Cultural heritage in socio-economic development: local and global perspectives.

Another important current trend is detected in the newly ascribed links between cultural heritage and sustainable human development that are rooted in the reunion of conservation and development goals and the balance between economic, social and environmental aspects of development (Clark 2000). Looked upon through the magnifying lens of sustainable development and its principles, cultural heritage--with its important "contemporaneity value" (Greffe 2002: 163) and its unique integrative functional and "socially progressive potential" (Pendlebury et al. 2004: 11)--comes out as a dual force: as an integral part and as a vehicle towards sustainable development. Furthermore, being compatible with the long-term perspectives of sustainable development, heritage can be recognized as an essential cultural, social, economic and environmental asset contributing to the sustainable functioning of the three interrelated systems: nature, society and economy (Loulanski 2007).

In the light of the foregoing arguments, it is logical to maintain that cultural heritage not only could, but should, be integrated in the real life of people and that policy needs to be rethought to be more accepting of the practical dimensions of heritage. In that sense, I believe that the sensitive integration of cultural heritage within development strategies and initiatives aimed at simultaneously addressing interconnected economic, environmental, social and community objectives and challenges could be a good way to provide diverse and wise use of heritage, as well as encourage realization of its significant multi-functional potential.

Heritage-centered development trends

In what follows, I provide examples of the integration of cultural heritage in socio-economic development by referring to evidence from policies and practices internationally. Examples include urban and rural, local and national settings, from both industrialized and developing countries. The foregoing discussion drew attention to the significance of material and non-material aspects of culture. To be brief and comprehensible, the following discussion is constrained to tangible heritage.

England

Heritage has been getting higher on the public agenda in recent decades and significant changes in thinking with regard to heritage have occurred, especially in reconsidering heritage's role in economic and social life. Consider recent work in England: Comprehensive reports aiming to inform policy and its implementation have recently emerged, illustrating the increasing interest and awareness in the subject of culture. The Power of Place--The Future of the Historic Environment (English Heritage 2000a) set out a new government agenda for the future of cultural heritage in England. Its key message is to identify the historic environment as an important asset contributing to people's quality of life. Recently, efforts have been focused on collecting information and investigating the value of the historic environment to the economy. Products of this work include reports published by English Heritage (the governmental executive agency responsible for heritage): The Heritage Dividend (2000b), as well as the annually updated The State of the Historic Environment (2002). A whole section in the latter is devoted to the economic dimension of heritage, discussing its various contributions to sustainable development, environmental regeneration, tourism development, employment generation, etc.

An analogous endeavour is the review, Measuring the Economic and Social Impact of the Arts (Reeves 2002), published by the Arts Council of England. Other significant contributions to the government-led initiatives are the comprehensive report of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Select Committee entitled The Role of Historic Buildings in Urban Regeneration (2004) and The Contribution of Culture to Regeneration in the UK: A Review of Evidence (Evans and Shaw 2004). The former views the historic built environment as a core element of regeneration schemes in both urban and rural settings, since it gives a character, quality and spirit to an area, containing the 'deep-seated associations' of the local population. It argues that the built environment can act as a catalyst of the regeneration of places, boost the local economy and create jobs, reinforce local cultures, instill a greater sense of pride and confidence, and, last but not least, contribute to a better use of natural resources. A call is made for a creative, intelligent and sensitive incorporation of the old and the new, balancing both historic and modern. The latter report views culture as a driver, a catalyst or at least a key player in the process of regeneration, providing ample evidence for the impact of culture on social, economic and environmental regeneration in the UK. The government accordingly responded with the consultation paper, Culture at the Heart of Regeneration (DCMS 2004), recognizing the key role of culture as a driving force in regeneration and the need for 'organic development', born from local needs, in opposition to the traditionally dominant top-down development plans and strategies.

In this direction, the newest joint-project is Heritage Works (English Heritage 2006). Said to be the first publication of its kind, it combines the expertise of leading bodies into a new practical guide for developers, owners, practitioners or community groups for creating successful heritage-led regeneration projects. Including links to more than 30 other information sources, it is designed to be a one-stop reference document, a checklist for regeneration in the historic environment. It recognizes built heritage as an asset possessing multiple layers of value (social, cultural, economic, aesthetic, historic, etc.) and the ability to become the focus of regeneration projects. Furthermore, heritage is considered important for assuring sustainability, since its proper re-use and adaptation can significantly reduce the amount of energy consumed and waste generated during demolitions and new developments. The main challenges are seen as finding viable solutions based on partnership, shared vision, flexibility and innovation, and making heritage really work for its multiple stakeholders: owners, occupiers, landscapes, community and the environment at large. One critical consideration for the success of such heritage-centered projects is finding appropriate beneficial economic uses for the assets; uses that could support the initial refurbishment, provide the owner or developer with a reasonable return on their investment and generate enough income for the long-term maintenance of the building.

Canada

In Canada, Simon Brault, the vice-chair of the Canada Council of the Arts, in a recently released article entitled The Arts and Culture as New Engines of Economic and Social Development estimates the contribution of cultural industries in Canada to be $26 billion (Cdn). He points to arts and culture as "incredible vectors of creativity, the principal driver of economic and social growth." He argues for a new cultural approach that could unlock the potential of culture, expanding its reach and allowing imaginative and promising links between education and culture, between health and culture, between citizenship and culture, and between economic development and culture (Brault 2005: 56).

Another report, released in 2006 and titled The Lazarus Effect (Shipley et al. 2006), explores the economics of heritage development in Ontario. It identifies the presence of a healthy and growing business in heritage development, providing evidence that preservation of built heritage can be economically competitive. The calculations, based on a sample of 23 projects, reveal that heritage development projects prove slightly more expensive than new developments but are usually rewarding developers with a higher rate of return on investment. However, lack of awareness of the heritage potential is still widespread on many levels: within communities, municipalities, planning authorities and political circles. The report re-emphasizes that heritage considerations are not attempts to freeze urban change but only to direct it in constructive and rational ways. It advises municipalities to adopt coherent policies that promote building reuse as an integral part of their smart growth strategies and to seek closer cooperation with heritage-minded and creative developers.

Australia

Along similar lines, the Sustainability Strategy of Western Australia reads:

Heritage conservation does not stand in isolation, but is

Inseparably linked with economic development, tourism, urban

'liveability', reduction of waste, and the social cohesion of

communities. It is a major asset in promoting goals in these related

areas, and it helps provide the 'glue' that holds them together.

(Government of Western Australia 2003: 211).

The strategy outlines various social and economic benefits of heritage conservation: better understanding of society and its development; enhanced continuity, familiarity and beauty of the local environment; attracting people and investments; improving urban amenity and livability; tourism development; proportionate growth of jobs; better local expenditure-retention in regional areas; and economic diversification, cost and energy efficiency in building practices.

Japan