Today I want to share with you a summary of what I have read in the 2024 Guidance for Identifying Values and Attributes for Heritage Interpretation, published by the International Centre for the Interpretation and Presentation of World Heritage Sites under the auspices of UNESCO.
After reading this document, it became even clearer to me that interpreting heritage is much more than “telling the story" of a place. It is a rigorous process involving research, community engagement, and a keen sense of cultural sensitivity.
Interpretation helps us uncover the values that make a place special and the attributes that express and convey those values.
Summary of the Guidance
What is heritage interpretation?
UNESCO defines heritage interpretation as a process of meaning-making through communication, engagement, and experience. Its goal is for people not just to “visit” a heritage site but to understand it, appreciate it, and develop a personal connection with it.
What is the guidance about?
This publication is aimed at those who manage or work with heritage sites and need to understand what values a place holds and how those values are conveyed by its attributes, whether tangible (such as walls, buildings) or intangible (traditions, languages, beliefs).
Additionally, the guidance establishes that heritage interpretation is not an isolated act but an integral part of the management, conservation, and education of heritage.
The three key pillars of the guidance
Understand the context: It is not enough to list attributes; it is essential to interpret them within their historical, social, and environmental context.
Include communities: The guidance promotes a participatory approach, where local communities are key agents in identifying the site’s values and meanings.
Adopt a continuous process: Heritage interpretation should be reviewed and updated regularly to adapt to new realities and perceptions.
Key concepts you should know
Heritage: Everything inherited from the past with cultural, social, or spiritual significance.
Heritage value: The reason why a site is considered important and worthy of preservation.
Attributes: Concrete or symbolic elements that convey the values of heritage.
Heritage community: A group of people who identify with the site and its history.
Interpretation: The process of translating these values and attributes into accessible and meaningful messages for the public.
The main stages of the process
The guidance proposes six clear and practical stages for identifying values and attributes before designing an interpretation plan:
Examine the site: Understand its physical, social, political, natural, and cultural context.
Identify heritage communities: Determine who values the site and why.
Define values and attributes: Gather tangible and intangible information that expresses the site’s significance (through interviews, research, and observation).
Develop interpretive themes and narratives: Create relevant stories and messages for the audiences that effectively communicate the site’s values.
Implement interpretation: Design activities, signage, exhibitions, and participatory actions that effectively convey these values.
Monitor and improve: Evaluate the results and update the interpretation according to new needs or changes.
A practical example
Think of an ancient fortress in Seoul: its wall was not just a military defence, but it also holds stories about daily life, peace, resistance, and tradition. Thanks to local community engagement and historical research, multiple values and attributes are identified, from trees marked by bullets during recent conflicts to the still-living tradition of walking its trails (sunseong).
These stories become interpretive narratives that connect visitors to the heritage and encourage reflection on the past and present.
My personal observations
What stood out to me most when reading the guidance is the importance of community participation. Far from being a process imposed “top-down” by experts or authorities, interpretation must emerge from dialogue with the communities that have kept this heritage alive over time.
Another important point is the changing nature of heritage. The guidance reminds us that a site’s values are not static. What might represent a symbol of identity for one generation may transform into something different for another. Therefore, interpretation must be reviewed and updated regularly.
I also found the emphasis on the ethical dimension of the process interesting. It is not only about interpreting but doing so respectfully and consciously, avoiding simplifications or the exclusion of relevant perspectives.
Final reflection
Personally, this reading made me reflect on how delicate and profound the act of “telling the story” of a heritage site is. It is not merely a technical matter; it is a task that should honour cultural diversity, connect with emotions, and promote a dialogue between past and present.
The 2024 Guidance is not just a technical manual; it is an invitation to listen to the voices of communities, to uncover the multiple layers of meaning within sites, and to design interpretations that inspire, educate, and connect.
In short, I recommend this guidance to anyone involved in the management or interpretation of heritage. It is a tool that will help you design more inclusive, authentic, and meaningful narratives.
Biblioteca I-PAL: SEE ARTICLE GUIDANCE
Referencia:
UNESCO WHIPIC (2024) 2024 Guidance for Identifying Values and Attributes for Heritage Interpretation. International Centre for the Interpretation and Presentation of World Heritage Sites under the Auspices of UNESCO.
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