portugal to the EPA on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe
- VINCENT ERNOUX, Coordinator, Interreg Next MED
- VICTOR SORENSSEN, Director, European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage
Keynote speech: Social innovation & Cultural Heritage co-construction along the Cultural Routes CHIARA RABBIOSI, Professor, University of Padova
Roundtable discussion:
Leveraging methods and tools for engagement
Strategies for hybrid and digital heritage interpretation and storytelling
Heritage and tourism synergies for regenerating landscapes
- ALEXANDER DEBONO, Curator, University of Malta, Museum Thinker (video)
- AGNES RAFFAY-DANYI, Professor, University of Pannonia
- GREG RICHARDS, Professor, Tilburg and Breda Universities, (online)
- MATILDE FERREIRA, International projects Manager, IGCAT
CULTURAL ROUTES OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE BEYOND EUROPEAN BORDERS
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- Moderation: ANA UMBELINO, Deputy Mayor, Torres Vedras Municipality; Executive Vice President, Destination Napoleon
- How to strength links with Ibero America to create the thematic cross oceanic routes: the experience of AMETUR DEBORAH VILLAS-BOAS DADALT, President, Associação Enoturismo do Brasil; Member, AMETUR EMANUELA PANKE, President, Iter Vitis Route
- Examples of ongoing initiatives on Cultural Routes, between Europe and Latin America, JORDI TRESSERRAS, Professor, University of Barcelona
- Creating bridges between continents: The experience of Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim Routes, ILDEFONSO DE LA CAMPA MONTENEGRO, President, European Federation of Saint James Way
- Cooperation between EICR and OEI: past initiatives and perspectives, ELADIO FERNÁNDEZ GALIANO, Board of Directors Member, European Institute of Cultural Route
FRIDAY, 13 June
Workshop 5: Governance & Policy Advocacy for Cultural Routes Introduction to the topic and facilitation: SERGIO ORTEGA MUÑOZ, Head of the Heritage Protection and European Programmes Service, Ministry of Culture, Chair of the EPA Governing Board, Representative of Spain to the EPA on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe
Exchanging practices:
- The French Federation of European Cultural Routes (FFICE) ELEONORA BERTI, Director, Destination Napoleon; President, FFICE
- Cultural Routes in Portugal CATARINA OLIVEIRA, Ministry of Culture, Representative of Portugal to the EPA on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe
- Connecting two certifications: UNESCO label and Cultural Route of the Council of Europe certification CORALIE VITORES, Manager, Le Corbusier Destinations: Architectural Promenades
- Working in multiple networks MARIA DEL POZO, Vice-president, European Route of Historic Gardens
Workshop 6: Sustainability & Climate Action in Cultural Routes Introduction to the topic and facilitation: PEDRO GUIMARES and DANIEL PAIVA, IGOT, University of Lisbon
GAMIFICATION ALONG THE LINHAS DE TORRES
Introduction to the topic and facilitation: PEDRO GUIMARÃES and DANIEL PAVIA, PhDs in Geography, Researchers, Center for Geographical Studies, Coordinators of the ZOE Research Group, University of Lisbon
- Presentation of the VR Game regarding the Line of Torres Vedras – Making of and demonstration, CLEMENTE ROCHA AND IVO SOUSA, Innovation and digital infrastructure division, Vila Franca de Xira Municipality
- Creating pedagogical tools and books involving local schools and stakeholders for the transmission of Napoleonic history, MARIA JOAO MARTINHO, Culture, Museums and Historical Heritage Division, Vila Franca de Xira Municipality
MEDROUTES INTERREG MED PROJECT
MEDRoutes Project: Challenges and opportunities for Cultural Routes, BENEDETTA DIAMANTI, Director, European Route of Ceramics
MEDRoutes experience along Destination Napoleon, JÚLIA REIS, Head of Division, Municipality Vila Franca de Xira DENISE DE ROUX, EU projects, Destination Napoleon