We are truly living in challenging times. Our lives are shaped by everyday events and a wealth of information that is almost impossible to digest on a daily basis. We are witnesses to numerous crises, from pandemics and the economy to social upheavals and new conflicts and wars. Heritage, as always, provides us with a necessary refuge and enables connections and rapprochement. For this reason, we must always think about how heritage protection in synergy with heritage interpretation can serve as a solid foothold in unstable times, but also as a necessary building material for the construction of new connections – bridges and highways.
Protection and interpretation of heritage are undoubtedly linked, forming a crucial relationship in the management of cultural and natural heritage. Without the conservation of heritage there is no interpretation, or at least not the meaningful one connected to the authenticity of the heritage, addressing its original materials, form, and context as much as possible. If a site, object, or tradition is deteriorated, damaged, or lost, its ability to communicate its significance is severely diminished or impossible.
If it is quite understandable that there is no interpretation without heritage protection, it is even more inspiring to reflect on how heritage interpretation itself can improve the protection and help in the long-term survival of valuable heritage complexes.
Effective heritage interpretation enables public understanding, appreciation, and emotional connection with heritage. By telling the stories, explaining the significance, and making heritage relevant to people’s lives, interpretation strengthens and improves a sense of value and ownership. This can generate public support for conservation efforts and encourage the making of new policies. Heritage interpretation, when done in collaboration with local communities, can empower them to become active participants in the conservation process. “Through interpretation, understanding; through understanding, appreciation; through appreciation, protection”, a sentence written by an anonymous USA National Park Service Ranger done more than a half century ago is still fully valid, adjusted to a different context today.
Interesting and inspiring interpretation can attract visitors, leading to economic benefits through tourism and related activities. These revenues can, in turn, provide financial resources for the ongoing conservation and management of the heritage site or collection. But not only that the economic gain can improve protection, but also help in new and exciting research, which is then necessary to further improve the interpretation of heritage sites.
Although at first it may seem that heritage protection is always more difficult in times of crisis, heritage interpretation can be of great help even in these situations. Heritage sites and connected stories can act as anchors, reminding communities of their shared history and values. It can also help recall similar events from the past when societies managed to overcome adversity through joint work and commitment. This can enable hope and motivation to endure.
In difficult times, it helps to focus on the positive, but also the negative and meaningful aspects of our lives. Heritage sites often are places and spaces for mourning, remembrance, and processing of collective trauma. In those moments, the interpretation should provide the possibility of reflection and dialogue.
During the whole process it is necessary to keep in mind what follows after the crisis, which is regrouping and creating an environment for recovery and progress. In this sense, tourism will certainly help, so often criticized, but still necessary if we talk about the possibilities of local communities to enable the reconstruction and continuation of life. In this context, it is important to keep in mind that interpretation must adapt to new circumstances. It always does, but in times of crisis this is even more important than usual.
Heritage protection and interpretation are parts of the same process, the process of heritage becoming what it is and what its primary role is, from society for the society. It is extremely important in moments of crisis that we do not lose focus on what is important, and that heritage interpretation then serves as a valuable tool with which we will achieve a healthy future for everyone.
Darko Babic & Helena Stubliz
University of Zagreb
