As part of the NICHE2 – Nurturing Intangible Cultural Heritage for Entrepreneurship project, the Italian partner IDP organised two co-creation events to support the development of training materials aimed at strengthening sustainability competences among Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) operators.
Held in April and October 2025, the two sessions brought together 11 participants representing a diverse range of stakeholders, including cultural and creative practitioners, trainers, IT professionals working with the cultural sector, and young aspiring cultural entrepreneurs. The events provided an open space for dialogue, enabling participants to share their experiences, identify challenges, and contribute ideas that would directly inform the development of the NICHE2 curriculum.
During both sessions, participants were introduced to the objectives of the NICHE2 project and the GreenComp-based training structure developed within Work Package 3. Particular attention was given to the module developed by IDP, "Environmental Impact Assessment for ICH", with discussions focusing on the needs and expectations of future learners rather than on the validation of a finished product.
The feedback collected highlighted a clear demand for training that is practical, accessible, and immediately applicable. Participants emphasised the importance of providing cultural operators with simple guidance on how to begin their sustainability journey, using realistic examples, step-by-step approaches, and practical tools that can be implemented even by small organisations with limited resources.
Another key recommendation was to structure the training into short and flexible learning units, allowing learners to progress at their own pace. Stakeholders also encouraged the inclusion of case studies, storytelling, and practical exercises that reflect the everyday realities of cultural organisations, making sustainability concepts easier to understand and apply.
These valuable contributions played an important role in shaping the final design of the IDP training module. As a result, the module adopts a highly practical approach, combining concise "knowledge pills", real-life examples, templates, and actionable guidance to help cultural organisations assess and improve their environmental performance.
The co-creation process represents one of the core principles of the NICHE2 project. By actively involving practitioners, trainers, and future users throughout the development process, the project ensures that its educational resources respond to real needs, reflect the diversity of the cultural sector, and remain relevant and usable beyond the project's lifetime.
The training materials developed within NICHE2 is freely available as Open Educational Resources (OER), supporting cultural professionals across Europe in adopting more sustainable and innovative practices while safeguarding Europe's rich Intangible Cultural Heritage.
For more information, visit the NICHE 2 project’s official website at: https://www.nicheproject.eu/ or contact our team via email at nicheproject2@gmail.com.