The Council of Europe Framework Convention on the value of cultural heritage for society (Faro Convention) offers a frame to engage civil society in decision-making and management processes related to the cultural heritage. It is a unique convention about heritage that emphasises its value and potential as a resource for democratic participation, sustainable development and quality of life in a constantly evolving society.  The Convention was adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 13 October 2005 and opened for signature to member States in Faro (Portugal) on 27 October of the same year. It entered into force on 1 June 2011 and currently has 21 ratification and 7 additional signatures.

Developed as one of the outcomes of  The Council of Europe – European Union Joint project “The Faro Way: enhanced participation in cultural heritage”, launched in June 2018 and finalised in December 2021, the Faro Convention role-play game “Your Faro Way” seeks to promote the Convention’s principles in innovative way and actively engages different stakeholders in their implementation. 

The main objectives of “Your Faro Way”

With the aim of fostering a more active role of civil society in cultural heritage management and an increasing support by local, regional and national authorities in the implementation of the Faro Convention, the role-play game offers its users an opportunity to take on the roles of different heritage stakeholders and develop heritage projects featured in the game, thus acquiring hands-on knowledge of how to implement such projects in practice.

- to promote the Faro Convention in innovative and engaging way among different stakeholders;

- to offer a better understanding of the use of the Faro Convention and provide practical knowledge of how to implement its principles in practice;

- to foster a dynamic involvement of civil society in cultural heritage management-related processes;

- to emphasize the important role of authorities in giving support to the civil society initiatives and heritage communities;

- to underline the need for co-operation between different cultural heritage stakeholders for protecting and valuing the common heritage.

Key messages of “Your Faro Way"

- protection of heritage;

- identification with heritage;

- heritage generating rights and obligations;

- education for heritage;

- improvement of conditions of life;

- raising awareness of the possibility to use heritage for the benefit of the society;

- democratic participation and citizenship;

- respect for diversity and mutual understanding.

The main groups that the role-play game is targeting are national authorities of signatory and non-signatory states of the Faro Convention, heritage communities/civil society, local and regional authorities, professional associations and heritage experts, society as a whole and any individual who wishes to learn about the Faro Convention.

This innovative instrument could become a platform with a long-term impact and the potential to be developed with new features over time.

“Your Faro Way” role-play game is now available at the following link www.yourfaroway.com. We do hope you will enjoy discovering it.