Cultural Heritage as a Source of Societal Well-being in European Regions

Programme 2014 - 2020 ESPON 2020

Date of latest update: 2024-05-18

Description

Description (EN):

During the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018, over 23 000 events were organised, reaching more than 12. 8 million participants. This clearly shows the potential impact that cultural heritage can have on economic development and people’s quality of life. During the last decade, policymakers have increasingly acknowledged the role of cultural heritage as a strategic resource for economic growth, employment and territorial cohesion. This is reflected in several European policy documents, more recently the “New European Agenda for Culture”, adopted by the European Commission in May 2018, and the “European Heritage Strategy for the 21st Century”, adopted by the Council of Europe in April 2017. Cultural heritage has been gradually streamlined in different policy areas, such as the EU Cohesion policy, thus showing the growing strategic importance that the topic has gained on the European agenda. Several initiatives at the European level contribute to the general appraisal of cultural heritage, such as the European Heritage Days, the European Heritage Label, the European Heritage Awards and the European Capitals of Culture. Despite recent efforts to improve cultural heritage statistics by the European Commission, it is still a challenge to fully capture the significance of its impact on the economy and society. On 7 December 2018, the European Commission presented the European Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage which among other things calls for evidence-based decision-making in the cultural heritage field and enumerates a number of projects that are going to be carried out in order to address the issue of measuring the impact of culture and cultural heritage on economy, society and local development. The Framework mentions that ESPON’s study “Cultural Heritage as a Source of Societal Well-being in European Regions” (2020–2022) will play an important role in providing evidence and data on the impact of cultural heritage on societal well-being. The objective of this research is to develop a pan-European methodology and territorial analysis on the impacts of cultural heritage on society, considering well-being, social inclusion and other aspects. The research shall cover both material and intangible cultural heritage and the impact should be associated with: - Presence of material cultural heritage (stock of buildings and other objects). - Consumption and use of cultural heritage. - Digitalization of cultural heritage. - EU funded investments in cultural heritage. - Activities (policies) aimed at increasing the positive impact of cultural heritage and diminishing the negative impact.

Achievements (EN):

Key conclusions of the HERIWELL analyses: • A multimethod design has been adopted, based on empirical quantitative and qualitative analyses, including big data analysis at both macro and micro level. This allows the capture of the multifaceted and intertwined nature of the SWB outcomes of CH and to face data shortages due to limited harmonised data on CH. • A relevant indicator of the relationship between CH and SWB is not only the endowment of cultural heritage assets, but also how accessible and accessed they are by people and whether true cultural engagement arises. While CH is important per se, its contribution to SWB depends on the existence of a valorisation strategy that purposely makes use of its individual and collective well-being potential. • Cultural participation is not only an objective, but the main tool of all public policies aimed at enhancing cultural heritage and its potential positive effects on well-being. • The place identity and sense of belonging related with participation is evident in the analysis of the HERIWELL case studies, the evaluation of ICH and the meta-analysis of the ECoC programme. A more ‘integrated’ view of the meaning and impacts of heritage objects, sites and traditional manifestations, as proposed by the European Parliament, deserves to become, more and more, a strategic public policy axis. Such a policy change is particularly important in rural and other areas at high risk of depopulation. • In this context, dissonant or contested CH and related events can be negotiated. Issues can be settled on the basis of the inclusion of all stakeholders, as well as preparatory research, educational efforts and the willingness of policymakers to promote a mediation and partial restitution process. There is a greater awareness among youngsters of the possible negative effects of some forms of cultural heritage, together with a lower consideration of the value of CH. This shows that the value of heritage is not to be taken for granted. • To activate involvement and therefore a ‘qualitative’ relationship with heritage and to facilitate a social impact, it is necessary to use participatory tools. For cultural participation to produce social outcomes, the following aspects should not be neglected: active participation of under-represented groups; active involvement of participants from the design phase of the policy agenda; ensuring equality between the leaders of participatory processes and engaged participants; and inclusion of the decisions taken during participatory processes in the policymaking process. • Considering the difficulty to find common indicators to analyse the impact of cultural heritage on societal well-being, the use of big data, identifying the involvement in cultural heritage, can be useful for complementing the analysis of official data and for filling in data gaps.

Website: https://archive.espon.eu/

Expected Results (EN):

The main outcome will be a methodological framework defining the most important societal domains in which the impact of cultural heritage can be observed and evidence of such impact. In principle it would mean a profound focus on societal benefits of cultural heritage in terms of quality of life in European regions, by looking at material well-being, education, health, social inclusion and equality, life satisfaction and happiness, etc.' The study will quantify the impact over the past 10 years by establishing comparable socio-economic indicators and engaging in data collection from national statistical institutes, registers. Big data where applicable. The research will aim for an overall illustration of the extent to which cultural heritage has an impact on societal well-being in Europe and provide comparative analysis of different European regions where appropriate. The impact of European, national, regional and local policies, strategies, legal mechanisms and regulatory frameworks aimed at preserving and maintaining cultural heritage or increasing its use will be addressed to support research process and findings. Over 40 thematic or country experts and other specialists from across Europe will be involved. The research project should thus answer the following key policy questions: - How can the societal impact of cultural heritage be defined? In which societal domains does cultural heritage contribute? How significant is this contribution? - How to measure the societal impact of cultural heritage? How to express it in quantitative terms, considering reliability and validity, at the territorial level? - What are the differences between the societal impact of cultural heritage in different types of territories? - How to compare the results on impact of cultural heritage across different European regions? - How can digitalization of cultural heritage have an impact on well-being in terms of education, knowledge, etc.? - What are the impacts of EU funded investments in cultural heritage on societal well-being in cities and regions?

Thematic information

Cultural heritage and arts

Specific Objective: Enhanced European territorial evidence production through applied research and analyses

Thematic Objective:

(11) enhancing institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders and efficient public administration through actions to strengthen the institutional capacity and the efficiency of public administrations and public services related to the implementation of the ERDF, and in support of actions under the ESF to strengthen the institutional capacity and the efficiency of public administration.

Investment Priority: (11 ETC) ETC specific for transnational cooperation: enhancing institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders and efficient public administration by developing and coordinating macro-regional and sea-basin strategies

Partners (4)

Lead Partner: Istituto per la ricerca sociale (IRS)

Address: Via XX Settembre 24, 20123 Milan, Italy

Legal status: private

European Association of Cultural Researchers e.V. (ERICarts Network and Institute)

Name: European Association of Cultural Researchers e.V. (ERICarts Network and Institute)

Address: Ulmenallee 24a, D-50999 Cologne, Germany

Legal status: private

Associazione per l'Economia della Cultura (AEC)

Name: Associazione per l'Economia della Cultura (AEC)

Address: Via della Dogana Vecchia 5, 00186 Rome, Italy

Legal status: private

Associazione Acume

Name: Associazione Acume

Address: Lungotevere Flaminio 76, 00196 Rome, Italy

Legal status: private

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Cultural Heritage as a Source of Societal Well-being in European Regions

Partners and Projects info

Cultural Heritage as a Source of Societal Well-being in European Regions

Partners and Projects info

Cultural Heritage as a Source of Societal Well-being in European Regions

Partners and Projects info

Cultural Heritage as a Source of Societal Well-being in European Regions

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Cultural Heritage as a Source of Societal Well-being in European Regions

Project acronym: HERIWELL

Project start date: 2020-04-20

Project end date: 2022-02-28

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 739 275.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 604 508.12

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 604 508.12.

Documents

Documents on this project are listed below, and organised by category. Please note field "Data source", attached to each document. Keep.eu users are free to use these documents as long as they mention the data source and keep.eu.

Reports

Final Report

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/HERIWELL

Publication date: 2023-08-19

Document date: 2022-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Synthesis report

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/HERIWELL

Publication date: 2023-08-19

Document date: 2022-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Annex I to chapter 1 Inputs to analytical model and methodology Final repor

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/HERIWELL

Publication date: 2023-08-19

Document date: 2022-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Annex II – The quantitative pan European analysis on the relation between tangible cultural heritage and societal well being

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/HERIWELL

Publication date: 2023-08-19

Document date: 2022-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

ANNEX III_Cultural heritage institutions and social change

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/HERIWELL

Publication date: 2023-08-19

Document date: 2022-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Annex IV to chapter 4 Intangible cultural heritage and societal well-being

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/HERIWELL

Publication date: 2023-08-19

Document date: 2022-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Annex VI to chapter 6 Controversial heritage: a focus on contested and neglected heritage

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/HERIWELL

Publication date: 2023-08-19

Document date: 2022-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Annex VIII.A to chapter 8.1 Analysis of ESIF investments in cultural heritage and country fiches

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/HERIWELL

Publication date: 2023-08-19

Document date: 2022-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Annex VIII.B to chapter 8.3 Investments in cultural heritage and societal well-being in the European Capitals of Culture

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/HERIWELL

Publication date: 2023-08-19

Document date: 2022-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Studies / surveys

Annex V HERIWELL Population Survey results in detail

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/HERIWELL

Publication date: 2023-08-19

Document date: 2022-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

ECoC MONS 2015 (Belgium) Long term vision and cultural strategy for cultural heritage

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/HERIWELL

Publication date: 2023-08-19

Document date: 2022-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Handicraft based on the example of czech blueprint

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/HERIWELL

Publication date: 2023-08-19

Document date: 2022-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Weimar Memoires (Germany)

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/HERIWELL

Publication date: 2023-08-19

Document date: 2022-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Village Design Statement and Collaborative Town Centre Health Check programmes (Ireland)

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/HERIWELL

Publication date: 2023-08-19

Document date: 2022-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

MANN Case study (Italy)

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/HERIWELL

Publication date: 2023-08-19

Document date: 2022-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Sami Cultural Institutions as a Source of Societal Well-Being in Norway

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/HERIWELL

Publication date: 2023-08-19

Document date: 2022-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

How heritage changes environment and communities: Podgórze Museum in Kraków, Poland

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/HERIWELL

Publication date: 2023-08-19

Document date: 2022-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Arquitecturas de la Memoria (Spain)

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/HERIWELL

Publication date: 2023-08-19

Document date: 2022-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 ESPON 2020

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2024-03-04

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

68 / 69 (98.55%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

353 / 370 (95.41%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme. Data from 3 projects ((MRS. ESPON TOOL, SoET and CPS 2.0) was retrieved by Interact from the programme´s website on the 2024-03-01. Regarding partners only data only main partners is available. Achievements were retrieved by Interact from the Programme website (http://www.espon.eu), or a website directly linked from it, on 2021-09-21 and 2023-01-03.

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Cultural Heritage as a Source of Societal Well-being in European Regions

Description

Thematic information

Partners (4)

Partners map

Summary

Documents

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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