Recent decades have witnessed a fundamental change in social values throughout the world, and this in turn has affected the ways in which we think about and care for cultural heritage. Increasingly, heritage professionals are challenged to adopt more people-centred approaches within conservation, whereby constructive and critical dialogue between stakeholders is an essential part of the decision making process. However, the achievement of this in practice is not so straightforward.
This publication examines the quest for participatory decision-making in cultural heritage conservation. Case studies from different countries and heritage contexts document the wide array of decisions that confront professionals in our field, the challenges these present, and how innovative solutions can be found by embracing a sharing approach. To put these experiences in perspective, additional papers discuss issues of heritage and conservation values, reflect on the development of cultural heritage concepts, and review practical tools for decision-making.
This publication will be of interest to heritage practitioners, managers and educators alike, as well as all those with an interest in promoting greater inclusivity in the use and conservation of cultural heritage.