From so Far to Soclose: Sharing the Cultural Heritage of Forced Migrations
After a needs analysis that included 197 semi-structured interviews and focus groups developed in Greece, Italy, Poland and Spain with refugees, cultural institutions and other relevant stakeholders, the project developed a co-creation process in which refugees from different historical episodes collaborated to produce digital technologies under the understanding that heritage can contribute to the communication between refugees and the host societies and become a resource to generate new bridges within communities.
The paper presents come reflections that arose during its development in relation to the inclusion processes, the access to cultural heritage, the role of digital tools in the sharing of the experience of forced displacement between refugees and the local communities, among other. Finally, the paper presents some reflections in relation to the demands of refugees of having a meaningful and egalitarian participation in the building of historical narratives. Despite food traditions, religious ceremonies and arts are often viewed as “safer” spaces, cultural heritage also includes memory of the past. Aside from their personal stories, anecdotes and experiences, refugees also hold views, reflections, and analysis about the historical episodes they have lived. Thus, besides sharing their stories, they also demand to take part in the construction of the explanations of present facts that are going to remain for future generations and become part of the narratives of our common history.