Between March 3 and 5, a working meeting of the European project RESPIRA was held in Barcelos (Portugal), corresponding to the second steering committee meeting (COPIL 2). The meeting, organized by the Município de Barcelos, brought together all the project partners and served to review the progress of the initial activities and coordinate the forthcoming work phases.
During the meeting, it was confirmed that the initial stages of the project have already been launched in the participating territories. The partners presented the first results of their activities, particularly the public presentations of the project carried out in each territory. These sessions have served as the first point of contact with local stakeholders — administrations, institutions, and other relevant actors — and will form the basis for the future creation of territorial working groups, ensuring a plural representation of interests and perspectives.
Each partner also shared the process of identifying nodes or heritage assets within their territory, explaining the criteria used, the selected elements, and the opportunities these offer in their specific contexts. This exercise represents an essential step in ensuring the relevance and feasibility of the pilot actions to be developed within the framework of the project.
Another key topic was the presentation of the project’s conceptual and methodological framework, based on two documents: a strategic and methodological framework, and the contents of phase A 1.1 “Territorial mobilization and validation of the concept of ‘Territorial Heritage.’” The partners discussed various aspects of this framework, particularly emphasizing the potential of this concept to integrate cultural heritage, landscape, economic activities, and local identity into territorial development strategies. In this regard, participants underlined the importance of strengthening the shared methodological framework, which serves both as the conceptual foundation for each partner’s actions and as the basis for the common results to be achieved at the project level.
The meeting also included the presentation of the project’s training plan, which will be implemented through various technological platforms. Each partner will carry out training activities based on a reflective pedagogical methodology adapted to their specific realities and aligned with the methodological framework of the project.
Another focus of work was the communication plan, which was analyzed and discussed by the participants. The need to promote strategies to disseminate the project’s activities and showcase the role of each partner — who they are, what they do, and how they work — was highlighted. It was also agreed to develop a process of “translation” of the project’s content to adapt it to different audiences and communication channels, including social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Finally, participants had the opportunity to visit various territorial heritage assets in the Barcelos area. These visits provided a close insight into the host territory and an opportunity to reflect on the project’s potential to enhance local heritage as a driver of development.
The meeting was highly satisfactory. It clearly demonstrated that information exchange among partners is essential to ensure the proper development of the project. Sharing experiences and methodologies makes it possible to address the challenges of working across diverse territories, each with its own realities, needs, and institutional frameworks.