The conservation of the historical memory of humanity is the deepest aim of the UNESCO Convention for the World Heritage. The acknowledgement of the universal value of some properties produced by each culture and/or nature, also without denying the validity of local peculiarities, is subordinated to the real importance they take in the supranational context. Consequently, the criteria behind the choices for inclusion on the World Heritage List (exceptionalness, universality, authenticity, etc.) are all inspired by fundamental ideal values whose application must be inspired by the universality of culture, independently of the interpretations given by the various civilizations. Over the decades following the adoption of the World Heritage Convention, the concept of "cultural property" has been developed considerably, widening the fields and the perspectives of protection to the plurality of the cultural categories, the environment, the city landscape, and cultural routes. A new value, economic value, has been added to the appreciation of the cultural value of a monument, and this new value, deriving from the use of monuments envisaged in art. 5 of the Venice Charter, leads to the widening of the concept from a being a "thing" of historical and artistic interest to the concept of "cultural property". From this point of view, restoration no longer constitutes an act of maintenance, but one of the transformation of a non-renewable and irreplaceable resource that must be the object of "use without consumption ", while " ... the modern culture has recovered the awareness of the 'primary aim' in the Conservation of Heritage, that is that not indeed to protect 'things' (the monuments), but what is of value in the things for the psychic and spiritual life of man". Cultural Heritage can play, therefore, a considerable role in the humanization strategies of urban development, and open new perspectives of research and integration between humanity and the city, towards a policy of life and a more human future based on the balance between material values and non-material values. Such values must constitute equivalent elements in the evaluation of cultural properties, in the full richness of their authenticity. The UNESCO Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage constitutes, therefore, one of the rare efforts in the world of cultural politics to meet with success. In fact, it has already contributed considerably to the development of the theory and practice of conservation and restoration now accepted worldwide. An excellent example is provided by the Nara Document on Authenticity (1994), which gives a new definition of the authentic values of monuments and sites. Today, however, the symbol of UNESCO is increasingly becoming a brand to be exhibited and to take advantage of; a powerful weapon in building and tourist speculation, or a multiplier of wealth. It has been illusory to believe that the pride that comes with managing a place on behalf of the worldwide community would bring about in itself a flourishing of virtuous behavior. In order to prime such a delicate process of transformation, it is necessary to work in such a way as to stimulate the involvement of the local community, the passion, the participation, the widespread education, the State education, the know-how, the specialized technical training, the rules for the practice of the professions, the observance of roles; elements that can strongly contribute to creating the political conscience, and fundamental technical competences for the conservation and protection of the cultural heritage included on the World Heritage List. In the course of the past decades, the List has regularly grown, but there are still gaps and "imbalances" such as, for example, a strong predominance of some Regions of the world and the absence of others. The ICOMOS study (2005) "The World Heritage List. Filling the Gaps, an Action Plan for the Future" should be considered as a contribution to the further development of the Global Strategy, addressed to obtaining a credible, representative and balanced List in accordance with the invitation launched by the World Heritage Committee at its 24th Session in Caims in order "to proceed with an analysis of the Sites inscribed on the World Heritage List and the Tentative Lists on a regional, chronological, geographical and thematic basis".
Cultural Property and Values in the Universal Context / Genovese, ROSA ANNA. - STAMPA. - (2008), pp. 405-416. (Intervento presentato al convegno Values and Criteria in Heritage Conservation tenutosi a Firenze nel 2-4 marzo 2007).
Cultural Property and Values in the Universal Context
GENOVESE, ROSA ANNA
2008
Abstract
The conservation of the historical memory of humanity is the deepest aim of the UNESCO Convention for the World Heritage. The acknowledgement of the universal value of some properties produced by each culture and/or nature, also without denying the validity of local peculiarities, is subordinated to the real importance they take in the supranational context. Consequently, the criteria behind the choices for inclusion on the World Heritage List (exceptionalness, universality, authenticity, etc.) are all inspired by fundamental ideal values whose application must be inspired by the universality of culture, independently of the interpretations given by the various civilizations. Over the decades following the adoption of the World Heritage Convention, the concept of "cultural property" has been developed considerably, widening the fields and the perspectives of protection to the plurality of the cultural categories, the environment, the city landscape, and cultural routes. A new value, economic value, has been added to the appreciation of the cultural value of a monument, and this new value, deriving from the use of monuments envisaged in art. 5 of the Venice Charter, leads to the widening of the concept from a being a "thing" of historical and artistic interest to the concept of "cultural property". From this point of view, restoration no longer constitutes an act of maintenance, but one of the transformation of a non-renewable and irreplaceable resource that must be the object of "use without consumption ", while " ... the modern culture has recovered the awareness of the 'primary aim' in the Conservation of Heritage, that is that not indeed to protect 'things' (the monuments), but what is of value in the things for the psychic and spiritual life of man". Cultural Heritage can play, therefore, a considerable role in the humanization strategies of urban development, and open new perspectives of research and integration between humanity and the city, towards a policy of life and a more human future based on the balance between material values and non-material values. Such values must constitute equivalent elements in the evaluation of cultural properties, in the full richness of their authenticity. The UNESCO Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage constitutes, therefore, one of the rare efforts in the world of cultural politics to meet with success. In fact, it has already contributed considerably to the development of the theory and practice of conservation and restoration now accepted worldwide. An excellent example is provided by the Nara Document on Authenticity (1994), which gives a new definition of the authentic values of monuments and sites. Today, however, the symbol of UNESCO is increasingly becoming a brand to be exhibited and to take advantage of; a powerful weapon in building and tourist speculation, or a multiplier of wealth. It has been illusory to believe that the pride that comes with managing a place on behalf of the worldwide community would bring about in itself a flourishing of virtuous behavior. In order to prime such a delicate process of transformation, it is necessary to work in such a way as to stimulate the involvement of the local community, the passion, the participation, the widespread education, the State education, the know-how, the specialized technical training, the rules for the practice of the professions, the observance of roles; elements that can strongly contribute to creating the political conscience, and fundamental technical competences for the conservation and protection of the cultural heritage included on the World Heritage List. In the course of the past decades, the List has regularly grown, but there are still gaps and "imbalances" such as, for example, a strong predominance of some Regions of the world and the absence of others. The ICOMOS study (2005) "The World Heritage List. Filling the Gaps, an Action Plan for the Future" should be considered as a contribution to the further development of the Global Strategy, addressed to obtaining a credible, representative and balanced List in accordance with the invitation launched by the World Heritage Committee at its 24th Session in Caims in order "to proceed with an analysis of the Sites inscribed on the World Heritage List and the Tentative Lists on a regional, chronological, geographical and thematic basis".I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.