Cultural heritage refers to the tangible and intangible characteristics of a culture, including art, architecture, customs and traditions, music, language, folklore, cuisine, and other non-physical attributes. Typically, it is passed from generation to generation, and it forms the basis for a community’s identity and sense of continuity. It is also often linked to religious beliefs, social values and traditions, and a sense of place.
The importance of this aspect of heritage is reflected in the number and scale of organizations that are dedicated to its protection and promotion. These include museums, art galleries, cultural centers and other public institutions, government agencies, international organizations, and private companies. Cultural heritage is also a major tourist attraction, and many regions seek to promote and protect their cultural heritage to increase tourism and economic development.
There are numerous issues associated with protecting cultural heritage, including contested history and conflicting narratives, the repatriation of human remains (museums), cultural imperialism and globalization, the role of memory in societies, and the definition of cultural heritage itself. Some of the most pressing concerns are how to protect and preserve buildings, sites, and other physical aspects of a culture from climate change, pollution, and overuse, while still allowing people to enjoy them.
In addition, there are many intangible aspects of heritage that are just as important. These include the knowledge and skills associated with a culture, as well as the value that it adds to societies. These are harder to quantify, but they may have a significant impact on people’s sense of belonging and their identity. The value of cultural heritage is influenced by the context in which it is lived, and this is why the preservation of a culture’s values, traditions, and way of life requires the cooperation of all stakeholders, including governments, businesses, and individuals.
Unlike the value of a building or an art object, which can be measured in terms of market prices, the value of cultural heritage is difficult to measure. This is because most of the benefits are intangible, although there are a few measures that can be used to estimate them. One of the most important is the amount of revenue that a cultural heritage site generates by charging admission fees. This helps to fund the preservation of a heritage site and the maintenance of the artifacts inside it. It is also possible to measure the value of a cultural heritage site through its contribution to tourism. Other intangible benefits of cultural heritage are the sense of pride and belonging that people feel when they experience it, as well as its ability to encourage creativity and social cohesion. These intangible benefits are increasingly becoming a focus of heritage policy around the world.