Managing and enhancing the intangible heritage: the experience of “Literary Parks” (original) (raw)

Italian literary parks and their importance as forms of cultural entrepreneurship

Global Journal of Engineering and Technology Advances, 2024,Fotini Maniou 1, *, Roιdo Mitoula 1 and Maria Manola 2, 2024

Abstract This paper focuses on literary theme parks and their role as an alternative form of tourism, with a particular contribution to sustainable tourism development. Literature-oriented theme parks are an original way to combine cultural heritage and tourist experience, attracting travellers interested in literature and authors. The case of Italy, a country that has succeeded in developing theme parks based on famous authors and literary works, is the subject of this study. The contribution to the economy through the enhancement of tourism and cultural activities is one of the issues that will be examined in the course of this study, as well as how the connection between literature and landscape offers, not only an enriched experience for visitors, but also important entrepreneurial cultural opportunities for the economic and social enhancement of local communities. Keywords: Cultural entrepreneurship; Literary Tourism; Literary Parks; Local Economy; Cultural heritage

Intangible Cultural Heritage and Communities

Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies, 2018

This paper discusses the meanings and socio-cultural implications of "communities" in the context of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage (ICH), based on several pieces of relevant documents written by UNESCO and the experts in the field. The notion of "community" has been one of the key concepts in defining, safeguarding, and inscribing the intangible cultural heritages (ICH) in the context of UNESCO Programmes. In addition, the relationship between the communities and the ICH in academic analyses and policy-making is highly complex, multifaceted, and closely interrelated that the two cannot be discussed separately. Based on the analyses and examination of ethnographic cases, this paper concludes that, although the communities' opinions should be taken seriously in planning and implementing ICH safeguarding, it is important to consider the fact that the members of the communities are not homogeneous or in the same opinion.

Culture without borders: Cultural heritage management for local and regional development

2020

The report focuses on understanding cultural heritage as both tangible heritage objects and intangible practices, knowledge and experiences, emphasising its importance as a socio-economic catalyser and as a powerful tool for sustainable development, urban regeneration and tourism. It underlines the essential role that local and regional authorities play in promoting and safeguarding cultural heritage as custodians of cultural diversity and how they can use it to improve social cohesion and intercultural dialogue, to reinforce participatory governance and engage with disconnected communities. This explanatory memorandum is based on the document prepared by the Council of Europe consultant Maria Gravari-Barbas, Director of EIREST for the apporteurs: Barbara TOCE, Italy (SOC) and Eirini DOUROU, Greece (SOC).

A definition of cultural heritage: From the tangible to the intangible

The aim of this work is to analyse the evolution of the concept of cultural heritage in West European states. In the last decades of the 20th century, the term "heritage" was characterised by expansion and semantic transfer, resulting in a generalisation of the use of this word, frequently used in the place of another, such as, monument and cultural property. However, all these terms are not able to cover the same semantic field. Starting by the reflection on the semantic evolution of the notion of cultural heritage in France, we approach to the international definition of heritage given by the directives, charters and international resolutions in order to define a global outline of the meaning of heritage that is not just limited to a particular national dimension. From a purely normative approach, one went to a less restrictive approach, one based on the capacity of the object to arouse certain values that led the society in question to consider it as heritage and therefore, to a further step in which heritage is no longer defined on the basis of its material aspect. This development has also made it possible to recognise intangible cultural heritage, which was ignored for a long time, as heritage to be protected and safeguarded.

Contemporary Intangible Cultural Heritage: Between Community and Market

Until the twenty first century, the distinction between tangible and intangible heritage appears to have given very little trouble to the ICOMOS-UNESCO heritage discourse. Its focus on tangible stuff, fixed or moveable, denominated as heritage by reference to a set of intangible values, provided a neat way of dealing with the tangible/intangible distinction, without losing the overwhelming occidental focus on the tangible heritage object. The 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage changed all this, but also created new uncertainties about the nature of intangible cultural heritage and the best way of protecting it. These uncertainties are particularly acute in relation to intangible cultural heritage as a contemporary phenomenon, which not only presents an intrinsic challenge to the ICOMOS-UNESCO heritage discourse but also seems particularly likely to have some overlap with the type of cultural creativity that is subject to the competing protection of the intellectual property regime.

The Inclusive Value of Cultural Heritage: from Villa Angaran San Giuseppe to Europe

Investigaciones actuales en ciencias sociales y en turismo, 2020

Cultural heritage in the Euro-Mediterranean tradition can represent a strong element of recognition and motivation for the development of contemporary communities. Favouring processes of regeneration of these assets, in particular of the architectural and landscape heritage, creating models of responsible reuse and active historical valorisation, can be an extremely useful tool to rebuild a territory, create jobs - especially for people at risk of exclusion - by launching new opportunities for social entrepreneurship. In this model, historical research should be encouraged by local authorities and promoted through the sharing of different skills compared to those of the classical researcher (entrepreneurs, planners, educators, sociologists, farmers...). The aim is to develop processes of cultural heritage valorisation for the inclusive development of the different European communities living in it. Developing pathways to safeguard cultural heritage through inclusive activities could help the preservation of many abandoned monuments and strengthen the sense of community and democracy by involving in particular the weaker, poorer or disadvantaged groups

Heritage and Tourism

Global Heritage: A Reader, 2015

Some argue that the globalization of heritage through tourism has led to a greater respect for (both material and living) culture than previously existed. However, the transformation of heritage properties into destinations and cultural expressions into performances is seldom straightforward. The interface between heritage and tourism is extremely complex. In a tourism setting, heritage can be (mis)used in a variety of ways for a variety of purposes by a variety of stakeholders. This chapter critically analyzes some of the key issues at stake in the multifaceted relation between heritage and tourism, in particular the positive and negative effects in relation to local communities, but also issues such as authenticity, the role of social imaginaries, and the special tourism status of World Heritage properties. Given the limited space, the focus here is on cultural heritage only, although many of the topics discussed equally apply to natural or “mixed” heritage (a UNESCO term denoting properties containing elements of both cultural and natural significance).

Intangible cultural heritage, local knowledge and sustainable management of cultural assets and environmental recourses

Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development Economic Benefits, Social Opportunities and Policy Challenges Eds: George Mergos, Nikolas Patsavos, 2017 Technical University of Crete This book is an output of InHeriT, an ERASMUS+ project in line with the policy priorities for education, training, and youth of Europe 2020. The project's objectives are to bring together transnational expertise that will: (a) increase public awareness for the sustainable development potential of cultural heritage; and (b) initiate social initiatives that would build entrepreneurial partnerships for investing on local and regional cultural heritage for sustainable development. It aspires to explore several of the dimensions of the strong economic potential for sustainable development that cultural heritage represents for society. Economic benefits, social opportunities, and policy challenges are dimensions of the public debate on cultural heritage along with other historical, artistic and aesthetic issues. In addressing these issues, it brings together contributions of experts from various fields and provides an opportunity to open up a dialogue on balancing preservation and change of cultural heritage assets. Hence, its aim is to raise awareness on the economic dimensions of cultural heritage, exploring its role in generating sustainable development at local and regional levels, focusing mainly on built, architectural heritage. The volume is by necessity eclectic and collects contributions from researchers and policy makers from a wide range of disciplines, from architects and city planners to economists, archaeologists, and policy experts, providing different perspectives on the issues. The various contributions illuminate this approach on the economic value of cultural heritage resources, review cases where cultural heritage has been successfully used to regenerate the economy and foster local and urban development, and illustrate the various economic benefits, social opportunities and challenges of cultural heritage for sustainable development.