Community involvement in urban heritage OWHC conference, 28.09.16, Stralsund

1. Community Involvement in Urban heritage I Stralsund I 28.09.2016 I Nils Scheffler – scheffler@urbanexpert.net
Nils Scheffler
scheffler@urbanexpert.net
Community Involvement
in Urban Heritage
What is it about? What is the goal?

2. OWHC Regional Conference: Community Involvement in Urban heritage I Stralsund I 28.09.2016 I Seite 2
Community Involvement in Urban Heritage
1. What does it mean? What is it about?
2. In which spheres can it take place?
3. What is the overall intention?
4. What can be the benefits?
5. What is the task?

3. OWHC Regional Conference: Community Involvement in Urban heritage I Stralsund I 28.09.2016 I Seite 3
Urban heritage =
▬ features belonging to the culture of an
urban society, such as traditions,
rituals, festive events or buildings, that
were created in the past and still have
historical importance.
▬ in the frame of the OWHC:
urban ensemble or buildings within the
city limit inscribed in the World
Heritage List
What does it mean? A linguistic placement.
Community Involvement in Urban Heritage

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What does it mean? A linguistic placement.
Community Involvement in Urban Heritage
Community =
group of people that have something
in common, i.e.
▬ geographical
▬ cultural
▬ social

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What does it mean? A linguistic placement.
Community Involvement in Urban Heritage
Involvement =
to engage, to include people,
institutions as participants in an
activity
“Synonyms” =
participation, engagement, collaboration,
cooperation

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What is it about? In which spheres does it take place?
Community Involvement in Urban Heritage
Community Involvement in Urban Heritage
= Engagement, inclusion, common acting
of people / institutions
▬ interested in the urban heritage
▬ affected by the urban heritage
▬ living in or by the urban heritage
in the (spheres)
▬ inscription to the World Heritage list
▬ development of policies which concern the
urban heritage
▬ promotion/valorisation of the urban heritage
▬ management and safeguarding / conservation
of the urban heritage
▬ use of the urban heritage to support the
community development

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Why? What is the overall intention?
Community Involvement in Urban Heritage
Urban Heritage
Community
BenefitsSafeguarding Connections

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What is the task?
Community Involvement in Urban Heritage
▬ recognise and understand manifold local needs/interest
▬ balance and coordinate needs/interest
▬ link needs/interests with the urban heritage
a) producing cultural, social, economical benefits to
community
b) building connections between heritage and community
▬ communicate benefits, opportunities, values of urban
heritage
▬ implement activities / empower community, which bring
benefits to community and allow safeguarding of urban
heritage
▬ Build up capacities of communities to be able to contribute
to safeguarding of urban heritage

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What are the benefits?
Community Involvement in Urban Heritage
For city administration
▬ Better understanding and
appreciation of the urban heritage
▬ Increased engagement of
communities for the urban
heritage
▬ Access to additional recourses for
the safeguarding of urban
heritage
For community
▬ Stronger sense of ownership
▬ Social and cultural affiliation
▬ Stronger local identity in a
globalised world
▬ Economic, social and cultural
benefits

10. OWHC Regional Conference: Community Involvement in Urban heritage I Stralsund I 28.09.2016 I Seite 10
Urgent requirement
Community Involvement in Urban Heritage
Prepare it well!!
▬ Be clear what you want to achieve
with community involvement.
▬ Define who you want to involve /
empower and with which objective.
▬ Know / find out about the interest and
needs of theses stakeholders.
▬ Have relevant resources at hand for
community involvement.
▬ Plan your involvement actions.
▬ Have the political back-up.

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Thank you for your attention
and now some practice examples!
Community Involvement in Urban Heritage

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2. Opportunities of Stakeholder Involvement
▬ It is essential to involve stakeholders so that they have a sense of shared ownership of the
world heritage management plan and are more likely to cooperate in its implementation
and to take actions. Many stakeholders have different aspirations but by listening to each
other’s aspirations, they are more likely to understand the aspirations of others, to
compromise their own and to seek win-win solutions. John Hinchliffe, World Heritage
Officer of Liverpool
▬ Through the involvement of many stakeholders from within the administration and from
outside, it was possible to form a broad basis for a joint World Heritage strategy. Through
the interdisciplinary composition of a Local Support Group conflicts could be solved face to
face. Furthermore, all members gained insight into topics, which do not count to their
special field.” Matthias Ripp, World Heritage Coordinator of Regensburg
▬ Local community involvement in the development process of the Integrated Cultural
Heritage Management Plan ensured the coordination between the actions promoted and
the needs and aspirations of the community. Further in facilitated consensus between the
stakeholders regarding heritage conservation and socio-economic development of the
site. Ioan Fedor Pascu, City of Sighisoara

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