When the term cultural heritage is used it often brings to mind artifacts, archaeological sites or historic buildings. But it also encompasses many other things.
What people value as cultural heritage varies considerably, depending on social values, background and privilege or marginalization. What’s important is to recognize that cultural heritage is not something static.
Definition
UNESCO’s definition of heritage describes it as the “distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features that characterize a culture.” The characteristics are transmitted across generations, with each generation building on its ancestors’ accomplishments.
Cultural heritage can be tangible or intangible. Tangible cultural heritage includes things that can be touched, such as artifacts, buildings, monuments and archaeological sites. It can also include clothing, musical instruments and other objects of cultural value that were once part of a physical object.
Intangible heritage is not physical, but it consists of practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and skills that communities, groups and individuals recognize as culturally significant. Examples of intangible cultural heritage include dances, music, and languages. They are often difficult to preserve, as they depend on human knowledge, experience and participation. This is where technologies such as transcription, archiving and digital preservation can be vital in protecting cultural heritage from the risks of loss or destruction.
Significance
While economic analysis of heritage values has been done, the value of a cultural manifestation is ultimately determined by its community. Intangible cultural heritage includes not only the material manifestation of a cultural expression, such as art, architecture, or natural landscapes, but also such things as the tango and flamenco, Viennese coffee culture, Mediterranean diet, kabuki theatre, Vedic chanting and polyphonic singing, and other traditional practices that are passed down from one generation to another.
The significance of a heritage site lies in its role as the physical embodiment of an essential narrative central to a community’s self-understanding. Whether that story is of the past heroic struggle to survive and triumph or, as in Eastern Europe after 1990 or in many places today, an equally compelling tale of national renewal and resurgence, the physical visualization of that narrative has value. When that value is displaced by purposeful destruction or by distorted, ahistoric interpretation, the result is a loss of heritage.
Preservation
Preserving cultural heritage involves efforts at all levels, from the international level to the local. Governments play a crucial role in creating laws to prevent the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage, establishing institutions to protect and conserve it, and raising awareness about its importance.
Local communities are also vital custodians of their own culture, from traditional craftsmanship to social practices and representations. These can include dancing, tango and flamenco, holy processions, falconry, Viennese coffee house culture, Azerbaijani carpet weaving traditions, and Kabuki theatre.
Another aspect of preservation involves preventing cultural appropriation, which can lead to the misrepresentation or exploitation of traditions and can threaten a community’s identity and resilience. As a result, cultural heritage organizations need to work with communities to ensure that the preservation of their traditions is in line with community expectations and values.
Sustainability
Cultural heritage is a vital part of humanity’s identity and culture. Its preservation enables us to learn about the past and better understand the present. It also helps us to shape our future.
The recent catastrophic damage to heritage sites by natural disasters has underscored the need for more sustainable restoration and management practices to prevent further losses. This is a key concern of the ICOMOS Open Method of Coordination (OMC) Working Group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development.
The Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development publishes multidisciplinary papers linking cultural heritage with sustainability, drawing on research in the built environment, conservation and tourism fields. It has a particular focus on examining the complex interplay of influences affecting museum sustainability, ranging from governance structures to decision-making processes, from organizational frameworks to strategic resource allocation. The HSI shows that corporations that prioritize improving their cultural heritage safeguarding practices can reduce financial and reputational risks and ensure their sustainable development.