organised by The Global Network of Water Museums as part of the European project Aquatik EU
On June 10, 2026, WAMU+NET organised a webinar on the topic of an extended museum of the Acheron River, in Greece, with a view to valorising water heritage, engaging communities and developing innovative practices for extended water museums.
Overview
The webinar brought together selected speakers who shared inspiring experiences and practical approaches to the valorisation of water heritage, community engagement, and the development of innovative practices for extended water museums.
The event was conceived as a preparatory step toward the Workshop and Study Visit on the Acheron River (Greece, 16–17 June), jointly organised by the Municipality of Souli and WAMU+NET. This following activity focused on the co-design of an Extended Museum — an innovative approach that moves beyond the boundaries of a single physical site to connect watercourses, landscapes, cultural heritage, and local knowledge into a shared and participatory narrative.
Agenda
14:30 – 14:35 Welcome and Introduction
Eriberto Eulisse and Irene Leonardelli – Welcome and introduction to the webinar; speakers’ presentation; sharing the QR code for registration
14:35 – 15:20 Key Presentations
Three perspectives on water heritage, digitization, and community engagement:
Gabriela Costea, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany – Reviving River Heritage through Education, Storytelling and Community Engagement along the Danube
Alvise Cecchetti, Former research fellow at the Netherlands Institute in Turkey (NIT), Istanbul – Turning Istanbul’s Water Heritage into Action: From Research to the Water Heritage Tour
Nahom Teklu Bekele e Emanuele Fantini, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Delft, the Netherlands – Blue Nile Stories: A Digital Water Gallery toward an Extended Museum
15:20 – 15:30 Interactive Discussion
Open discussion with Alberto Cotrona, MYTH Euromed, and Athanasios Ntanis, Mayor of the Municipality of Souli, Greece, venue of the pilot action on the planned Extended Museum of the Acheron River
15:30 – 15:45 Interactive Discussion with all participants and Q&A
Participants are invited to share ideas, experiences, and ongoing initiatives related to ecomuseums’ and extended museums’ approaches in their own contexts
15:45 Final Remarks and Conclusions