Hyrra FI

Spinner of Living Heritage

Download our new tool to discuss living heritage from the perspective of sustainable development! The tool has been created by the Finnish Heritage Agency in collaboration with the Association of Cultural Heritage Education in Finland. Already in 14 languages! Download for free and use it in workshops.

The Spinner of Living Heritage is a new tool created by The Finnish Heritage Agency in collaboration with the Association of Cultural Heritage Education in Finland. The tool makes it possible for different groups to spark an uncomplicated discussion about cultural heritage or to lead learners of different ages into deeper reflection. The aim is to strengthen the inclusion of children and young people and enable a diverse approach to cultural heritage.

Download the Spinner of Living heritage in English, Finnish, Swedish, Danish, French, Estonian, Ukrainian, Turkish, Icelandic, Faroese, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Welsh, Skolt Sámi, Inari Sámi, Northern Sámi and Greenlandic. Trouble in printing? Download the easy-read version in English.

See here a short video of how to use the Spinner (in English).

The Spinner of Living Heritage is aimed at teachers, educators, instructors of hobby groups and anyone interested in cultural heritage. The headlining of the spinner follows the value basis of broad competence in curricula of Finland and encourages a shared learning process between students and teachers.

Intangible cultural heritage is a living tradition that is present in people's lives. Living heritage includes such things as feasts, crafts, dance and music, oral tradition, and living traditions related to food or nature. It touches us all in everyday life and celebration, work and hobbies.

The Spinner of Living Heritage has been created as part of the international LIVIND project coordinated by the Finnish Heritage Agency, in which the Association of Cultural Heritage Education in Finland is also involved. LIVIND — Creative and Living Cultural Heritage as a resource for the Northern Dimension Regions project aims to strengthen participants' understanding and knowledge of how living heritage can support sustainable development. The project also results in other different tools to promote sustainability.

In 2017, the Finnish Heritage Agency and its partners released the Wheel chart of Sustainability, a concrete tool for discussing the dimensions of sustainable development and living heritage. Translated into 18 different languages, the compass has spread across the world through intangible cultural heritage actors. The Spinner of Living Heritage is developed on the basis of this tool.  

Contact us if you would like it to be translated and used in other countries as well!

Interested in an online workshop on the Spinner? Contact us and let's plan together!


Leena Marsio, Finnish Heritage Agency, leena.marsio(at)museovirasto.fi
Ira Vihreälehto, Association of Cultural Heritage Education in Finland, ira.vihrealehto(@)kulttuuriperintokasvatus.fi