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READY Track 2: Safeguarding Heritage in Disasters

Deadline: 31-Mar-2026

READY Track 2 offers interdisciplinary training to strengthen the protection of heritage sites, buildings, living traditions, and cultural practices in the context of disasters, extreme weather, and conflicts. The programme equips participants with practical tools for risk assessment, emergency preparedness, first aid for heritage, and resilience building while promoting community-centered and culturally grounded approaches.

Overview of READY Track 2

READY Track 2 is designed for professionals engaged in heritage protection and disaster risk management. It focuses on safeguarding immovable and living heritage—including cities, settlements, buildings, and social traditions—during disasters, extreme weather events, and complex emergencies. The training integrates practical skills, ethical principles, and collaborative strategies to enhance resilience and preparedness at both local and institutional levels.

The programme emphasizes understanding the social, cultural, and political contexts in which heritage exists, assessing risks, documenting knowledge, and implementing protective measures in partnership with communities and authorities.

Key Learning Objectives

  • Identify, analyze, and document the uses, values, and meanings of heritage and associated practices.

  • Understand how heritage is shaped by urban context, geography, climate, and governance.

  • Assess the impact of disasters, climate extremes, and conflict on heritage systems.

  • Conduct on-site damage and risk assessments following safety and conservation principles.

  • Collaborate with humanitarian actors, civil protection agencies, and local authorities.

  • Implement first aid, emergency stabilization, and early recovery measures for tangible and intangible heritage.

  • Provide relief to cultural bearers and safeguard at-risk living traditions.

  • Train local cultural first aid teams and promote institutional integration of heritage protection into disaster risk management and climate adaptation plans.

  • Develop cross-disciplinary leadership, coordination, and communication skills for heritage emergencies.

Training Approach

  • Hybrid learning combining online modules and on-site practical exercises.

  • Tabletop exercises and emergency simulations to build real-time response skills.

  • Integration of climate adaptation, nature-based solutions, and community-centered approaches.

  • Emphasis on ethical practices, cultural sensitivity, and socially just recovery strategies.

  • Cross-sector coordination among disaster risk management, civil protection, armed forces, climate scientists, and heritage institutions.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible participants include professionals and practitioners from Creative Europe programme countries, such as:

  • Conservation architects and engineers

  • Heritage site managers and archaeologists

  • Urban planners and community leaders

  • Cultural bearers and custodians of living heritage

  • Civil protection professionals and disaster risk managers

  • Climate scientists and humanitarian responders

  • Fire risk managers and military/emergency responders involved in heritage protection

Why It Matters

Disasters, climate extremes, and conflict increasingly threaten Europe’s heritage systems. Damage affects not only physical structures but also living traditions, social memory, and community identity. READY Track 2 addresses these challenges by providing participants with:

  • Practical tools for risk mitigation and emergency response

  • Skills to protect both immovable and living heritage

  • Strategies for resilience, recovery, and community-centered approaches

  • Knowledge to integrate heritage protection into policy, disaster, and climate adaptation plans

How the Training Works

  1. Preparation: Participants review online modules covering theory, frameworks, and best practices.

  2. On-Site Exercises: Conduct damage and risk assessments, implement emergency stabilization measures, and practice ethical first aid for heritage.

  3. Simulations: Engage in tabletop exercises and emergency drills to practice multi-sector coordination and crisis response.

  4. Community Engagement: Document and integrate community-held knowledge, safeguard living heritage, and train local cultural first aid teams.

  5. Recovery Planning: Plan transition from immediate response to early recovery and long-term resilience building.

Common Mistakes and Tips

  • Mistake: Ignoring community perspectives and knowledge. Tip: Actively involve local cultural bearers and stakeholders.

  • Mistake: Focusing solely on physical structures. Tip: Include living traditions and intangible heritage in risk assessments.

  • Mistake: Overlooking cross-sector coordination. Tip: Engage disaster risk managers, civil protection, and heritage institutions from the start.

  • Mistake: Neglecting climate and governance contexts. Tip: Integrate climate adaptation and policy frameworks into planning.

FAQs

1. Who can participate? Professionals from Creative Europe programme countries involved in heritage protection, disaster management, or related fields.
2. Is the training hybrid or on-site only? It combines online learning with practical on-site exercises and simulations.
3. What types of heritage are included? Immovable (cities, buildings, sites) and living heritage (traditions, practices, social knowledge).
4. Are community members involved? Yes, training emphasizes engaging cultural bearers and local communities.
5. Does it cover climate adaptation? Yes, it integrates climate adaptation, nature-based solutions, and disaster resilience strategies.
6. What sectors are involved? Disaster risk management, civil protection, heritage institutions, armed forces, climate science, and humanitarian actors.
7. Are early-career professionals eligible? Yes, the programme encourages participation from all career stages.

Conclusion

READY Track 2 equips professionals with interdisciplinary skills, practical tools, and collaborative strategies to safeguard heritage in the face of disasters, climate extremes, and conflict. By integrating ethical, community-centered, and climate-aware approaches, the programme strengthens resilience for both tangible and living heritage, supporting sustainable heritage protection across Europe.

For more information, visit ICCROM.