International network for Leveraging sUccessful Cultural heritage Innovations and Diplomacy, cApacity building and awaREness raising (ILUCIDARE)

ILUCIDARE is a three-year project to promote and leverage cultural heritage (CH)-led innovation and diplomacy through the creation and activation of an international community of CH practitioners in Europe and beyond, while strongly contributing to the overall objectives of the communication Towards an EU strategy for international cultural relations (JOIN/2016/029) and EU international cooperation in research and innovation (COM(2012)497). ILUCIDARE refers to both “elucidare”, aiming to provide a common definition of CH-led innovation and diplomacy, and “lucidare”, aiming to raise awareness, provide assistance, leverage and upscale CH-led innovation and diplomacy on a global scale. ILUCIDARE opts to tie its activities to strong established networks rather than just creating a new isolated project with little or no impact. The project will enable the exchanges of best practices, knowledge transfer, skills development and cross-fertilisation within its global network through an extensive use of digital engagement strategies and tools as well as participatory activities including 2 focus groups and 2 co-creation ateliers, 3 high-level international conferences, 5 international competitions (including 4 ILUCIDARE special EU Prizes for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra awards), online training by means of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), 2 academic training courses, onsite capacity buildings in 11 locations in 8 countries in South-East Europe, South America, Middle East and Africa. The strong international component of ILUCIDARE activities will allow to foster intercultural dialogue and effectively improve EU external relations through cultural heritage diplomacy. Based on continuous dialogue and exchanges facilitated by a special appointed Community Manager, ILUCIDARE will act as an e-market for CH-led innovative solutions and will support spill-overs and sustainable development collaborations to better preserve and promote CH, especially where it is at risk