 Social and Economic Elements of Intangible and Tangible Cultural
Heritage
Objectives of Proposed Working Group on Cultural Heritage
- To further international discussion on, and support for, the
role that governments can play in promoting a wide range of cultural
expression within and between states.
- To identify and address new challenges and opportunities in
promoting and protecting intangible and/or tangible cultural heritage.
- To identify and assess the linkages between cultural heritage
and social and economic development.
Tangible Cultural Heritage - Issues for Consideration
UNESCO, the World Bank (WB) and to some extent regional organizations
have done extensive work on the protection and promotion of tangible
cultural heritage (see Selected Cultural Heritage Initiatives).
The Working Group on Cultural Heritage could consider the following
issues:
- How can producers of tangible cultural heritage be protected
from economic exploitation?
- How can tangible cultural heritage be used to allow people to
gain access to resources and increase their capacity to improve
their lives and influence decisions that affect them?
- How can cultural tourism be encouraged so that it does not degrade
the culture it attracts?
- How can cultural tourism be encouraged that does not aggravate
major urban problems such as traffic congestion and air pollution
in historic city centres?
Back to Top
Intangible Cultural Heritage - Issues for Consideration
Given that work undertaken by UNESCO, the WB and various regional
organizations (see Selected Cultural Heritage Initiatives) regarding
intangible heritage is underway but not at the same high level of
activity as tangible heritage, the Working Group could consider
the following issues:
- How can the important contribution that intangible heritage
makes to societies be recognized?
- How can intangible cultural heritage be integrated into larger
development programs as an effective tool for social and economic
development?
- How can intangible cultural heritage be used to allow people
to gain access to resources and increase their capacity to improve
their lives and influence decisions that affect them?
- How could the promotion and protection of intangible cultural
heritage be used to encourage cultural tourism?
- How to protect intangible cultural heritage and the peoples
from whom it originates?
Next Steps
Priorities of the Working Group include the following:
- Determine the areas of focus for the Working Group within the
protection and promotion of intangible heritage and/or tangible
heritage.
- Develop a work plan which will outline priority areas of interest/study/focus
for intangible heritage and /or tangible.
Methodology
The Working Group could adopt a similar methodology as the one
used by the Woking Group on Cultural Diversity and Globalization
as defined below:
- Interest members of the International Network on Cultural Policy
would be invited to join the Working Group.
- The Working Group would meet as required, an average of twice
per year.
- The Working Group report on progress at next meeting of the
Network in 2001 in Switzerland.
Prepared by the Liaison Bureau following the Contact Group Meeting
in Athens (May 2000) and the Contact Group Meeting in Hannover (June
2000)
|