What is Cultural Heritage?
The following definitions of Cultural Heritage jointly informed the Heritage Council's Strategic Plan development.
Culture is a defining feature of humanity and our heritage is a major expression of the continuity of our culture and this humanity; it helps us to understand and express ourselves in our world. Cultural heritage enriches our lives, provides us with a window to our past, helps us to make sense of the present, and sustains Australian cultures into the future.
(based on Australia ICOMOS (1998). Australia ICOMOS Cultural Heritage Places Policy. AI, Canberra)
Heritage is something preserved for posterity so its framework of reference is the future − the generations yet unborn who will inherit − as much as the past.
(Davison, G. The Use and Abuse of Australian History, 2000, p111)
… the things, places and practices that define who we are as individuals, as communities, as nations or civilisations and as a species. It is that which we want to keep, share and pass on.
(Donald Horne Institute for Cultural Heritage 2009, University of Canberra, www.canberra.edu.au/centres/donald-horne/cultural-heritage/what-is, viewed 20 February 2012)
By virtue of its multifarious origins and the various influences that have shaped it throughout history, cultural heritage takes different tangible and intangible forms, all of which are invaluable for cultural diversity as the wellspring of wealth and creativity.
(United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organization (UNESCO), www.unesco.org/en/cultural-diversity/heritage, viewed 20 February 2012)
Heritage is all the things that make up Australia's identity - our spirit and ingenuity, our historic buildings, and our unique, living landscapes. Our heritage is a legacy from our past, a living, integral part of life today, and the stories and places we pass on to future generations.
(Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, www.environment.gov.au/heritage, viewed 20 February 2012)
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