Heritage Places and Memories
All heritage sites have the potential to be sites of memory to a greater or lesser extent. In some heritage sites, memories transmitted in intangible forms bear more significant value than physical evidence of the sites. The dynamic and plural nature of the world’s cultural and natural heritage in diverse societies has not been sufficiently considered in the discourse of the 1972 World Heritage Convention.
Because different the values and meanings of heritage sites can be developed by different groups, a collective memory of heritage places is not always homogeneous. Instead, heritage places are composed of diverse, plural and sometimes dissonant memories and associations. Similar values and significances in different sites highlight common human achievements to become an opportunity for further cooperation, while diverse interpretations or memories of heritage sites can, when approached intentionally or accompanied by complementary public programming, present opportunities to bridge divides and deepen social cohesion.
How can the World Heritage Convention approach the representation of these sites of memory? How do the other international conventions or programs address this issue and what are the practical ways do ensure their conservation?
The objective of the initiative is to foster the implementation of the Convention through a more inclusive approach towards interpretation and conservation of heritage places. While some prominent values have been identified through the nomination process, others might have been omitted or ignored, mainly those voiced by local communities within and/around the places.
The organizers of this theme are keen to engage in dialogue with various voices from different regions and diverse groups. In addition to the series of academic webinars, campaigns and on-site activities, in particular with the participation of youth, will be organized in the month of September 2021.
Associated Themes:
Places of memory presenting common intangible values, as a symbol of universality of human experience through time and space
Changing meanings of place in relation to heritage values and identities through place-making and memory-making, and through changing historical interpretation.
Presentation and interpretation on the common memories in heritage-making of different site.
Presentation of divergent or contested memories in heritage sites as a path to enhanced social cohesion and new understandings of the past.
Integrating indigenous and local community voices and values into site management and conservation, ensuring the inclusion of a multiplicity of perspectives and a variety of entry points to facilitate broad engagement.
Reports of all events within the thematic month of “Heritage Places and Memory”, including a discussion on more inclusive and diverse approaches - within the implementation of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.
With the theme of “Heritage Places and Memory”, the organizers have organized a series of academic webinars, campaigns and on-site activities in the month of September 2021. The report of each event will be shared during the closing event. Discussion on the way move forward for more inclusive and diverse approaches in the implementation of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention will be followed.
MODERATOR: Jaeheon Choi - Professor and a Chair of World Heritage program at Konkuk University, Seoul. ICOMOS World Heritage Panel member and the former Secretary General of ICOMOS Korea.
CONGRATULATORY SPEECH: Francesco Bandarin - Member of Advisory Committee of Our World Heritage / Former director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (2000-2010) and Assistant director-general of UNESCO for Culture (2010-2018).
CLOSING SPEACH: Jean-Louis Luxen, Member of the Board of Trustees, International Coalition of Sites of Conscience.
REPORT OF THE THEMATIC EVENTS
#1 Heritage Sites – Intangible Values :
Loubna Tahiri - PhD Candidate, National Institute of Archaeology and Heritage Sciences (INSAP), Rabat, Morocco.
#2 Changing meanings of heritage places:
Hiba Alkhalaf - Postdoctoral Research AssociateSue Hodges Productions (SHP), The Department of Classics at King’s College London.
#3 Interpretation and presentation:
Sue Hodges - Managing Director, Sue Hodges Productions (SHP) and the president of the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on the Interpretation and Presentation of Cultural Heritage Sites (ICIP).
#4 Diverse, plural or dissonant memories:
Haeree Shim - Programme Chief, Preparatory Office for International Centre for the Interpretation and Presentation of World Heritage Sites (WHIPIC).
#5 Indigenous knowledge practices:
Jim Taylor, Former President, The Environmental Education Association of Southern Africa (EEASA).
Youth Roundtable:
Jihon Kim,- Senior Programme Specialist, Korean National Commission for UNESCO.