New tool The Spinner of Living Heritage leads children to cultural heritage
The Spinner of Living Heritage is a new tool created by The Finnish Heritage Agency in collaboration with the Association of Cultural Heritage Education in Finland. The tool makes it possible for different groups to spark an uncomplicated discussion about cultural heritage or to lead learners of different ages into deeper reflection. The aim is to strengthen the inclusion of children and young people and enable a diverse approach to cultural heritage. The tool has been published in Finnish, Swedish and English.
The Spinner of Living Heritage is aimed at teachers, educators, instructors of hobby groups and anyone interested in cultural heritage. The headlining of the spinner follows the value basis of broad competence in curricula of Finland and encourages a shared learning process between students and teachers.
Intangible cultural heritage is a living tradition that is present in people's lives. Living heritage includes such things as feasts, crafts, dance and music, oral tradition, and living traditions related to food or nature. It touches us all in everyday life and celebration, work and hobbies.
“By considering the answers to the questions of the spinner, we also open up new perspectives on sustainable development and an understanding of what kind of changes will be needed in our ways and traditions in the future," says Leena Marsio, a Senior Advisor at the Finnish Heritage Agency.
The Spinner of Living Heritage has been created as part of the international LIVIND project coordinated by the Finnish Heritage Agency, in which the Association of Cultural Heritage Education in Finland is also involved. LIVIND — Creative and Living Cultural Heritage as a resource for the Northern Dimension Regions project aims to strengthen participants' understanding and knowledge of how living heritage can support sustainable development. The project also results in other different tools to promote sustainability. Nine countries from the Northern Dimension region are included. The project, largely funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will run until the summer of 2024.
In 2017, the Finnish Heritage Agency and its partners released the Wheel chart of Sustainability, a concrete tool for discussing the dimensions of sustainable development and living heritage. Translated into 18 different languages, the compass has spread across the world through intangible cultural heritage actors. The Spinner of Living Heritage is developed on the basis of this tool.
The Spinner of Living Heritage is available for download in Finnish, Swedish and English.
Additional information
The wheel chart of sustainability in available for download in different languages online.
Introduction video to the Spinner of Living Heritage: