The Importance of Cultural HeritageThe Importance of Cultural Heritage
Cultural heritage is often seen as a precious communal asset and is protected by the devoted efforts of a variety of professions: antiquarians, historians, anthropologists, archaeologists, philologists, art historians, museum curators, archivists and natural scientists. This arduous effort has resulted in the development of world-renowned museums, libraries and archives. It also has given rise to a whole range of professional associations dedicated to the preservation of cultural heritage and its transmission to future generations.
The concept of cultural heritage is based on the principle that a certain area or object has an outstanding universal value from an architectural, commemorative, aesthetic, ethnological or anthropocentric point of view. It is this point of view that defines what constitutes cultural heritage, whether it is a monument, building or site.
However, not everything can be considered as cultural heritage. This is because intangible cultural heritage includes the non-physical aspects of a culture, more specifically its values, traditions and customs. This kind of heritage is not always preserved in the same way as physical artifacts, because it often crosses the boundaries of geographical space and time: for example, Japanese prints influenced Paul Gauguin’s paintings or neoclassical architecture was incorporated into Liberian homes by descendants of African-American enslaved people.
It is therefore important that the cultural heritage of a society be carefully conserved to ensure its survival for future generations, in particular by ensuring that it is transmitted and passed on in accordance with the principles of fairness and integrity. This is why the International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was established in 1992. Its purpose is to protect the intangible cultural heritage from unsustainable use and from acts of vandalism and damage, and to encourage and promote its conservation and protection.
This convention is a vital tool in the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage, but there is still much work to be done. It is important to remember that, despite the work of a number of agencies and institutions, it falls to every individual to make sure that the future of cultural heritage is secure. This can be accomplished by refusing to buy cultural heritage products from illegal websites and auctions, by becoming a vocal advocate for the cause, or by volunteering at a site that needs help.
It is crucial that the global community understand the value of protecting our heritage, in order to guarantee it for future generations. For this reason, the American Institute for Conservation and the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation are working together to raise awareness about the importance of protecting our heritage and its contribution to our identity and sense of place in a globalizing world. We hope that this article will inspire others to join our effort. If you would like to support our work, please consider donating today. Thank you!