Cultural heritage is the legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a society passed down from the past. It is important to preserve and protect it in order to strengthen a sense of identity and pride among people.
Preservation is a complex process. It involves balancing the interests of private and public property.
Cultural identity
Cultural identity and cultural heritage have become a major field of study in contemporary societies. However, the concepts remain controversial and difficult to understand, resulting in oversimplified and potentially harmful interpretations. This project aims to illuminate the complexities of these subjects by developing a nuanced understanding of them.
The project will focus on both tangible and intangible components of cultural heritage, including buildings, monuments, natural landscapes, art works, and other forms of cultural production. It will also consider how cultural heritage is shaped and used in local communities.
It is crucial to understand the role of cultural heritage in people’s sense of belonging. It is often a source of pride, but it can also be a tool for promoting peace and reconciliation in conflict or post-disaster situations. It also reflects a broader view of humanity that values human creativity and freedom. The project will address these issues through a multidisciplinary approach that includes sociology, history, geography, and the arts.
Cultural diversity
UNESCO defines cultural diversity as “the variety of expressions of human creativity, including the richness of languages and cultures”. This includes art, architecture, music, films, monuments, museums, townscapes and underwater heritage. It also covers traditional social practices and the natural environment.
These diverse traditions reflect the unique values and beliefs of each culture. They are a source of inspiration, dialogue and mutual respect among peoples. These qualities are necessary for human development. They contribute to economic growth, and enrich the intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual lives of communities and individuals around the world.
Cultural heritage is a powerful tool for community cohesion, and it is important to celebrate it. By preserving and promoting cultural heritage, we can foster global understanding and intercultural exchange. We can also prevent the loss of valuable cultural heritage to communities. In addition, we can encourage communities to participate in cultural heritage activities and learn more about their history. This can be done through a variety of ways, such as through festivals and other events.
Preservation and conservation
Cultural heritage is an important part of a community’s identity, and it must be preserved. Cultural heritage protection strategies can include educational initiatives that foster a love of culture from an early age. Incorporating these cultural practices into the school curriculum can help students understand and respect diverse cultures and foster a sense of belonging to their community.
The preservation of cultural heritage involves many aspects, including documentation, conservation, and education. It is a continuous process that requires the active participation of communities, groups, and individuals. It also involves ensuring that the preservation of cultural heritage is compatible with human rights and the freedom of expression.
Preservation efforts can be hampered by political and economic restrictions on the transfer of cultural property. These restrictions are often based on international conventions, such as the 1970 UNESCO Convention, which requires that a state provide a safe haven for the objects before they can be exported. These restrictions can also limit the ability of states to share their expertise in conservation and preservation.
Political agendas
When heritage is politicized it can be distorted by varied ideological, religious or political movements. The destruction of objects or their ahistorical or propagandistic interpretations are examples of this. Heritage can also be used as a tool to assert nationhood.
The apolitical and universal understanding of cultural heritage promoted by UNESCO can easily be compromised when linked to the interests of a nation that claims ownership of it. The MoW debate is a clear example of this.
Moreover, the scope of ministers to decide ‘what’ and ‘how’ in their heritage actions influences how political messages can be transferred to heritage agencies. For instance, in Norway where the governing coalitions are multi-party, specific party-political heritage priorities and partisan governing principles can be incorporated into letters of allocation. This reflects the influence of NPM ideals and a desire to balance power between principals and civil servants. These factors contribute to maintaining an arm’s length distance between the agencies and politicians (Niklasson et al. 2020).