TEHIC-Handbook_of_best_practices

6. Criteria for selecting best practices in heritage interpretation. 91 In this sense, a broad concept of heritage interpretation has been used as a starting point 3 , with a twofold focus: · On the one hand, heritage interpretation aims at transmitting and conveying to the publicthemainvalues andthe "soul" ofheritage effectively, byappealingtoemotions. · On the other hand, it works on the strategic planning of the use of heritage, focus- ing on heritage enhancement and the creation of spaceswhere people can interact with heritage in a sustainable fashion, supporting heritage preservation and com- munity development (Miró 2022) . In this sense, we suggest the following to be considered as best practices in heritage interpretation: “Those in which heritage interpretation tools are used for heritage protec- tion and use and for the well-being of local communities as well as of concerned heritage communities. We put forward two different kinds of good practices, according to their size and scope” ( Erasmus+ TEHIC 2022). 4 In order to make this definition clearer, we might draw on the conclusions of the 22 nd . Conference of the Spanish Association for Heritage Interpretation (AIP), where the mis- sion of heritage interpretation was reviewed, with the following reflections: 1 “In these times, it is still absolutely true that one of the missions of interpretation is heritage preservation in any of itsmany forms (natural, cultural, tangible, or intangible). In order to achieve this goal, interpretation professionals must continue to work to provoke thought and promote processes of reflection and education. The aim is to generate conducive attitudes and to invite the public to actively participate in her- itage preservation. 2 Interpretation is also a tool for social transformation , that supports the emergence of critical citizens, who are committed to the community and its values. 3 In addition, interpretation is one of the tools for heritage management , providing the creation of places where citizens can interact (cognitively and emotionally) with their heritage, generating tourist, educational and social uses . ” (Rodríguez 2022) 3 See Chapter 1 (Fernández) 4 Unpublished working paper.