Plenary Session 1 Roundtable

“Cultural Heritage - A Dynamic Factor in Cultural Continuation”

The modern world is characterized by more direct contact between cultures with immense differences in terms of material wealth, cultural heritage and social and historical experience. Today information and communication technologies offer new common forms of messaging that extend beyond traditional cultural boundaries. A new dimension of humankind is emerging as citizens of this world celebrate cultural differences in the context of their historical experiences. The 21st century marks the century of communication and dialogue between cultures. As a result, it is important to explore the role of tangible and intangible heritage, and address the challenges and opportunities of promoting and protecting heritage for social and economic development.

Culture includes both material or “tangible” aspects of culture (sites, buildings, landscapes, monuments and objects), as well as living or “intangible” heritage (language, arts, handicrafts, music, dance and poetry). Tangible and intangible cultural heritage are integral to cultural continuity, representing the collective and historical memory upon which all societies are formed. Moreover, it is the pivotal point which links humankind with our past and helps us set our perspectives for the future.

Many international organizations have done extensive work on the protection and promotion of tangible cultural heritage. Parallel work on intangible cultural heritage is underway but not at the same high level as programs for the protection and promotion of tangible cultural heritage. Further, there is growing consensus that development cannot be equated solely with economic growth but that it ought to be sustainable human development. Truly sustainable development should seek to continually improve people's quality of life, particularly for those of the poor and disadvantaged groups, who are often dependent, to a large extent, upon increased consumption of resources.

A Working Group on Cultural Heritage was proposed in Oaxaca at the 1999 annual INCP meeting tofurther international discussion. The INCP has the opportunity, with this Working Group, to identify andaddress new challenges and opportunities in promoting and protecting tangible and intangible culturalheritage, as well as identify and assess the linkages between cultural heritage and social and economic development

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