Image courtesy of JSSAC
In an increasingly globalized world, our definition of community may have expanded and changed, but a sense of belonging is just as important as ever. One important example of this is the phenomenon of heritage communities, which are united by cultural heritage. Although there is a multitude of possible definitions, The Faro Convention defines them as groups ?of people who value specific aspects of cultural heritage which they wish, within the framework of public action, to sustain and transmit to future generations.?
Beyond a simple interest in a particular heritage, then, these communities come together in order to enact change and to put into motion the necessary steps to protect and pass on that heritage about which they are passionate. In such cases, the conservation and the management of heritage have the possibility to be transformed, becoming no longer the sole responsibility of central authorities; instead, they have the potential to be shared by knowledgable members of communities that have themselves become comprehensive authorities. The Twelfth International Conference of Young Researchers in Heritage seeks to dive into the issues surrounding heritage and to explore questions such as: Who becomes involved in such projects and how" How are heritage communities encouraged and fostered" What are the advantages and disadvantages of such communities" How do these groups work with or in isolation from established heritage narrat...