WHEN: October 2025 – March 2026

 WHERE: Wald am Arlberg, Austria

 FOCUS: rural museum preserving the local cultural identity

Summary of the programme

The programme plan focuses on participatory heritage work, community engagement, and intergenerational learning. The objectives are rooted in sustainability, regional identity, and accessibility.

Activities will include:

• Workshops on community engagement and oral history
• Hands-on shadowing of an educational session or guided tour with school children
• Guided visit to the Stadtarchiv Bludenz to learn how local archives preserve regional identity
• Co-creation session with youth for an exhibition or digital output
• Panel-style discussion on sustainability, funding, and innovation in rural cultural work

Exchange period: 

The peer exchange with Museumsverein Klostertal will take between October 2025-March 2026. The selected Visitor will agree directly with the Host on the exact dates.

Description of the Host organisation

Seven years after the opening of the Klostertal Museum, the Klostertal Museum Association was founded in March 2001. Since its founding, the association has strived to develop the Klostertal Museum into a vital cultural center for the valley. A variety of events have brought numerous visitors to the former Thöny-Hof each year. Since 2002, the organisation has been participating in the Long Night of Museums in Austria, a tradition that continues to this day. Concerts, readings, discussions with contemporary witnesses from the Klostertal, and educational presentations of exhibition content as well as a university for children are just a selection of the wide-ranging topics covered.

Museum Klostertal

  museumsverein.klostertal

What makes Museumsverein Klostertal an Ambassador of Good Practice? 

The Klostertal Museum drives cultural and creative regeneration by blending tradition with innovation. As a community-centered hub, it fosters regional identity through exhibitions, educational programs, and collaborations with local artists, schools, and craftspeople. Emphasizing participation, the museum supports social cohesion, sustainable development, and local creative economies. Its inclusive, intergenerational approach combines traditional practices with digital storytelling and participatory formats. By using diverse spaces and promoting ecological and social sustainability, the museum engages both residents and visitors. As a model for rural institutions, it demonstrates how heritage preservation and modern relevance can successfully intersect through strong local involvement and creative engagement.

What does Museumsverein Klostertal hope to gain from the P2P exchange?

“Our motivation lies in preserving the cultural identity of the Klostertal region and making it accessible, meaningful, and alive for current and future generations. As a volunteer-driven organization, we are deeply rooted in the local community. We belief that cultural heritage is not just something to be conserved, but something to be experienced, questioned, and reimagined. The museum serves as a meeting place where stories, traditions, and knowledge are passed on — not only through exhibitions, but also through dialogue, creative projects, and intergenerational learning. We are motivated by the idea that even a small, rural museum can have a big impact — by encouraging participation, fostering regional identity, and connecting the past with present-day challenges and opportunities. It is this sense of responsibility, creativity, and collaboration that drives us forward.”

Facilities for the Visitor

• Youth hostel in Wald am Arlberg for accommodation; transport options with a local mountain cable car company
• The Naturschutzverein Verwall-Klostertaler Bergwälder (local nature association) and Stadtarchiv Bludenz (local archives) could be explored

Apply here