What we aim for
1. Restoring Emotional Connection
RESTORY is driven by the aspiration to restore and deepen the public’s emotional connection to discontinued traditions. By meticulously exploring and celebrating cultural heritage that has long been overshadowed, the project seeks to evoke renewed pride and understanding of local histories among community members and beyond.
2. Exploring Collective Agency
Through meticulous textual analysis and engaging interviews, RESTORY seeks to uncover expressions of collective agency within small communities. By delving into historical processes that facilitated the effective management of scarce resources—both human and material—the project aims to illuminate the adaptive strategies and resilience of these communities across time.
3. Promoting Sustainable Practice
A cornerstone of RESTORY’s mission is to investigate and promote sustainable practices rooted in historical contexts. By focusing on areas such as sustainable schooling methods, innovative recycling practices, and the affective-based communication dynamics among community members, the project aims to extract valuable lessons from the past that can inform contemporary strategies for sustainable development.
5. Enhancing Cross-Cultural Understanding
RESTORY seeks to enhance cross-cultural understanding and appreciation by exploring diverse cultural narratives and historical contexts. By fostering dialogue and collaboration across borders, the project aims to promote mutual respect and learning among different communities and stakeholders.
6. Methodologically-Hybrid Case Studies
RESTORY employs a rigorous methodologically-hybrid approach to its research. This includes detailed case studies that integrate textual and oral heritage investigations, providing a comprehensive understanding of the cultural dynamics and historical trajectories of communities, particularly those historically inhabited by Transylvanian Saxons.
7. Empowering Local Communities
RESTORY empowers local communities by actively involving them in the preservation and promotion of their cultural heritage. Through participatory research methods and capacity-building initiatives, the project aims to strengthen community resilience and ownership of their cultural narratives, ensuring sustainable development and long-term cultural vitality.
- Objective marksmenship -
RESTORY stands as a beacon of cultural revival and resilience, bridging past legacies with contemporary challenges and opportunities for sustainable development. By celebrating the cultural richness of small communities and amplifying their voices through innovative research and collaborative partnerships, RESTORY aims to ensure that these invaluable cultural treasures continue to inspire and empower future generations.
The RESTORY project, funded by the EU, embarks on a transformative journey to unveil hidden narratives and revive cultural roots within small communities. At its heart lies a profound commitment to reconnecting communities with their rich historical tapestries, often obscured by the towering shadows of monumental heritage. Departing from conventional approaches that prioritize well-known landmarks, RESTORY pioneers a methodologically innovative path by synergizing textual and oral narratives. This approach aims not only to unearth the forgotten stories of yesteryear but also to shine a spotlight on the intricate cultural treasures that define the unique identities of smaller, often marginalized communities.
The essence of the project lies in its innovative approach to storytelling, where textual and oral narratives are not merely collected but synergized to create a more holistic and vibrant portrayal of the past. This methodology acknowledges that the true essence of cultural heritage is often found not in grand structures or famous personalities, but in the everyday lives, traditions, and wisdom of ordinary people. By weaving together these diverse strands of history, RESTORY aims to revive forgotten traditions, re-establish a sense of community, and reconnect people with their cultural roots.
