Ironbridge Annual Lecture 2018

Making Sense of Europe’s Heritage: The Cultural Routes of Europe

Established in 1986, the Ironbridge Annual Lecture is organised by IIICH and IGMT as an opportunity to explore current issues in the field of heritage.

This year's lecture will be delivered by Dr Stefano Dominioni, Director of the European Institute of Cultural Routes and Executive Secretary of the Enlarged Partial Agreement of the Council of Europe. He will discuss the role of the Cultural Routes in promoting a deeper understanding of Europe's diverse cultural heritage.

For thirty years the Council of Europe has championed the concept of ‘cultural routes’ – a programme of thematic, trans-national itineraries that link place-based tangible and intangible cultural heritage for the benefit of communities and tourists alike. Collectively they illustrate European memory, history and heritage, promote intercultural dialogue and a deeper understanding of European cultures. Some 33 certified Cultural Routes now exist and the UK is involved in 13 of these.

Drawing upon selected Routes, Dr Dominioni examines how these help us to make sense of Europe not only in historical terms but also in terms of contemporary patterns of diversity and mobility and, how such routes can contribute to the development of community engagement with heritage and related local economies.

Dr Stefano Dominioni
Executive Secretary, Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes - Council of Europe (EPA)
Director, European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR) 

Stefano Dominioni is Executive Secretary of the Council of Europe Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes (EPA) and Director of the European Institute of Cultural Routes (Luxembourg). He is responsible for overseeing the certification by the Council of Europe of cultural routes in the field of European culture and heritage across its 47 Member States and the regular evaluation of the current 31 certified cultural routes.  Dr. Dominioni ensures EPA Governing Board and Statutory Committee operations, management of the European Institute of Cultural Routes and coordination with the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe. He is responsible for the implementation of Joint Programmes with the European Commission, and cooperation with another International Organisation such as UNWTO and UNESCO. During his career at the Council of Europe, he has worked for the Directorate General of Education, Culture and Youth and the Directorate General of Social Cohesion. He received his PhD from Yale University, a Master Degree from the Université d’Aix-Marseille and a B.A. Political Science from the University of Milan.