The EXARC Re-enactment Working Group focuses on the role of reenactment and living history within experimental archaeology, heritage interpretation, and public engagement. The group brings together reenactors, museum professionals, researchers, craftspeople, and educators who use embodied practice to explore and communicate historical lifeways.

Members investigate topics such as historical clothing, craft production, foodways, combat traditions, domestic life, social practices, and performance-based interpretation across different historical periods and cultures. Reenactment offers opportunities to test practical knowledge, explore sensory experiences, and engage audiences in immersive and accessible ways.

The Working Group encourages discussion about authenticity, research methods, ethics, interpretation, inclusivity, and the relationship between reenactment and experimental archaeology. It also supports the exchange of skills, experiences, and best practices between practitioners working in museums, heritage sites, festivals, and educational settings.

Through collaboration and practical engagement, the group contributes to a richer and more human understanding of the past and how it can be experienced in the present.

If you would like to explore the related topic of live interepretation and museum theatre, you can also join our Live Interpretation Working Group.