1999 - Round Tables
Topic 1. Heritage at the End of the Century
Summary of comments
Today, heritage is a concept that covers both the tangible and
intangible manifestations of a culture. Its preservation, which
has traditionally been the responsibility of governments alone in
many of the countries present here, has been enriched by the participation
of civil society in these tasks.
Heritage is not a dead object that is conserved like a museum piece;
it is a living element in the everyday world and therefore each
generation interprets and experiences it in different ways.
(Rafael Tovar, Mexico)
Five relevant issues regarding the cultural heritage in the new
millennium:
- The need to broaden the concept of heritage to include other
multicultural elements.
- By extending the concept of heritage to cover intangibles, it
becomes fundamental to have legislation that protects individual
copyrights and the collective rights of communities. However,
careful thinking must prevail when delimiting the scope of this
concept of culture, and the role of the state in this regard.
- Because environmental conditions have a negative impact on the
heritage of tropical countries, they should develop special conservation
technologies and international support in investigating new methods.
International cooperation is important for new conservation and
restoration technologies.
- Countries whose coasts see many shipwrecks have asked UNESCO
to design legislation that defines the underwater heritage, its
rehabilitation and protection.
- The concept of sustainable development should be incorporated
into the concept of heritage.
(Juan Luis Mejía, Colombia)
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The national and international strategies to be followed in the
21st century to turn cultural legacy into a dynamic platform for
development include cultural tourism, high-quality attractions that
focus on culture, multi-media productions with a cultural content
and the promotion of participation by young people in these tasks.
It is no longer possible for national governments alone to preserve
the cultural heritage of their countries' pasts. Instead, international
cooperation is necessary to effectively preserve the past and promote
cultural diversity, and the INCP has a unique opportunity to play
a key role in these efforts.
Heritage is a source of knowledge of our own and other cultures,
a source of understanding, respect and tolerance. These are the
goals of the Cultural Olympics that Greece will sponsor in 2000
and will form the framework for the third meeting of the INTERNATIONAL
Network on Cultural Policy.
(Alexandra Kalogirou, Greece)
Years after colonial rule, the developing world is struggling to
"catch up" with the developed world. An enabling environmnet
for the arts and culture will encourage development in the cultural
sector in general, and the promotion of cultural industries in particular.
This is critical to the economic development of these countries,
and it is through the cultural sector that their economies will
evolve. at the same time, the developed countries should invest
in these efforts.
(Ben S. Ngubane, South Africa)
Cultural policies of the 1970s and 1980s continue to be valid in
the new century. However, governments and UNESCO should stress the
importance of interpretation and management of the heritage, linking
it to the present and implementing policies and legal frameworks
to promote multiculturalism, without losing sight of the possible
dangers inherent in its abuse.
We must recognize the advantages of more diversified participation
in the tasks of preserving the cultural heritage, calling on civil
associations, trusts, foundations and other non-governmental organizations.
(Per Kristian Skulberg, Norway)
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Globalization does not mean cultural homogeneity. The makers of
cultural policies face the challenge of bringing culture "in
from the margins".
Development is not necessarily destructive and culture can be a
key element in development. Although cultural tourism is a factor
that brings large economic benefits, it is a very delicate issue,
since it can also be the main source of destruction and wear. The
challenge for Ministries of Culture is to find a way of exploiting
this important source of economic resources without damaging the
heritage.
(Alan Howarth, Great Britain)
The concept of cultural heritage has also been extended to intangibles.
At the end of the 19th century it was more closely linked to ethnography
than to the strictly cultural dimension. Today we simultaneously
link the concept of heritage to the arts and artistic expression,
which takes the form of traditional arts performed by contemporary
artists, and the scientific work of understanding, appreciating
and valuing the heritage.
Considering that culture and the heritage play a key role in the
social linkage of our peoples, its preservation should form part
of the daily lives of citizens.
(Catherine Trautmann, France)
Working effectively with new technologies is an important aspect
of culture, and it is necessary to emphasize the role of culture
in international trade.
(David Streiff, Switzerland)
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The issue of the cultural heritage presupposes a basic consensus
between different political forces and society. In this century,
heritage conservation has been viewed as something that holds back
progress, which has done a great deal of harm. We should have long-term
plans in the field of education and for the tasks of conserving
and maintaining cultural institutions.
Second, there should be a permanent, prudent and sensible balance
among the three ideas that guide cultural policies: conservation,
citizen access to culture, and guarantees of cultural diversity.
We should strengthen the balance between the attention paid by
local authorities and national - or even international - authorities
to preserving heritage and maintaining the liberty, openness and
communication that are essential to all effective cultural policies.
(Miguel Angel Cortés, Spain)
Cultural heritage is not only about the past, but also includes
consideration about the future, as well as the intangible aspects.
It is important to assume a more focused approach to cultural tourism
in the context of sustainable development.
(Charles Furey, Newfoundland, Canada)
Sythesis
The issue of cultural heritage is fundamental for the basic goals
of the Network, which include the promotion of cultural diversity
and the positioning of culture at the centre of the international
stage, said Rafael Tovar of Mexico.
The ministers agreed that the concept of the cultural heritage
has evolved in recent times. From the 19th century concept which
linked heritage to ethnography and conservation, as noted by Minister
Catherine Trautmann, it has since grown into a much broader concept.
We now understand cultural heritage to include the restoration of
monuments and other cultural properties, to the promotion and preservation
of intangible aspects of cultural heritage, and involves participation
by society in the broadest sense of the term.
Minister Juan Luis Mejía of Colombia indicated that we must
enrich this concept of heritage with other elements, such as sustainable
development and multiculturalism, recognizing that other memories
and the cultural contributions of minority ethnic groups are part
of heritage. However, he noted that the breadth of the concept has
also posed challenges for governments, because they have limited
resources for its protection and restoration.
The ministers noted that in the context of growing economic integration
and globalization, it is important to make headway in the conceptualization
of heritage, its delimitation and legislation for its protection.
Preservation of cultural heritage cannot continue to be solely
a national task, said Alexandra Kalogirou, Greek representative,
and participation by the international community will be increasingly
necessary in future. Several ministers noted the opportunity and
unique role of the International Network on Cultural Policy in securing
in this international cooperation.
As the Norwegian representative, Per Kristian Skulberg, pointed
out, UNESCO's contribution to cultural heritage and to policies
and programs for its management, conservation and preservation is
fundamental. The participants also agreed to work together with
other international organizations such as the World Bank and the
Inter-American Development Bank, where discussions are being held
on the linkage between culture and development.
It was this linkage that gave rise to the most active exchange
of ideas on cultural heritage among the participants in the Oaxaca
Meeting. Development is not necessarily destructive and cultural
heritage can be a major ally for development said Minister Alan
Howarth of Great Britain.
The participants discussed cultural tourism as a source of economic
progress and, at the same time, a source of destruction and wear
on the cultural heritage; the dangers of urban expansion at the
cost of the memory of the past; the importance of educating society
to understand, value, enjoy, conserve and protect the heritage,
thereby creating a feeling of ownership in communities; the need
to recognize the advantages of more diversified participation in
preservation of the heritage, including civil associations, trusts,
foundations and other non-governmental organizations; and the usefulness
of new technologies as instruments for transmitting the heritage.
In light of these challenges and opportunities, the ministers agreed
on the importance of integrating preservation of heritage into the
daily lives of citizens. Miguel Angel Cortés, Spanish Secretary
of State for Culture, noted that the issue of heritage should be
based on a consensus between the different political forces and
society. He stressed that there should be a permanent, prudent and
sensible balance among the three ideas that guide heritage policy:
conservation, access by citizens to culture, and the guarantee of
multiculturalism.
Last, David Streiff of Switzerland noted that the issue of illegal
trafficking should not be left out of the discussion, since it is
crucial for the future of the world heritage.
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