Webminar 2023-2024

Heritage and communication

According to UNESCO, "Cultural heritage is, in its broadest sense, both a product and a process that provides societies with a set of resources inherited from the past, created in the present and made available for the benefit of future generations" (UNESCO, 2008). It encompasses a wide range of natural and man-made objects, as well as so-called "intangible" activities. In all its aspects, heritage is seen by heritage institutions as a valuable part of societies, bearing witness to the history, culture and environment of a region or country.
For heritage institutions, communication around heritage is essential to raise public awareness of its preservation, promotion and enhancement. This communication can take many forms: educational programs, guided tours, exhibitions, publications, informative websites. It plays a key role in raising public awareness of contemporary issues. For example, it raises awareness of threats to heritage, whether natural (e.g. natural disasters) or man-made (e.g. pollution, neglect, war, vandalism). It plays an economic role, promoting cultural tourism and raising the profile of certain countries or regions. It also plays an important role in mobilizing donors, patrons and public funding, offering the possibility of raising funds for restoration and preservation. It facilitates collaboration between local authorities, heritage preservation organizations, cultural institutions and civil society, so that they can work together to implement protective measures.
For some twenty years now, new communication technologies have revolutionized the way heritage is presented and shared. They offer new ways of preserving, promoting and sharing heritage in more accessible, interactive and immersive ways. As a result, they make it possible to reach a wider audience through the Internet, social media, digitization, virtual reality, digital platforms and more.