TEHIC-Handbook_of_best_practices

123 7.1.2. Istria Inspirit heritage institutions (of diverse range) involved in the project, whose contribution to the project is priceless. To name just a few: Association Friends of Giostra, House of Batana, Labin Art Express, Pretoria, MVS Nešpula, Historical Association Castle etc. Audiences’ diversity Tourists, locals, specialized visits, families, schoolchildren. Positive impact on the community Through its activities, experience programmes and related performances, Istria Inspirit demonstrated, at least, two things. Firstly, the intangible heritage of Istria (and therefore of any other region) could be more attractive than it might seem, but if presented in an innovative, quality heritage interpretation way it may be a ‘bingo’. Secondly, if properly and in-depth planned the previous could be a perfect tool to ensure additional benefits to local communities, regardless of whether they are already interconnected to existing dominant economy of tourism or not. Istria Inspirit, with its activities is crossing the inter-sectorial gap, so necessary, as its activity includes making connections and cooperation between local Istrian farmers, professional performers, directors of Tourist Boards and/or (indeed) hotel managers. In the end, all the aforementioned have the same interests inparticipating andgainingbenefits out of it, usingheritage interpretation as a tool. 3. Heritage values provokes thinking or identity storytelling or media By bringing the audience (locals, tourists, or visitors) and intangible heritage of the Istri - an peninsula, its myths, stories, and legends, into the forefront, Istria Inspirit directly builds and keeps Istrian local identity. Local people are becoming proud not only of Is - tria’s natural beauties, which are many, and well-known, but also of those ‘small stories’ from their (family) past lives, and sometimes even current lives. Performances put Istria and its former peoples or its famous guests in the spotlight. The Istrian peninsula, due to its turbulent history (from Roman times all the way to for - mer socialist Yugoslavia and today’s Republic of Croatia) has always been a place of diversity. Experiences and performances by Istria Inspirit respect that past, even though other diverse and/or intersectional perspectives exist, for example related to stories from the past, which were accepted in the past by previous society values, but which do not fit in today’s standards.