Promotion / introduction to the Faro Convention and action plan

Promotional events organised by the CoE Secretariat include:

  • Faro Convention Talks: inspirational talks at the invitation of member States, as well as testimonies from the member States presented in Strasbourg to introduce the Convention and examples of its implementation.
  • Faro Meetings: at the invitation of member States or local authorities in order to become familiar with the Faro Convention approach and seek ways for involvement in the process.
  • Faro Labs: a series of events organised with the participation of interested member States and communities to further explore the Faro Convention principles and their effective implementation.

 

How to apply

1 - Interest in the Faro Convention Network

The FCN is a platform made up of the heritage communities working together in line with the Faro Convention principles and criteria. The Network works towards identifying good practices and practitioners, conducts workshops and supports members’ efforts in addressing challenges related to field of heritage. Furthermore, the Network aims to demonstrate the role of heritage in addressing societal challenges faced today.

If interested in the FCN, please click on “Interested in the FCN” and insert a short note (300 words max.) answering the question after reviewing the Faro Convention and Action Plan.

2 – Feedback from the Secretariat

Your short note explaining the relationship between your initiative and the Faro Convention will be reviewed by the Secretariat and responded to within three weeks upon receipt of your note.

3 – Self-assessment

Based on the principles and criteria, each heritage community should conduct a self-assessment, responding to the points indicated in 12 criteria. Please refer to the self-assessment guide for details. It is expected that a heritage community may not meet all the criteria. In such cases, the heritage community, as an active member of the FCN, is expected to work with the Network to optimize its position. A self-assessment tool provides an opportunity to visualise the baseline measure vs. desired level and assist in the drawing up of a plan of action for each heritage community. Please send your assessment to faro.convention@coe.int .

If you have any questions, you may also send these to the same email address.

4 – Review by the Secretariat and the FCN

Your self-assessment will be provided with feedback within four to six weeks. You will receive a letter with feedback and recommendations, which should contribute to your plan of action.

5 – Appreciation visit

An assessment mission is often conducted by the FCN members and the Secretariat to verify the details of the initiative, and aims at identifying good practices and practitioners.

6 – Exchanges on the evaluation report

7 – Commitment letter

Following receipt of the feedback, the local initiative should provide the Secretariat with a letter including a plan of action, indicating their commitment to being actively involved in the FCN.

8 – Inclusion of the CV on the CoE website

Upon receipt of the commitment letter, the CV of the initiative will be included on the CoE website as an active member. 

Follow up of the active member status

1 – Self-monitoring and evaluation

Based on the progress made, the CV is maintained on the CoE website. If not, the initiative is considered a passive member. The initial recommendation by the FCN and the Secretariat and Plan of Action presented by the initiative set the baseline measure. The FCN members are encouraged to self-monitor and share the results with the FCN members every two years.

2 – Distinctive initiatives identified

Distinctive initiatives are identified for further assessment visits or Faro Convention Spotlights.

Following the inclusion of the CV on the website, some of the initiatives might be considered for further study, in line with the organisational priorities, as well as the role of heritage they present in addressing societal challenges. This interest will be communicated to the respective heritage communities, and details will be clarified together.

3 - Faro Convention spotlights

Spotlights are visits that focus on organisational priorities and seeking solutions through heritage-led initiatives. These visits are conducted by the Secretariat and experts.

4 – Documentation of good practices

Good practices are actions that are carried out by heritage communities in various settings and that show effective results. Once a practice is identified through the assessment visit, a heritage community may be asked to further study and document it to be introduced to other FCN members in a workshop setting. This process is supported by the CoE experts. At the workshops, these practices are introduced to the network and interested communities are asked to test and verify the validity of the practice in their respective communities. Once a practice is tested and verified (self-evaluated) in different settings, based on the results, it might be considered a good practice and included in the pool of good practices of the CoE.

5 – Faro Convention methodology

The Faro Convention methodology is applied to work with conflictual situations following specific steps to transform conflict through heritage-led initiatives. This methodology works around the main concepts of narratives, commons and cooperation. While the methodology might be used in various aspects of the Faro Action Plan, the full process is often used through spotlight actions based on the organisational priorities.

6 – Self-evaluation

Both the works on the good practices and actions through the Faro Convention methodology are encouraged to carry on self-evaluation and provide the FCN and the Secretariat with results. Support by the experts is provided, as needed.

7 – Promotion / visibility of good practices and contribution to Strategy 21

All the results attained throughout the Faro Convention Action Plan feed into Strategy 21 implementation, offering an approach, a platform for intercultural dialogue and tested good practices.