Heritage, Cultures and Identities

The field of Heritage, Cultures and Identities brings together a set of research themes and problems central to the CHSC, which possesses substantial expertise in this area, not only in cultural history, in the various conceptual formulations and perspectives that this topic has come to encompass, but specifically in heritage and arts as interconnected domains.

By assuming heritage, cultures and identities as inseparable concepts that structure key sectors of contemporary society — from the economic sphere, where large‑scale tourism presents a clear example, to the still insufficiently recognised domain of social welfare — this field seeks to foster dialogue between diverse theoretical and methodological approaches. Its scope spans multiple chronological periods and scales of analysis, from local to global frameworks, thereby contributing to major current debates, from the widely institutionalised discourses of UNESCO to the more challenging perspectives articulated within Critical Heritage Studies.

It involves identifying, interpreting and understanding heritage, historical and artistic assets and values, in order to comprehend how human beings perceive and act upon the world around them — an area in which Art History possesses the appropriate scientific tools. Conversely, it aims to reflect on an entire international system conceived around cultural heritage. Emphasis is placed on issues of ownership, guardianship, acceptance, rejection, promotion, destruction, sharing and public enjoyment, as well as the profound social effects generated by these dynamics. Recognising the intrinsic fluidity of heritage — its continual processes of construction, negotiation and re-signification, often involving the dispute of previously established values and, thus, contributing to societal fragmentation — positions these debates as central to political and societal agendas. Such reflections hold the potential to address social imbalances, asymmetries and ongoing phenomena of misunderstanding and exclusion.

Contributing to the identification of these challenges and proposing responses that can be shared with wider society is also an essential component of the CHSC’s mission.

Coordination: Luísa Trindade | luisa.trindade@fl.uc.pt