Cultural heritage is a collection of sites, objects and traditions that bring together the history, art and values of different cultures around the world. It is often a source of pride and identification. It includes both tangible and intangible heritage.
The concept of cultural heritage emerged out of the recognition that some monuments, buildings, works of art and other cultural heritage assets have a particular value for humankind. This has led to the notion that these assets are part of a heritage that belongs to humanity as a whole and that they should therefore be protected by all governments around the world, even in situations of armed conflict or disaster.
However, the protection of heritage is a complex issue and it involves the delicate balance between private ownership of a cultural property and its public use by everyone in a community. This has been a challenge throughout history and continues to be so, especially as the heritage field develops and becomes increasingly diverse.
For example, in the United States, many of our cultural heritage resources were developed by racial minorities who were excluded from or marginalized by mainstream society at some point in their country’s history. As a result, they developed unique subcultures that eventually had a profound impact on the larger culture, such as jazz music, Harlem Renaissance art, Asian food, or Latino dance.
Other cultural heritage resources are intangible, such as oral histories, traditional craftsmanship and social practices, and representations or symbols that have been transmitted from generation to generation within a cultural community. Examples of this type of intangible heritage include tango and flamenco, Viennese coffee house culture, Chinese handicrafts, Azerbaijani carpet weaving traditions and a wide variety of festivals, religious celebrations, and other events.
The preservation of cultural heritage is a complex and ongoing process that requires the involvement of the people who are its most important stakeholders. It also requires a clear understanding of the value of heritage to those who live with it and depend on it for their sense of identity and belonging.
Heritage is a valuable resource that can provide people with an enhanced sense of identity and community, as well as contribute to economic growth and development. This is why it’s so important to protect our heritage and ensure that future generations can benefit from it as well.
In order to make sure that cultural heritage is protected in all situations, it’s essential to understand the complexity of the issue and develop an effective plan of action. This includes bringing more rigor to the estimation of the financial and broader economic, tangible and intangible, value of heritage. These efforts will not only help to encourage the preservation of cultural heritage but will also help to inform governments on how to better allocate the funding needed for its maintenance and protection.