Local and people-centred approaches to the EU's cultural heritage

SUMMARY OF:

Council conclusions on participatory governance of cultural heritage

SUMMARY

WHAT DO THESE CONCLUSIONS DO?

• They emphasise the benefits of involving people and organisations from different branches of society and government in looking after cultural heritage*.
• They suggest measures to improve the current situation.

KEY POINTS

The benefits of a participatory approach include:

• encouraging democratic participation*, sustainability* and social cohesion*;
• increasing the accountability and transparency of investments in public resources and building trust in policy decisions;
• reducing the risk of misuse and increasing social and economic benefits through increased awareness;
• supporting contemporary cultural, artistic and creative works which may represent the cultural heritage of the future.

Action at national level

EU countries are invited to take a number of measures, including:

• developing structures for governing cultural heritage that involve different parts of society and strengthen the links between different levels of government, from local to European;
• encouraging the participation of those involved with or affected by cultural heritage policy throughout the decision-making process;
• promoting structures able to implement cultural heritage policies that also benefit different sectors, such as local economic development and education;
• developing better connections between sustainable tourism strategies and the cultural and creative sectors; and
• using EU and national funding to achieve these objectives.

Action at national and EU level

The Commission and the EU countries are called upon to take action within the limits of their own competence, including:

• cooperating on issues related to participatory governance (i.e. involving citizens) so as to identify and share best practices (e.g. in developing the skills of those involved);
• making use of digital technologies to ensure all social groups have access to, and can participate in, the governance of cultural heritage;
• looking into the role of online communities in developing and implementing cultural heritage policies and supporting cultural heritage management and funding;
• making concrete progress to secure the long-term future of Europeana and to give it stronger links to education, cultural tourism and other sectors;
• following up the Commission communication ‘Towards an integrated approach to cultural heritage for Europe’ and working together to develop a comprehensive European strategy for cultural heritage;
• enhancing cooperation with international organisations such as the Council of Europe and Unesco to promote a participatory approach.

Action at EU level

The conclusions urge the Commission to:

• promote evidence-based research on the impact of participatory approaches in cultural heritage policies and governance in order to create strategies;
• continue discussions with non-governmental organisations and interest groups concerned with cultural heritage and consider presenting a proposal for a ‘European Year of Cultural Heritage’ .

BACKGROUND

Supporting cultural heritage

KEY TERMS

* Cultural heritage. According to the Unesco definition, this includes the following.

• Tangible cultural heritage:
  • movable — paintings, sculptures, coins, manuscripts, etc.;
  • immovable — monuments, archaeological sites, etc.;
  • underwater — shipwrecks, underwater ruins cities, etc.
• Intangible cultural heritage:
  • oral traditions, performing arts rituals, etc.

* Democratic participation. Citizens’ involvement in looking after their cultural heritage.

* Sustainability. Ensuring cultural heritage is preserved for future generations. It is a means of maintaining local identity, traditions and practices.

* Social cohesion. Cultural heritage has an important role to play in promoting social cohesion, i.e. a sense of community and people’s willingness to cooperate with one another in the interests of the common good. Examples include regenerating neglected areas of cities, which can create local jobs and increase people’s pride in their neighbourhood.

ACT

Council conclusions on participatory governance of cultural heritage (OJ C 463, 23.12.2014, pp. 1-3)

RELATED ACTS

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — Towards an integrated approach to cultural heritage for Europe (COM(2014) 477 final, 22.7.2014)

last update 16.11.2015