Establishing New European Horizons and Signposts

Landscape and Cultural Heritage

Claske Vos

CoE and the EU - two actors in the field

CoE EU

Economically sustainable and cohesive Union

Legitimacy

Cooperation Integration

Cultural heritage as a means to

make the citizen more central to the European Community

Standardization

Value of heritage for

society

Value of heritage to EU

policy fields

Europe without dividing lines

Contractor Financer

Theme From (old concept) 1954 - 1970s

To (new concept) 1970s - present

Definition of heritage

Role of heritage in society

Decisions

Professionals

Significance

Interpretation

Responsibilities

Management practices

MonumentsBuildingsSites

National unityGenerate revenue from visitors

State Authoritarian

ExpertsSingle discipline (e.g. buildings archaeology)Historical knowledge

OldAestheticNational importanceMono-culturalNarrow range of values

Expert led

State ledHeritage sector

DesignationSeparate conservationSite basedTechnical research

LandscapesUrban areasHistoric environment/cultural heritage

Respect for cultural diversityWider economic benefits/ social benefits

Region/ localityDemocratisation/ participation

FacilitatorsMulti-skilled professionalsManagement skills

Industrial Heritage/ Post-war buildingsCommemorative valueLocal DistinctivenessValues of different culturesWide range of values

Community led

Communities/ the market/private sectorEnvironmental sector

CharacterisationIntegrated conservationMore strategicPhilosophical research

Trends in Heritage ManagementSource: CoE 2001

CoE

‘Landscape as Heritage – Heritage as Landscape’

EU

‘Landscape as Heritage – Heritage as Landscape’

Cultural heritage enriches the individual lives of citizens, is a driving force for the cultural and creative sectors, and plays a role in creating and enhancing Europe's social capital.

Moreover, it is an important resource for economic growth, employment opportunities and social cohesion, thanks to its potential for revitalising urban and rural areas alike and promoting sustainable tourism.

http://ec.europa.eu/culture/policy/culture-policies/cultural-heritage_en.htm

‘Zones of awkward friction’

Heritage, Landscape

Regeneration and social revitalization of

communities

European cooperation and

integration Integrated conservation/ rehabilitation

Regional cooperation

Reconciliation

Cultural Diversity

Etcetera …

Social cohesion

Quality of life

‘I do not agree with the suggestions made by the Commission and the CoE that this project should contribute to vague matters like sustainable development, social cohesion and the quality of life of citizens. Do you know the story of the Potemkin villages? (...) Potemkin was a figure from Russia who had to show to his fellowmen that he had been successful. So he built a lot of villages to give the illusion that he fared well ...

I have the same feeling when we talk about these goals of the Commission and the CoE. They exist, but only to legitimate their actions in the form of words in documents. You can try to achieve these goals, but in the end it is primarily about holding on to an illusion. The same is the case when we talk about the so-called ‘integrative method to heritage management’ which is one of these buzzwords you hear all the time. It is quite empty, but it sounds pretty good. I am sometimes even offended by all of this. It means so little, but we have to use these kinds of concepts over and over again to prove our success.’

Archaeologist, Belgrade Serbia

European

Regional

National

Local

Assembling different interests

‘the public, as a rule, is more sensitive to visible operations than to plans’ (…) the public takes most notice ‘during the actual implementation of projects in the field,...[when] decisions are made to build or carry out works, the often irreversible character of which will have an impact on the environment, whether on landscape, soil or biological diversity.’ Michel Prieur

Festive Opening of the start of activities for the Eco-Museum in Senje, Serbia 2009.

New European Horizons and Signposts