Ideating Engaging Democracy Education Through Cultural Heritage

We are currently in a dynamic ideation phase, developing an innovative concept for democracy education aimed at primary and lower secondary schools. Our work is rooted in Anders Chydenius’ parsonage as a living learning environment, where past, present, and future intersect. The goal is to make democracy understandable, engaging, and relevant for young people, not as abstract theory, but as something they actively experience and shape.

Through interdisciplinary and creative teaching methods, we combine cultural heritage with drama pedagogy, interactive role-play, and place-based learning. Students engage with historical dilemmas, take on societal roles, and explore the boundaries of freedom of expression in practice. This approach deepens their understanding of democratic processes while fostering critical thinking, empathy, and collaboration skills.

A key component of the initiative is strengthening young people’s identification with democracy. By connecting learning to local cultural heritage and historical narratives, we create a sense of continuity and belonging, showing that their voice is part of something larger. We also actively work to lower barriers to participation, ensuring that all students, regardless of background, feel included and empowered to take part in society.

Within the framework of "Destination: Innovative Research on Democracy and Governance” we explore how cultural heritage and experiential learning can serve as tools to revitalize democracy education. We are now looking for partners to co-develop, test, and scale this model across diverse European contexts. Our primary areas of interest are the Democracy 2026-03 and Democracy 2026-09 calls.