The Nexus between Cultural Heritage Management and the Mental Health of Urban Communities

Abstract

In authorized cultural heritage management discourse, heritage sites can be included in local government heritage registers if their aesthetic, scientific, historic or social values are deemed significant. While notionally providing protection from major alterations and destruction for the benefit of future generations, such listings primarily serve the present generation whose values they reflect. This paper considers the role that cultural heritage places play in terms of community identity and their contribution to a sense of place, to place attachment and, by implication, to personal and community mental health.

Cultural Heritage Recognition through Protection of Historical Value and Urban Regeneration: CSOA Forte Prenestino

“…It is important to note that the term 'heritage' is not without controversy and can be subject to interpretation. Cultural heritage represents historical memory [12,13]: it is a symbol and expression of collective identity [14,15] and of the interaction between inhabitants and the context of reference [15,16]. It may be considered as a set of material goods but also as a cultural and social process [11], which includes contemporary manifestations [17], ideals, identity values, experiences and traditions.…”

“…The authorities associate some values with each cultural heritage asset -"aesthetic, historic, scientific, and social" [15]-in relation to the role they play for the community [21]. According to Spennemann [16], the values assigned to cultural heritage are "anthropogenic projections". Therefore, the relevance and sense of heritage are strengthened when the community is asked to evaluate the heritage [15].…”

“….]". [24] (p. 324) Cultural heritage can be understood as a "shared resource and common good" [25]: it depends on the "intrinsic value" (aesthetic, spiritual, intellectual) derived from the authentic bond between people and heritage and on the "instrumental value" derived from the social and economic benefits brought by heritage to individuals and the community [26]; it is valuable for social cohesion since it renews memories and associations and allows people to share experiences [11,27]; it is important for the personal, interpersonal and community well-being and for the mental health of the individual [16,28] when it evokes a sense of belonging, attachment [29] and "affective association" [16] to cultural heritage; it stimulates a deep sense of connection between individual elements, individuals, and contexts (environmental, social and economic) [29,30] and reflects the diversity of communities and places in terms of their structure and evolution over time [25,31]; and it is a driving force for economic growth, for the implementation of employment policies [27]. "[.…”

Local History and the Development of Heritage Bonds: A Primary Education Intervention

“…At the same time, facilitating dialogue around local heritage, where the community's beliefs and opinions are considered, fosters the group's well-being. It strengthens the bonds between individuals and their familiar environments, leading to feelings of comfort and security [22][23][24]. Personal attachment therefore implies a sense of belonging and direction [25] and, therefore, requires engagement with the local heritage manifestations.…”

Cultural Heritage Information Retrieval: Past, Present, and Future Trends

“…The preservation of cultural heritage is essential for maintaining cultural memory, promoting environment diversity, and generating economic benefits [15]. Additionally, cultural heritage, as a fundamental aspect of human rights, has a profound impact on community identity, sense of place, and social cohesion, highlighting its significance in shaping individual and collective social and mental well-being [16].…”