2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage: A Call for New Vision
The article, published on Artribune Magazine #39, reflects on the 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage, urging a shift from a substantialist view of heritage as a fixed asset to a project-based vision emphasizing identity, participation, and social purpose. It critiques the museum sector for focusing on collections rather than social goals, citing the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York as a failure despite its reputation for good management and fundraising. The author introduces the concept of 'mobile identity' to bridge the gap between exclusionary and forced-inclusive identities. The piece also notes China's rapid museum construction—over 100 per year—with some already closing, highlighting an East-West divide. The challenge is to transform cultural heritage from a source of rent into a welfare tool and investment lever.
Key facts
- 2018 is the European Year of Cultural Heritage.
- The article advocates for a project-based vision of cultural heritage over a substantialist one.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is cited as a failure despite good management and fundraising.
- China is building over 100 museums per year, some of which are already closing.
- The author proposes the concept of 'mobile identity'.
- Cultural heritage should be seen as an identity sign, participation tool, sense economy, and symbol generator.
- Museums have focused on what is 'peculiar' (collections) rather than what is 'important' (social purposes).
- The article was published in Artribune Magazine #39.
Entities
Institutions
- Artribune
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
Locations
- New York
- China
- Europe