What is it for us?
Cultural heritage consists of the resources inherited from the past in all forms and aspects – tangible, intangible and digital (born digital and digitized), including monuments, sites, landscapes, skills, practices, knowledge and expressions of human creativity, as well as collections conserved and managed by public and private bodies such as museums, libraries and archives.
Values
It originates from the interaction between people and places through time and it is constantly evolving. These resources are of great value to society from a cultural, environmental, social and economic point of view and thus their sustainable management constitutes a strategic choice for the 21st century;
Cultural heritage as a non-renewable resource that is unique, non-replaceable or non-interchangeable is currently confronted with important challenges related to cultural, environmental, social, economic and technological transformations that affect all aspects of contemporary life.
Cultural heritage plays an important role in creating and enhancing social capital because it has the capacity to:
a)inspire and foster citizens’ participation in public life;
b)enhance the quality of life and the well-being of individuals and their communities;
c)promote diversity and intercultural dialogue by contributing to a stronger sense of ‘belonging’ to a wider community and a better understanding and respect between peoples;
d)help to reduce social disparities, facilitate social inclusion, cultural and social participation and promote intergenerational dialogue and social cohesion;
e)offer possibilities to develop skills, knowledge, creativity and innovation;
f)be an effective educational tool for formal, non-formal and informal education, life-long learning and training.
Cultural heritage has an important economic impact, including as an integral part of the cultural and creative sectors, because, among other things, it:
a)constitutes a powerful driving force of inclusive local and regional development and creates considerable externalities, in particular through the enhancement of sustainable cultural tourism;
b)supports sustainable rural and urban development and regeneration as illustrated by initiatives by many European regions and cities;
c)generates diverse types of employment.
Cultural heritage plays a specific role in achieving the Europe 2020 strategy goals for a ‘smart, sustainable and inclusive growth’ because it has social and economic impact and contributes to environmental sustainability;
Cultural heritage cuts across several public policies beyond the cultural, such as those related to regional development, social cohesion, agriculture, maritime affairs, environment, tourism, education, the digital agenda, research and innovation. These policies have a direct or indirect impact on cultural heritage and at the same time cultural heritage offers a strong potential for the achievement of their objectives. Therefore, this potential should be fully recognised and developed.
Cultural heritage in European policy
EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
The European Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage, announced in the new European Agenda for Culture 2, responds to the invitation of European Leaders and cultural stakeholders.
The Framework for Action promotes and puts into practice an integrated and participatory approach to cultural heritage, and contributes to the mainstreaming of cultural heritage across EU policies.
A NEW EUROPEAN AGENDA FOR CULTURE
Europe’s rich cultural heritage and dynamic cultural and creative sectors strengthen European identity, creating a sense of belonging. Culture promotes active citizenship, common values, inclusion and intercultural dialogue within Europe and across the globe. It brings people together, including newly arrived refugees and other migrants, and helps us feel part of communities. Culture and creative industries also have the power to improve lives, transform communities, generate jobs and growth, and create spill over effects in other economic sectors.
EUROPEAN TERRITORIAL COOPERATION FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE
Cooperation on Culture is not only the way to smooth synergies and linkages across borders and among countries, or to facilitate industrial transition and smart specialisation processes, but is also a tool for successfully promoting Europe as a destination towards world markets.
Cooperation on culture, creative industries and arts can be effective as it sets a solid foundation for countries and regions to work together in an efficient and sustainable way. It is interesting to note that in the current programming period, cultural heritage and arts is the second most popular topic in Interreg programmes
