Reimagining Ostia Antica: Co-Creation at the heart of heritage
AHEAD – Accessible Heritage Experience for Audience Development
As part of the European project AHEAD – Accessible Heritage Experience for Audience Development, the Park of Ostia Antica has embarked on a journey of radical inclusion. Together with Melting Pro and community groups from the area, the Park designed and piloted two innovative cultural experiences shaped by and for two distinct audiences: 17-year-old students from the Istituto I.I.S. Carlo Urbani in Acilia, and elderly residents from the Isola Sacra Agro Association, descendants of land reclamation workers.
The approach was guided by the ACED methodology (Audience-Centred Experience Design), which places audiences at the core of heritage innovation—from ideation to delivery.
Prototypes with purpose
Through a process of mutual learning, storytelling, and creative exploration, two immersive experiences were born:
- The Wellness Path – Located in the Forum Baths of Ostia Antica, this experience blends elements of well-being—such as yoga, aromatherapy and poetry—with the historical setting. Co-created with students, the trail invites personal reflection and physical engagement with heritage.
- The Memory Path – Set within the evocative Necropolis of Isola Sacra, this oral history-based trail weaves together the ancient trades of the past with living memories of local elders. Participants contributed family tools once used for land reclamation, grounding the visit in a deeply personal narrative of place and resilience.
In total, over 60 people took part in these pilots—two classes of students and a group of senior citizens—transforming the Park into a space of encounter, expression, and continuity.
International Momentum: AHEAD Study Visit in Ostia Antica
From 2–4 April 2025, the Park hosted the first international Study Visit of the AHEAD project, welcoming partners from Italy, Greece, and Spain. Participants experienced the prototypes first-hand, joined reflective workshops, and engaged with artists like Simone Vacca and Majo García Polanco, who explored how creative practice can deepen public engagement in heritage contexts.
Highlights included:
- A Wellness Trail session in the Forum Baths with stops for readings, yoga and sport.
- A visit to the Isola Sacra Necropolis, guided by community storytelling and personal testimonies.
- Facilitated dialogues on sustainability, artist integration, and shifting from project-based to institution-based thinking
Heritage as a collaborative process
What emerged was a clear message: to remain relevant, heritage must not only be preserved, but shared, adapted, and reimagined. By creating space for co-creation and reflection, the Archaeological Park of Ostia Antica is actively renewing its role—not just as a guardian of the past, but as a catalyst for community connection and creative participation.
What’s Next?
The energy of the Ostia Antica visit now moves across Europe. Next up:
📍 Messara (Greece) in May
📍 Altamira (Spain) in June
