ALPHABETICA at the European Researchers’ Night 2026

On 26 September 2026, the ALPHABETICA team from the University of Turin (UNITO) took part in the European Researchers’ Night in Turin, presenting the project’s approach to inclusion, cultural heritage education and the role of arts and heritage in addressing educational poverty.

As part of the event, UNITO organised a talk bringing together two key stakeholders that will participate in the ALPHABETICA local Living Lab: a school for adults and citizens from outside the EU (CPIA1 Turin), the Museo Egizio in Turin, one of the city’s most important cultural institutions, and Diskolé, an association devoted to pedagogical innovation. The dialogue explored how cultural heritage education can become a form of participation and citizenship education, fostering identification and a sense of belonging, including among learners at greater risk of marginalisation and educational poverty.

A particularly inspiring example discussed during the talk was the long-standing collaboration between the school, Museo Egizio and Diskolé. For around a decade they have jointly organised an activity in which students from diverse migrant backgrounds present selected objects from the collection to their friends, family and project staff and educators in a final event held at the Museum. The initiative demonstrates how cultural heritage can become a powerful resource for fostering inclusion, participation and a sense of belonging, while helping to address educational inequalities.

The experience provided a valuable case study and a natural introduction to ALPHABETICA’s objectives. By bringing together local stakeholders and building on existing practices, the Italian Living Lab will further explore how arts and cultural heritage education can support more inclusive learning environments and contribute to tackling educational poverty.