Cultural HeritageCultural Heritage
Cultural heritage is the myriad ways in which people, groups and institutions value and engage with manifestations of culture and history. It encompasses tangible and intangible artifacts, landscapes, historic sites, memories, daily practices, and historical narratives. It can bring people together, but it can also be used to marginalize individuals or communities. It may be the source of economic prosperity, but it can also be a source of conflict and violence. It is a complex concept with many different meanings and definitions, and it can be difficult to protect.
When people hear the term “cultural heritage,” they often think of artifacts (paintings, drawings, prints, mosaics, sculptures), historical monuments and buildings, archaeological sites, and museums. However, it is much broader than that. In fact, it encompasses all evidence of human creativity and expression: writings, books, maps, records, instruments, and even the natural environment.
In addition, it includes a wide variety of intangible cultural heritage, such as oral history, traditions and practices, social rituals, performance arts, traditional craftsmanship, representations, and knowledge, both created by human beings and inherited by society from past generations. Examples include tango and flamenco, Viennese coffee house culture, falconry, African drumming and dance, Azerbaijani carpet and weaving traditions, Mediterranean cuisine, kabashi theatre, vedic chanting, and polyphonic singing in Central Africa.
All these pieces of cultural heritage are connected to the lives and identities of a community and reflect its common values. Therefore, they represent an integral part of a nation’s identity and a key element for its development. It is therefore essential to preserve them for future generations.
There are many challenges in protecting cultural heritage, and some of them are very serious. For example, the loss of cultural property can have a direct impact on people’s lives, and it can also harm their national identity. Another important challenge is to ensure the preservation of cultural heritage in a manner that complies with international law and respects local customs and traditions.
Cultural heritage protection is a complex issue that requires cooperation between governments, international organizations, and private individuals. It is also a process that involves a balance between the interests of all stakeholders, including the public. In this context, Transkribus supports several projects aimed at preserving cultural heritage by digitizing and enriching handwritten sources. These include the Europeana Collections and EnrichEuropeana+.
Despite these challenges, there are some positive trends in the field of cultural heritage. For example, Ethiopia has a strong commitment to protect and promote its cultural heritage. In the constitution and the cultural policy of the country, Ethiopia pledges to safeguard all languages, cultures, fine arts, crafts, traditional lore, and beliefs. Moreover, it has established the Authorities for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage (ARCCH). However, the government still needs to create dedicated sections and positions in the Ministry of Tourism and UNESCO Addis Ababa Office in order to strengthen its position in the area of cultural heritage protection. This will enable the government to provide adequate funding and implement long-term programs aimed at promoting the protection of cultural heritage.