| | | | 2022 Dec Vol. 03 |  |
| | | Heritage Interpretation and Presentation — The First Step of the WHIPIC Research Office from Theories to Local Issues
2022 Achievements and Future Missions of the WHIPIC Research Office | In the year of 2022, UNESCO WHIPIC Research Office has conducted outstanding surveys and research projects mainly in four areas: theoretical research, policy research, theme research, and local research.
First, the theoretical research sought to establish a theoretical basis for heritage interpretation and presentation, a newly arising area of research, in order to indicate future directions for heritage interpretation and presentation and World Heritage. The research was divided into four main activities that were carried out sequentially. The literature review explains how the interpretation concept has been adopted in the heritage sector, focusing on its definition. Working group meetings were operated to discuss important issues on heritage interpretation and presentations with heritage specialists who have diverse backgrounds and experiences. Through four meetings, a draft definition of "heritage interpretation" was suggested, reflecting the conceptual ideas from the working group discussions. The international survey was conducted to investigate the understanding of heritage interpretation and presentation of the wider heritage field based on text analysis of responses. The conference was a platform to share the research outcome and suggest future challenges in the long-term aspects of heritage interpretation and presentation focusing on the definitions and concepts. In the following year, this ‘definition and concepts’ research will be led to extended research to deal with the “heritage presentation” definition, goal and impact of heritage interpretation and presentation as well as discourses on “with whom we interpret and present heritage”.
Second, the research on the World Heritage Convention and interpretation policy focused on the heritage interpretation and the world heritage system for sustainable development. Total of 13 heritage site managers and policy experts participated, including Sarah Court, heritage interpretation consultant, Giovanni Boccardi, who participated in preparing the 2015 World Heritage and sustainable development policy, and Dr. Gamini Wijesuriya, Senior Advisor to ICCROM who presented profound opinions on the roles of centres in UNESCO Category II. They discussed the gaps between practices and theories of heritage interpretation as well as the roles of heritage interpretation practitioners and communities in heritage interpretation practices throughout the three roundtable discussion sessions. In addition, they discussed how to enhance policies of the world heritage system in order to cope with various social, economic, and environmental challenges in contemporary society and how to promote heritage interpretation that can contribute to sustainable development. Based on the discussions, meaningful conclusions were derived on the future of heritage interpretation for sustainable development as well as WHIPIC’s future research areas.
Third, as one of the heritage concerns in Asia and Africa regions, the theme research focused on world heritage sites in conflict. With the research title, ‘Interpretation of UNESCO “Sites of Memory associated with Recent Conflicts”: Analysing its conflict structures and its classification (theme research)’, Professor Dong Jin Kang (Senior researcher, Kyungsung University) and Professor Hyun Kyung Lee (Joint researcher, Sogang University) participated in this research project. In this research, 38 sites out of 1,154 UNESCO World Heritage Sites were classified as sites of memory associated with recent conflicts. The research team also analysed the outstanding universal values (OUV), related conflict structures, and stakeholders of these 38 sites. This research project provided a significant opportunity to examine the importance of stakeholders and communities in interpreting sites of memory associated with recent conflicts. Also, it highlighted the need for an ethical and inclusive approach to heritage interpretation, especially for the heritage sites associated with recent historical conflicts. In addition, it is critically noted that communities related to these heritage sites remain alienated in changing world heritage interpretation and presentation environments. Based on the research achievements this year, the 2023 theme research will concentrate on more specific topics of heritage sites, which can be defined as sites of memory associated with recent conflicts, so that the studies can contribute to the theoretical research project currently being conducted at the Research Office.
Fourth, the regional research sought to extract the basic attributes of 15 World Heritage sites of the Republic of Korea, under its main research theme of ‘Heritage Impact Assessment (hereafter HIA) and Outstanding Universal Values Attribute Extraction.’ The study was conducted to function as an effective tool for World Heritage inscription, management, its interpretation and presentation and HIA. Based on the guideline for HIA, the research is expected to sophisticate understanding of World Heritage. This study verified the attributes through specific analysis of each World Heritage site, and it was once again reminded that its understanding and verification could significantly affect World Heritage interpretation and presentation. Research methodologies and findings were shared at the ICOMOS HIA academic sub-committee and at WHIPIC’s Capacity-building Education Workshop where public officials of domestic World Heritage sites and from related institutions participated. This year’s research presented the basic direction of attribute extraction, and in following years, it is expected to further the basic investigation on World Heritage sites in each region through issue monitoring.
In addition to the above-stated four research areas, the ‘2022 World Heritage Interpretation Presentation Forum’ was held in a hybrid format from 15 to 16 November 2022, providing a wonderful opportunity not only for heritage interpretation and presentation experts but also for the public. In 2023, based on valuable research findings in 2022, UNESCO WHIPIC Research Office will continue to conduct research projects about heritage interpretation and presentation for various heritage sites around the world beyond the UNESCO world heritage system. |  |
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Heritage Interpretation and Presentation — The First Step of the WHIPIC Research Office from Theories to Local Issues
2022 Achievements and Future Missions of the WHIPIC Research Office
First, the theoretical research sought to establish a theoretical basis for heritage interpretation and presentation, a newly arising area of research, in order to indicate future directions for heritage interpretation and presentation and World Heritage. The research was divided into four main activities that were carried out sequentially. The literature review explains how the interpretation concept has been adopted in the heritage sector, focusing on its definition. Working group meetings were operated to discuss important issues on heritage interpretation and presentations with heritage specialists who have diverse backgrounds and experiences. Through four meetings, a draft definition of "heritage interpretation" was suggested, reflecting the conceptual ideas from the working group discussions. The international survey was conducted to investigate the understanding of heritage interpretation and presentation of the wider heritage field based on text analysis of responses. The conference was a platform to share the research outcome and suggest future challenges in the long-term aspects of heritage interpretation and presentation focusing on the definitions and concepts. In the following year, this ‘definition and concepts’ research will be led to extended research to deal with the “heritage presentation” definition, goal and impact of heritage interpretation and presentation as well as discourses on “with whom we interpret and present heritage”.
Second, the research on the World Heritage Convention and interpretation policy focused on the heritage interpretation and the world heritage system for sustainable development. Total of 13 heritage site managers and policy experts participated, including Sarah Court, heritage interpretation consultant, Giovanni Boccardi, who participated in preparing the 2015 World Heritage and sustainable development policy, and Dr. Gamini Wijesuriya, Senior Advisor to ICCROM who presented profound opinions on the roles of centres in UNESCO Category II. They discussed the gaps between practices and theories of heritage interpretation as well as the roles of heritage interpretation practitioners and communities in heritage interpretation practices throughout the three roundtable discussion sessions. In addition, they discussed how to enhance policies of the world heritage system in order to cope with various social, economic, and environmental challenges in contemporary society and how to promote heritage interpretation that can contribute to sustainable development. Based on the discussions, meaningful conclusions were derived on the future of heritage interpretation for sustainable development as well as WHIPIC’s future research areas.
Third, as one of the heritage concerns in Asia and Africa regions, the theme research focused on world heritage sites in conflict. With the research title, ‘Interpretation of UNESCO “Sites of Memory associated with Recent Conflicts”: Analysing its conflict structures and its classification (theme research)’, Professor Dong Jin Kang (Senior researcher, Kyungsung University) and Professor Hyun Kyung Lee (Joint researcher, Sogang University) participated in this research project. In this research, 38 sites out of 1,154 UNESCO World Heritage Sites were classified as sites of memory associated with recent conflicts. The research team also analysed the outstanding universal values (OUV), related conflict structures, and stakeholders of these 38 sites. This research project provided a significant opportunity to examine the importance of stakeholders and communities in interpreting sites of memory associated with recent conflicts. Also, it highlighted the need for an ethical and inclusive approach to heritage interpretation, especially for the heritage sites associated with recent historical conflicts. In addition, it is critically noted that communities related to these heritage sites remain alienated in changing world heritage interpretation and presentation environments. Based on the research achievements this year, the 2023 theme research will concentrate on more specific topics of heritage sites, which can be defined as sites of memory associated with recent conflicts, so that the studies can contribute to the theoretical research project currently being conducted at the Research Office.
Fourth, the regional research sought to extract the basic attributes of 15 World Heritage sites of the Republic of Korea, under its main research theme of ‘Heritage Impact Assessment (hereafter HIA) and Outstanding Universal Values Attribute Extraction.’ The study was conducted to function as an effective tool for World Heritage inscription, management, its interpretation and presentation and HIA. Based on the guideline for HIA, the research is expected to sophisticate understanding of World Heritage. This study verified the attributes through specific analysis of each World Heritage site, and it was once again reminded that its understanding and verification could significantly affect World Heritage interpretation and presentation. Research methodologies and findings were shared at the ICOMOS HIA academic sub-committee and at WHIPIC’s Capacity-building Education Workshop where public officials of domestic World Heritage sites and from related institutions participated. This year’s research presented the basic direction of attribute extraction, and in following years, it is expected to further the basic investigation on World Heritage sites in each region through issue monitoring.
In addition to the above-stated four research areas, the ‘2022 World Heritage Interpretation Presentation Forum’ was held in a hybrid format from 15 to 16 November 2022, providing a wonderful opportunity not only for heritage interpretation and presentation experts but also for the public. In 2023, based on valuable research findings in 2022, UNESCO WHIPIC Research Office will continue to conduct research projects about heritage interpretation and presentation for various heritage sites around the world beyond the UNESCO world heritage system.
International Centre for the Interpretation and Presentation of World Heritage Sites
2107, Hannuri-daero, Sejong-si, Republic of Korea