REVIVE 2026 fieldwork campaign in Grecia Salentina: CNR ISPC supports community-led Heritage documentation and digital innovation
From 27 March to 1 April 2026, researchers from CNR ISPC carried out the third fieldwork campaign in Grecia Salentina (Apulia, Italy) within the framework of the European project REVIVE – Revitalising Endangered Languages and Intangible Heritage in Europe, funded by the Horizon Europe programme.
The activities took place across the municipalities involved in the project and represented an important milestone in the co-creation process developed together with the Griko-speaking community. Building on previous fieldwork campaigns and community engagement initiatives, the visit aimed to present preliminary results, collect further insights from local stakeholders, and advance the design of the project’s forthcoming cultural and educational experiences.
Sharing results with the community
A key moment of the fieldwork was the public presentation of the first digital outcomes generated through the collaborative work carried out over the past months. Community members were invited to explore and discuss a range of digital heritage resources developed by CNR ISPC, including 3D models, multimedia stories, video interviews, and interactive content connected to places, objects, memories, and traditions of the Griko cultural landscape. The event offered an opportunity to gather feedback directly from participants and to validate the narratives emerging from the co-creation process, ensuring that local voices remain at the centre of the project.
Documenting heritage through digital technologies
During the campaign, CNR ISPC presented the results of the extensive digitisation activities conducted in previous months across the villages of Grecia Salentina. These activities included the acquisition and processing of dozens of cultural heritage assets, ranging from historical landmarks and archaeological features to traditional objects and community symbols. The resulting digital collection currently includes:
- 3D models of significant places and artefacts selected together with community members;
- Drone-based documentation of local heritage sites;
- Interactive panoramic images and virtual environments;
- Multimedia narratives linked to cultural objects and places;
Particular attention was devoted to transforming these materials into accessible and engaging storytelling tools capable of supporting both local communities and future visitors in discovering the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Griko area. CNR ISPC designed and printed the first set of community postcards integrating QR codes that allow visitors to access digital content and explore selected heritage assets online.
Preserving community voices
An important component of CNR ISPC’s work focused on the production of video interviews with community members. The interviews documented personal memories, local knowledge, linguistic practices, and emotional connections to places and traditions. Researchers coordinated the production workflow, together with LOBA partner, including editing, subtitling, translation, audio post-production, and final rendering, creating a multilingual archive of testimonies that will contribute to the long-term preservation and dissemination of Griko intangible heritage.
Designing the REVIVE exhibition experience
The fieldwork also marked the beginning of a new phase dedicated to the design of REVIVE’s future temporary exhibition in Italy. Together with community representatives and project partners, CNR ISPC facilitated discussions on exhibition themes, interpretative approaches, and digital solutions. The exhibition is being conceived as a shared and community-driven experience, bringing together stories, memories, places, objects, sounds, and languages through a combination of physical and digital installations. Among the concepts currently under development are immersive multimedia experiences, interactive sound-based installations, digital storytelling environments, educational activities, and participatory exhibits designed to showcase the richness of Griko heritage while fostering dialogue between generations.
Educational perspectives
Another important focus of the fieldwork concerned the design of educational activities for schools and after-school programmes. CNR ISPC initiated discussions with local schooling managers to identify suitable formats and tools capable of introducing younger generations to endangered languages and intangible cultural heritage through creative, playful, and technology-enhanced learning experiences. These activities will form part of REVIVE’s broader effort to connect heritage preservation with education and community participation.
Extending REVIVE beyond the fieldwork
The dissemination of REVIVE activities continued beyond the field campaign. On 13 May 2026, Alfonsina Pagano (CNR ISPC) was invited by the Scientific Committee of the national project “Integrated Local Curriculum and Production of Teaching Materials in Minority Languages” funded by the Italian Minister of Teaching and Merit (MIM), to deliver an online webinar addressed to linguistic primary school teachers, together with Stefania Zardini Lacedelli of ARU partner. The webinar provided an opportunity to introduce the REVIVE project and discuss innovative approaches for engaging schools in the preservation and transmission of endangered languages and cultural heritage. Although the educational dimension of REVIVE is still under development, the event offered valuable insights and opened new possibilities for future collaborations with the educational sector, building on experiences and methodologies developed in previous heritage and digital education projects.
Through these activities, CNR ISPC continues to support REVIVE’s mission of empowering communities, preserving linguistic diversity, and exploring how digital technologies can contribute to the revitalisation of Europe’s endangered languages and intangible cultural heritage.
