MIRETAGE Partner Interview: BCURE on Minority Religious Heritage and Inclusive Memory
In this partner interview, we speak with Marta Simó, Almodis Cebrià and Mar Griera from BCURE (Laboratory for the Study of Culture and Religion) at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). They share their team's contribution to the MIRETAGE project, reflecting on minority religious heritage, participatory research and the importance of making diverse memories and identities more visible. They also discuss the challenges of building inclusive heritage practices and the role of dialogue and collaboration in rethinking Europe's shared history.
1. What is your name and the organisation you represent?
We are Marta Simó, Almodis Cebrià and Mar Griera, and we represent BCURE, the Laboratory for the Study of Culture and Religion at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).
2. Where is your organisation based, and what does it do?
BCURE is based at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, in a Campus University located in Bellaterra (30 minutes far from Barcelona city centre by train).
Our research group has a long tradition in the sociology of religion. Previously known as ISOR (Research in Sociology of Religion), BCURE brings together researchers from different disciplines to explore the relationship between religion, culture and contemporary society.
Our work focuses on religious diversity, cultural pluralism, collective memory, heritage and identities, among other areas. We are particularly interested in understanding how culture and religion participate in the configuration of collective imaginaries, value systems and conflicts that cross contemporary societies.
We also aim to connect academic research with social debates and public institutions, creating spaces for critical reflection and dialogue between different actors.
3. What has been your main role in the MIRETAGE project?
Our main contribution to MIRETAGE has been to bring a sociological perspective to the study of minority religious heritage, combining academic research with participatory approaches.
We have contributed to the research on minority religious heritage in Europe, including the review of existing literature and the analysis of stakeholders' experiences and needs. Our work has also been connected to the development of participatory methodologies, Heritage Labs and Heritage Trails.
Marta Simó has played a crucial role in leading WP4, in collaboration with Almodis Cebrià. Within WP4, which we have led, we have coordinated participatory and institutional workshops in Barcelona, contributed to the testing and refinement of the Heritage Trail and the Guidelines, and worked on their transferability to heritage, educational and institutional contexts.
As a team, we have supported the research and implementation of activities aimed at making minority religious heritage more visible and accessible.
For us, one of the key aspects of the project is understanding heritage not simply as something to be preserved, but as a social process through which communities negotiate memory, identity and belonging.
4. Are you involved, or have you been involved, in any other projects or initiatives related to minority religious heritage?
Yes. Through BCURE and its predecessor ISOR, we have a long history of researching religious diversity and its relationship with public space, memory and cultural heritage.
One important initiative is the Map of Religious Minorities in Catalonia, which has documented and analysed minority religious communities and their places of worship, contributing to a better understanding of religious pluralism in Catalan society.
We have also been involved in LEGACI (Legislative Theatre for Inclusive Heritage), a European project exploring how participatory and creative methodologies can contribute to more inclusive approaches to heritage and collective memory.
We have also brought this perspective into several institutional advisory processes related to democratic memory, interculturality and anti-racism at both local and regional levels in Catalonia. These experiences have repeatedly highlighted the importance of recognising the memories, heritage and forms of belonging of religious and cultural minorities within broader public narratives.
This institutional dimension is complemented by our involvement in educational projects such as the CERV project Power of Personal Stories in Confronting Oblivion, Stories that Move, CONSOLIDA and IMAGINE, which use personal narratives, intercultural learning and inclusive pedagogies to address memory, diversity and heritage in educational contexts. More broadly, our work has addressed the visibility of religious minorities in public spaces, the negotiation of religious diversity with institutions, and the ways in which collective memories are constructed and transmitted.
These experiences have strengthened our interest in understanding heritage not as something neutral or fixed, but as a field in which different memories, identities and forms of recognition come together.
5. Why is a project like MIRETAGE important in the current European context? What can it contribute to society?
We believe MIRETAGE is particularly relevant in a European context marked by increasing diversity, but also by polarisation and tensions around religion, identity and belonging.
Religious heritage is a complex and sometimes sensitive issue. It is not only about buildings, monuments or objects, but also about memories, rituals and everyday practices. It raises difficult questions about whose history is recognised, who has the authority to define heritage, and which voices are included or excluded from dominant narratives.
For this reason, we think it is important to approach religious heritage with reflexivity, sensitivity and a willingness to listen. These conversations require time, trust and spaces where different perspectives can be expressed, including those of religious communities, heritage professionals, researchers and public institutions.
One of the important contributions of MIRETAGE is precisely to create opportunities for this kind of dialogue. Rather than offering simple answers, the project invites us to question established understandings of heritage and to explore more inclusive and participatory approaches.
MIRETAGE also shows that heritage can be a powerful tool for adult and civic education. Through trails, storytelling and participatory methodologies, heritage becomes a space for learning from one another, questioning established narratives and connecting historical knowledge with contemporary experiences of diversity.
Ultimately, we see minority religious heritage as an opportunity to rethink our shared European history and to build a more plural understanding of who "we" are. Recognising this heritage is not only about acknowledging the past, but also about fostering mutual recognition, dialogue and more inclusive forms of belonging in the present.
6. What has been the most exciting or rewarding part of the project for you?
One of the most rewarding aspects has been the opportunity to bring together different actors and create spaces for meaningful reflection on a subject that is often overlooked or difficult to address.
We have been particularly encouraged by the positive reception of the project and the willingness of institutional actors, heritage professionals and researchers to engage in these conversations. The Heritage Labs in Barcelona have shown us that there is a genuine interest in rethinking how minority religious heritage is understood, represented and connected to wider social and cultural narratives.
At the same time, working with museums, heritage professionals and public institutions has shown us that, while there is considerable interest in making heritage more inclusive, institutions often face practical, conceptual and organisational challenges when trying to incorporate minority voices and participatory approaches.
The project has also made us more aware of the difficulties involved in creating truly participatory processes. We would have liked to involve minority religious communities even more actively, but this is not always easy. Many minority religious organisations operate with limited resources, rely heavily on voluntary work, and face multiple demands on their time and energy.
This has been an important learning experience for us. Meaningful participation requires more than simply inviting communities to take part. It requires time, trust, resources and a willingness to adapt institutional and research processes to the realities and needs of those communities.
Perhaps this is one of the most valuable lessons of MIRETAGE: inclusive heritage is not just about making minority histories visible, but also about reflecting critically on the conditions under which different actors can participate in shaping those narratives. Despite these challenges, we have found the project very stimulating, particularly because it has opened conversations and collaborations that we hope will continue beyond the project's lifetime.
