Cultural heritage is the shared past of a people, a culture, an area, or an event. It can include historic places, monuments, artifacts, works of art, folklore, knowledge and landscapes. As human societies become increasingly diverse, the need to conserve and share heritage is more important than ever. Cultural heritage has been an important source of identity and community for centuries. It provides a common language and an opportunity to understand other cultures.
The cultural heritage of a particular community is reflected in their traditions, customs and beliefs. These traditions may be celebrated at festivals, parades and other events. They are often shared through music, movies and other media. It is this cultural heritage that enables communities to maintain their identity, even in the face of adversity. For example, many communities celebrate the life of a loved one by participating in funeral rituals or observing other religious holidays.
Those who manage and protect cultural heritage need to be ready for transformation. They should not be subject to loss aversion and recognise that any change, even destructive, might have positive results in the long term. In this way, they might contribute to a global willingness to accept change and improve the capacity of people worldwide to absorb disturbance (Holtorf 2015).
This is an especially crucial role for cultural heritage in times of conflict and disaster. It might help prevent the expression of mutually exclusive identities firing tribal oppositions and promote sustainable peace. It might also enhance a sense of belonging among communities and increase their resilience to disasters, including those caused by climate change.
In addition to being a source of community, cultural heritage is a vehicle for learning and creativity. Many museums, libraries, universities and other cultural organizations have collections of historical materials, including art and archaeological objects. These are a valuable resource that is accessible to everyone. Museums can serve as a place where individuals can discover their own heritage, as well as the diversity of heritage in the world around them.
It is the responsibility of those who manage cultural heritage to provide a space for communities to connect with one another and learn from their traditions. This can happen in neighborhoods and cities through cultural activities organized by local nonprofit cultural heritage organizations. It can also take place at county fairs, through community cultural centers and through native language schools.
Cultural heritage is not only a source of pride, but it is also an economic asset. For example, the artifacts of a nation can be sold in international markets to raise funds for wars and other armed conflicts. This is a key reason why some governments and non-state actors such as ISIS use the destruction of cultural heritage to fund their operations. In a similar way, the cultural heritage of a country can be used as a tool to generate economic growth through tourism. This is why countries need to have comprehensive cultural policies and strong enforcement mechanisms in order to protect their cultural heritage.