Matagorda County Museum Our Blog The Concept of Cultural Heritage

The Concept of Cultural Heritage

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When most people hear the term cultural heritage, they automatically think of historical monuments and buildings, archaeological sites, works of art and museums. But, in fact, it is much more than that. The concept of cultural heritage encapsulates the values and traditions that represent a specific community, which are worth passing on to future generations because of their uniqueness and significance.

These objects, sites and experiences are often a source of identity for a nation, an ethnic group, or a social community. They help to define a local culture and are considered to be of a ‘universal value’ by the international organisation UNESCO. They are also a source of income, often through the tourism industry. The preservation of this cultural heritage is therefore a crucial issue, and one which is closely linked to the development of tourism.

The protection of cultural heritage is a complex task, and often involves finding a balance between the interests of the individual, on the one hand, and those of society, on the other. For example, the ancient Romans established that even though a work of art was privately owned, it could still be considered part of the heritage of the whole community because it represented a common cultural value. This was the origin of the idea that cultural heritage is property that belongs to everybody, everywhere.

However, defining what constitutes cultural heritage is a constantly evolving process. What was a cultural heritage item in a given period may not be so in a later time, because the values that a society deems important change over time. A number of factors can contribute to this: political changes, war and conflict, shifting social values, and so on.

In addition, the nature of cultural heritage varies from one country to another. For example, in Africa, the ‘living heritage’ includes traditions like oral history, rituals, performing arts, and the use of traditional materials. In Europe, by contrast, it is mainly museums and architectural monuments that are considered to be cultural heritage.

Research into cultural heritage is on the rise and is being supported by major funding from supranational bodies such as UNESCO. The increase in publications on this subject can be partly explained by a desire to promote heritage as a means of improving economic growth and fostering tourism development. In turn, this incentivises scholars and practitioners to look at ways of protecting and preserving heritage resources.

In our research cluster, we explore both tangible and intangible aspects of heritage in a broad range of contexts, using a variety of theoretical approaches. Our research addresses issues such as digital preservation, knowledge management and access, new audiences, museum innovation, heritage and tourism, curatorial practice and text mining. You can find more information about the projects being undertaken by our members here.