Heritage LiteracyHeritage LiteracyConsidering a topic related to the concept of heritageConsidering a topic related to the concept of heritage

Darko Babić & Željka MikloševićDarko Babić & Željka MikloševićResearch Assistant & Assistant lecturerResearch Assistant & Assistant lecturer

University of ZagrebUniversity of ZagrebFaculty of Humanities & Social SciencesFaculty of Humanities & Social Sciences

SubDept. of Museology (and Heritage Management)SubDept. of Museology (and Heritage Management)

CROATIACROATIA

& Wind Rose Association, CROATIA& Wind Rose Association, CROATIA

Heritage Care through Active CitizenshipHeritage Care through Active CitizenshipMechelen 23rd and 24th March 2009Mechelen 23rd and 24th March 2009

Literacy (definition):

Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary, literacy is "the quality or state of being literate”

The term literate has (at least) two definitions :1) able to read and write2) Versed in literature or creative writing, having knowledge or competence in a specific field”

“visual literacy" - “the ability to recognize and understand ideas conveyed through visible actions and images (as pictures)”

'The Centre for Literacy of Quebec', Canada (http://www.centreforliteracy.qc.ca/def.htm)

Literacy is a complex set of abilities needed to understand and use the dominant symbol systems of a culture – alphabets, numbers, visual icons - for personal and community development. The nature of these abilities, and the demand for them, vary from one context to another.

In a technological society, literacy extends beyond the functional skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening to include multiple literacies such as visual, media and information literacy. These new literacies focus on an individual’s capacity to use and make critical judgements about the information they encounter on a daily basis.

In search of desired definition:

HERITAGEHERITAGE

the collective cultural capital of the community, alive the collective cultural capital of the community, alive and constantly changing or being createdand constantly changing or being created..

Hugues de VarineHugues de Varine

part of culture which comprises a set of values – part of culture which comprises a set of values – recognized, researched, protected and recognized, researched, protected and communicated as identitycommunicated as identity

Tomislav Šola

-selected or carefully filtrated knowledge, as a sort of doubtlessly right and truthful knowledge which is always connected with making the right judgments regarding

actions and the decisions we make, our behaviours and functioning

-stored objects or remembered practices are not heritage, but just constituent elements which through their use have the potential to become heritage.

Emphasise is on the fact that heritage is, essentially, wisdom and it becomes that only through a meaningful use for the benefit of common good.

The roots of this paradigmatic change,in "museum / heritage world", could be traced back to the 1970's and the eco-museum movement

Heritage-Wisdom theoryHeritage-Wisdom theory

museological theorymuseological theory

classic modelclassic model

COLLECTION COLLECTION

BUILDINGBUILDING

PUBLICPUBLIC

eco-museum modeleco-museum model

HERITAGE HERITAGE

TERRITORYTERRITORY

COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY

is the totality of

is the totality of

is the totality of

An ecomuseum is a community-based heritage project An ecomuseum is a community-based heritage project that supports sustainable developmentthat supports sustainable development

source: P. Davis. Ecomuseums: a Sense of Place, 1999.

Heritage education is:Heritage education is:

A continuous process withA continuous process with

the aim of raising awareness the aim of raising awareness

of the importance of of the importance of local local identityidentity......

......developed on the grounds of developed on the grounds of interpretation of heritage in its totality interpretation of heritage in its totality (natural, cultural, technical(natural, cultural, technical... ... heritage)heritage)

lifelong education (constantly subject to evaluation, change and development)

Definitions:

The more an individual and/or community becomes familiar, understands, learns and know about heritage, it is more heritage- literate.

The heritage literacy is a desirable and expected outcome of the heritage based education process

Heritage experts should be mediators in the process of heritage education bringing the source and users closer together

The objective of heritage education is to develop the skills in individuals/community which would provide an understanding of heritage, whereas the idealthe ideal of heritage literacy is the state in which they would competently manage heritage thus contributing to the creation of new, additional values and the improvement of the quality of life and sustainable development.

Heritage literacy – three basic levelsHeritage literacy – three basic levelsLifelong heritage education – Longterm strategy, systematic approachLifelong heritage education – Longterm strategy, systematic approach

Developing heritage literacy (raising awareness of heritage)The first level of heritage literacy presupposes the ability to experience or recognize and understand heritage

Developing heritage literacy (heritage education)The second level entails the ability to interpret (in a personal way) and the possibility to observe (consider, reflect on) heritage and the heritage phenomenon

Developing heritage literacy (studies of heritage and heritage management)The third level includes the ability to analyze and critically observe (deeper analysis and “insider view”), therefore, a detailed examination of the very phenomenon which includes societal, economic, political and other aspects forming and affecting heritage..

Any one could be Any one could be further further developed in dideveloped in difffferent wayserent ways

region of Ravni kotari

inland Dalmatia, Croatia

- before war region with mixed population – shared heritage

- borderline during the war, devastated and destroyed

- problems – people, on both side, very slowly return to their homes since do not have basic needs

-initiated heritage orientated action at University of Zagreb with support of local community (ies)

AIM:

To use heritage as main source of reconciliation and development

-castle – centre of actions

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a group of people from the University of Zagreb decided to become more actively involved in the situation in the Ravni Kotari region, and therefore they initiated a heritage

orientated action - the Bridges Project

The main thesisThe main thesis / / the core of the project the core of the project is the idea that local heritage is the idea that local heritage could be the main catalyst for progress.could be the main catalyst for progress.

....the problem of the salvage of the castle is not only about its material form but it is intertwined and closely connected with the problem of repopulation and revitalization of the

villages and entire area.

Without doubt there is a great need for restoration of this important monument, but what is even more important in this

kind of complex situation...

......is a wisdom oriented approach and approach based on is a wisdom oriented approach and approach based on multidisciplinary team of experts who are able to foresee multidisciplinary team of experts who are able to foresee

and respect the entire situation, enable the renewal of and respect the entire situation, enable the renewal of the monument and at the same time take into the monument and at the same time take into

consideration the ethnic cohabitation of the people consideration the ethnic cohabitation of the people living living tthere, and their needs.here, and their needs.

Eco-Park "Pernat"

island of Cres, Croatia

- no inhabitants (mid of the island, without "sun & sea" tourist potentials)

- NGO action

- started with summer festival & events

- thematic walking routes with interpretation of local identity

- workshops, seminars, lectures

-regional centre established

- people again live in the area

INSTEAD OF CONCLUSION:

Our ability to cope with the real worldOur ability to cope with the real world,, and heritage and heritage,, that surround usthat surround us

will have a significant influence on our life and its quality will have a significant influence on our life and its quality (development dependent on heritage)(development dependent on heritage)

and, therefore, on our (personal, local, regional, national) and, therefore, on our (personal, local, regional, national) abilities to become competitive in the world we live in.abilities to become competitive in the world we live in.

Contacts:Contacts:

dbabic@ffzg.hrdbabic@ffzg.hr

zmiklose@ffzg.hrzmiklose@ffzg.hr