The Cultural Districts model places cultural heritage at the center of its advancement. However, as promising as it may seem, there are several challenges facing the utilization of the Cultural Districts model. These setbacks can be categorized as social, economic, managerial, and policy related, and most recently, are the result of the recent crisis inflicted by the covid pandemic. The research addresses the main challenges, which include the lack of specialization on cultural districts activities, the absence of true local communities’ engagement, and the lack of thought-out governance model. In order to overcome these challenges, this research will look into possible solutions for the regeneration of the Cultural Districts model. The proposed approach involves harnessing the potential of “minor” cultural heritage, which unlike mainstream cultural heritage, these assets are less likely to receive funding, but are more in line with local communities’ interests. Thus, through the development of projects, initiatives, and programs, these assets are capable of enhancing communities’ participation in their territories. In the European Union, over the past few years, cultural heritage valorization has become broadly acknowledged, and widespread recognition of this notion has been seen in local and regional conventions, declarations, documents, and policies. Its cultural, social, and economic impacts have accounted for the exploration of a new “transdisciplinary” role of cultural heritage, capable of delivering advantages expanding beyond the cultural sector. Thus, the valorization of cultural heritage has become the path towards the attraction of investment, the promotion of tourism, the improvement of life quality, and the creation of jobs. Also, it encompassed the creation of identity, the adoption of a sense of belonging, the formation of social cohesion, and the engagement of local communities. Indeed, cultural participation has recently grasped the attention of various researchers and experts in the field; therefore, we can find plenty of research, projects, initiatives, calls, etc. Thus, we notice the increase in the demand for such an approach within the various stages of sustainable development. Nevertheless, there are uncertainties clouding the local participation approach; these challenges are related to power, management, financing, implementation, and sustainability. At government level, local participation can be faced with the unwillingness of the authority to transfer its power to the people. Moreover, the shift in managerial power from a well-grounded top-down to a tentative bottom-up approach is confronted. As far as financing is concerned, participation can be cost- and time-consuming. There is also insufficient knowledge and a lack of appropriate methods to ensure genuine participation, and thus, to derive positive impact. We have seen how the short-lived benefits of participatory approaches have lessened the involvement of local communities. Moreover, local participation has been affected by the restrictions imposed by the covid pandemic. Hence, the need to explore new approaches to community participation is expressed, along with the examination of best practice in a European context. In the attempt to recognize minor cultural heritage as a valuable resource for the reactivation of cultural districts, this research will attempt to define minor cultural heritage. It will also describe the strategies implemented for their valorization, which include participation and co-design processes. Subsequently, it will categorize the methodologies and activities used for the valorization of minor cultural heritage. In order to determine the fundamental components of the research project, an analysis of European and international case studies will be conducted. Thus, the anticipated outcome of this research includes the development of a methodology for the enhancement of minor cultural heritage through participation and co-design. This methodology will identify the processes, instruments, and potential indicators to be used for monitoring and evaluating the results of such projects. Moreover, it will attempt to validate the minor cultural heritage enhancement methodology by relying on previously undergone on-field research experiences. Besides publishing the results in the PhD thesis, this study wishes to also contribute to other forms such as journal papers, conferences, etc. to fill some of the gaps in the existing literature. It also wishes to provide insight for communities, organizations, governments, stakeholders, policy makers, etc. to encourage minor cultural heritage valorization within their interventions.
La valorizzazione del patrimonio culturale ha individuato nei Distretti Culturali un modello di politica economica e di strategia di promozione culturale interessante. Tuttavia, per quanto efficace possa sembrare, nuove sfide di carattere sociale, economico, politico e gestionale ne richiedono l’attualizzazione. A partire dall’analisi della letteratura esistente, la ricerca affronta alcune di queste sfide, tra cui la mancanza di specializzazione nelle attività dei distretti culturali, l’assenza di un vero coinvolgimento delle comunità locali e la mancanza di un modello di governance ponderato. L’analisi porta all’identificazione di una possibile soluzione basata sullo sfruttamento del potenziale del patrimonio culturale “minore” che, a differenza di quello tutelato, ha meno probabilità di ricevere finanziamenti, ma è più in linea con gli interessi delle comunità locali. Pertanto, attraverso lo sviluppo di progetti, iniziative e programmi, questi beni sono in grado di migliorare la partecipazione delle comunità nei loro territori. Nell’Unione Europea, negli ultimi anni, l’importanza di una valorizzazione condivisa del patrimonio culturale è stata ampiamente riconosciuta e tale riconoscimento è riportato in vari documenti ufficiali quali convenzioni, dichiarazioni, documenti e politiche locali e regionali. I suoi impatti culturali, sociali ed economici hanno contribuito all’esplorazione di un nuovo ruolo “transdisciplinare” del patrimonio culturale, in grado di offrire vantaggi che vanno oltre il settore culturale. Così, la valorizzazione del patrimonio culturale è diventata la strada per attrarre investimenti, promuovere il turismo, migliorare la qualità della vita, con ricadute positive anche sul fronte dell’occupazione. La valorizzazione del patrimonio, inoltre, favorisce l’identità e il senso di appartenenza delle comunità locali e con essa l’aumento della coesione sociale e dell’impegno delle comunità locali. Il coinvolgimento partecipativo dei cittadini, riconosciuto come efficace strumento di valorizzazione del patrimonio culturale, pone alcuni problemi rilevanti legati alla gestione del potere decisionale, ai modelli di governance e di gestione, alle modalità di finanziamento, nonché alla gestione dei processi attuatiti e alla loro sostenibilità. Emerge quindi la necessità di esplorare nuovi approcci e modelli partecipativi, unitamente all’esame delle migliori pratiche a livello europeo per affrontare e risolvere tali problemi. La ricerca assume il patrimonio culturale minore quale preziosa risorsa preziosa per attualizzare il modello dei Distretti Culturali e definire una metodologia operativa basata su approcci partecipativi e di co-progettazione. La metodologia identifica i processi, gli strumenti e gli indicatori da utilizzare per il monitoraggio e la valutazione dei risultati di tali progetti. L’utilizzo di tale metodologia nell’ambito di alcune esperienze di ricerca sul campo ne ha permesso la parziale validazione. I risultati del lavoro, oltre a colmare alcune delle lacune della letteratura esistente, forniscono strumenti alle comunità, policy maker e stakeholder per incoraggiare la valorizzazione del bene culturale “minore”.
Local participation as a tool for the valorization of minor cultural heritage. A new model for the reactivation of cultural districts
ZREIKA, NOUR
2023/2024
Abstract
The Cultural Districts model places cultural heritage at the center of its advancement. However, as promising as it may seem, there are several challenges facing the utilization of the Cultural Districts model. These setbacks can be categorized as social, economic, managerial, and policy related, and most recently, are the result of the recent crisis inflicted by the covid pandemic. The research addresses the main challenges, which include the lack of specialization on cultural districts activities, the absence of true local communities’ engagement, and the lack of thought-out governance model. In order to overcome these challenges, this research will look into possible solutions for the regeneration of the Cultural Districts model. The proposed approach involves harnessing the potential of “minor” cultural heritage, which unlike mainstream cultural heritage, these assets are less likely to receive funding, but are more in line with local communities’ interests. Thus, through the development of projects, initiatives, and programs, these assets are capable of enhancing communities’ participation in their territories. In the European Union, over the past few years, cultural heritage valorization has become broadly acknowledged, and widespread recognition of this notion has been seen in local and regional conventions, declarations, documents, and policies. Its cultural, social, and economic impacts have accounted for the exploration of a new “transdisciplinary” role of cultural heritage, capable of delivering advantages expanding beyond the cultural sector. Thus, the valorization of cultural heritage has become the path towards the attraction of investment, the promotion of tourism, the improvement of life quality, and the creation of jobs. Also, it encompassed the creation of identity, the adoption of a sense of belonging, the formation of social cohesion, and the engagement of local communities. Indeed, cultural participation has recently grasped the attention of various researchers and experts in the field; therefore, we can find plenty of research, projects, initiatives, calls, etc. Thus, we notice the increase in the demand for such an approach within the various stages of sustainable development. Nevertheless, there are uncertainties clouding the local participation approach; these challenges are related to power, management, financing, implementation, and sustainability. At government level, local participation can be faced with the unwillingness of the authority to transfer its power to the people. Moreover, the shift in managerial power from a well-grounded top-down to a tentative bottom-up approach is confronted. As far as financing is concerned, participation can be cost- and time-consuming. There is also insufficient knowledge and a lack of appropriate methods to ensure genuine participation, and thus, to derive positive impact. We have seen how the short-lived benefits of participatory approaches have lessened the involvement of local communities. Moreover, local participation has been affected by the restrictions imposed by the covid pandemic. Hence, the need to explore new approaches to community participation is expressed, along with the examination of best practice in a European context. In the attempt to recognize minor cultural heritage as a valuable resource for the reactivation of cultural districts, this research will attempt to define minor cultural heritage. It will also describe the strategies implemented for their valorization, which include participation and co-design processes. Subsequently, it will categorize the methodologies and activities used for the valorization of minor cultural heritage. In order to determine the fundamental components of the research project, an analysis of European and international case studies will be conducted. Thus, the anticipated outcome of this research includes the development of a methodology for the enhancement of minor cultural heritage through participation and co-design. This methodology will identify the processes, instruments, and potential indicators to be used for monitoring and evaluating the results of such projects. Moreover, it will attempt to validate the minor cultural heritage enhancement methodology by relying on previously undergone on-field research experiences. Besides publishing the results in the PhD thesis, this study wishes to also contribute to other forms such as journal papers, conferences, etc. to fill some of the gaps in the existing literature. It also wishes to provide insight for communities, organizations, governments, stakeholders, policy makers, etc. to encourage minor cultural heritage valorization within their interventions.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/228072