Grasping the fundamentals
The first phase of the project gathers deep insights into the living heritage practices, heritage communities’ visions and wishes, visitor expectations, policy environments, and inspirational practices.
Here the Design thinking stages of Empathise and Define play a key role.
- Empathise involves a human-centred process to understand people and their needs.
- Define draws on the insights gathered to collaboratively determine the projects specific challenges and next steps.
Field research
"In 2024, we collected surveys and held workshops with stakeholders to better understand the conditions in which nativity scene traditions are – or could be – a part of Kraków’s tourism offerings. In January 2025, we embarked on a new phase of our journey. For the next two and a half years, we will work on implementing creative solutions that will help the ICH community benefit from cultural tourism and enrich visitors’ experiences.
Interest in nativity scenes peaks from December through February. During this period, the annual Kraków Nativity Scene Competition takes place, followed by a post-competition exhibition. Nativity scenes can also be viewed at an outdoor exhibition in the city center. However, constructing nativity scenes is a year-round endeavour – each one can take anywhere from several hundred to several thousand hours to complete. For months, workshops are held to hone these skills, engaging adults, youth, and children alike."