Heritage practices in dialogue
with Life Beyond Tourism
Florence, 11-12 March 2027 | Deadline for registration: 31 August 2026
Following the pilot Officina held in November 2025, the first edition of the International Officina for the Culture of Dialogue will take place in Florence on 11–12 March 2027.
Over two days, Officina 2027 becomes a shared working space where experiences from different parts of the world come into dialogue. It is not only a moment of exchange, but a process of connection — where practices are discussed, compared and repositioned within a broader cultural and operational framework.
At the centre is a common challenge: how to protect heritage and strengthen the identity of territories while developing sustainable models capable of generating shared social and economic value.
Who is Officina 2027 for
Officina 2027 is open to organisations, institutions, associations, businesses and professionals interested in taking part in this international exchange.
There are three ways to participate, depending on how you wish to engage with Officina:
- Active Participants present a practice, project, methodology or experience and take part in the working tables, sharing their case and exchanging approaches and perspectives with other participants.
- Expert Contributors may not have a specific practice to present but wish to bring their expertise, perspectives, questions and reflections to the working tables, engaging with the practices presented and enriching the discussion and exchange expertise, perspectives, questions and reflections to the discussion around the practices presented.
- Auditors take part in Officina as members of its international community, attending the working sessions, engaging with participants and gaining insights from the practices, experiences and perspectives shared throughout the programme.
Participation in Officina is grounded in the principles of the Heritage for Building Peace 2025 Appeal and the Life Beyond Tourism Model, providing a shared framework for dialogue, exchange and cooperation.
These initiatives should contribute to:
- transforming the multicultural presence of travellers into shared value
- diversifying local cultural and economic offerings
- fostering innovative approaches to hospitality and sustainability
- connecting local experiences through an international network based on the Culture of Dialogue
- engaging younger generations in developing cultural and economic initiatives that foster intercultural dialogue in heritage destinations.
Through these different forms of participation, each participant becomes part of a collective framework where practices, expertise and perspectives contribute to a wider vision based on the Culture of Dialogue.
Storytellathon: for the Youngest
Officina 2027 also opens to younger generations through the Storytellathon.
This section is designed for high school and university students — as well as anyone interested in presenting a cultural itinerary rooted in their own territory.
Participants are invited to develop narrative itineraries that connect places, communities and heritage through storytelling. In this way, young people are not only involved, but recognised as active contributors to dialogue and to the creation of cultural, social and economic value.
Storytellathon represents a complementary dimension of Officina:
while practices are discussed and shared, new perspectives are generated through narrative, interpretation and direct engagement with local contexts.
How to take part
To participate in Officina 2027, applicants are required to complete the registration, indicating whether they wish to join as an Active Participant, Expert Contributor or Auditor.
Following registration, participants will receive via email the relevant instructions and fee payment methods. Active Participants will also receive access to the dedicated questionnaire to complete the submission of their practice.
