When people think of cultural heritage, they often envision artifacts such as paintings, prints or sculptures, historical monuments and buildings and archaeological sites. They also often think of a community’s traditions, beliefs and values that define them as a group or people. However, the concept of cultural heritage is a much broader one than this. It can also encompass a nation’s historic places, and even natural landscapes as well.
What exactly constitutes a culture’s heritage is a constantly evolving, and therefore complex, subject. It is a product of a selection process, where a society selects which of its own cultural expressions it wishes to preserve for the future. These can include traditions, social practices, artistic expressions, and even knowledge. This is why it is so important to educate the public about what cultural heritage really means.
In a study conducted by the European Centre for Cultural Heritage, researchers asked participants to answer questions about their perception of what constitutes cultural heritage. They did this before and after taking didactic activities designed to foster critical heritage education. The results show that while the initial perception of heritage remained largely the same, students became more aware of the significance of intangible elements over time.
The UNESCO defines cultural heritage as “the sum of all intangible and tangible characteristics that identify a nation or a group of nations. It includes customs and practices, arts and crafts, languages, beliefs and values.” Cultural heritage can be found in many ways, from a family’s traditional cuisine, to the way they decorate their home. It can even be the language they speak or the songs they sing.
This kind of cultural heritage can be very important to a person, and it can create a sense of belonging and identity. It can also help them feel connected to the past, and to other people who share that heritage. In fact, it is so important to many that they will go to great lengths to protect it. This can be done through legal channels, such as laws that protect the rights of artists and others who own works. It can also be done through cultural institutions and other organizations that promote heritage preservation.
Unfortunately, protecting cultural heritage isn’t always easy. In addition to the financial costs of keeping up historic places and museums, there are a host of threats to cultural heritage. This can be from climate change, conflict and terrorism, or simply the deterioration of age.
It is important to protect the cultural heritage of our ancestors so that it can be enjoyed by people in the future. It is equally as important, though, to let go of any cultural heritage that doesn’t serve you. That might mean breaking cycles of abuse or letting go of any negative or false beliefs that don’t align with your own truth.