EXARC at the CIMA 2026 Conference
EXARC participated in the Congress of International Agricultural Museums (CIMA) 2026, held from 5–8 March in Lorsch, Germany. The conference brought together museum professionals, researchers, and heritage practitioners to exchange ideas on agricultural heritage and intangible cultural heritage.
Hosted at the Museumszentrum Lorsch and the Lauresham Open-Air Laboratory, the programme included working groups, presentations, and hands-on activities. Discussions focused on sustainability, climate change, museum practice, and documenting living heritage.
During the conference, Julia Heeb, EXARC Board Chair, gave a presentation on the RETOLD Project. The presentation introduced the project’s approach to documenting and preserving intangible cultural heritage, highlighting its relevance for museums, experimental archaeology, and living history initiatives.
Julia Heeb presenting the RETOLD project for the documentation of intangible heritage at the CIMA conference in Lorsch.
Remains of the early medieval monastery in Lorsch, a UNESCO world heritage site.
The conference concluded with a Field Day showcasing traditional farming and craft demonstrations, including ploughing with oxen and sheepdog trials.
Claus Kropp, curator and manager of the open-air laboratory for experimental archaeology Lauresham, explaining and demonstrating the process of creating a ridge and furrow field system a team of oxen for ploughing.
EXARC was pleased to be present and appreciated the opportunity to reconnect and exchange ideas with colleagues. Agricultural practices remain a key component of many open-air museums and play an important role in reenactment, living history, and experimental archaeology activities.
The conference review by Julia Heeb will soon be published in the EXARC Journal. The link will be made available here as soon as the article is published.