what is heritage

Heritage refers to what we have inherited from the past, to value and enjoy in the present, and to preserve and pass on to future generations. It includes tangible culture such as buildings, monuments, landscapes, archive materials, books, works of art, and artifacts, intangible culture such as folklore, traditions, language, and knowledge, and natural heritage including culturally significant landscapes and biodiversity. Heritage provides clues to our past and how our society has evolved, helps us examine our history and traditions, and enables us to develop an awareness about ourselves. It helps us understand and explain why we are the way we are. Heritage is a keystone of our culture that plays an important role in our politics, society, business, and world view. It informs, influences, and inspires public debate and policy both directly and indirectly. Preserving heritage is important because it enriches our lives, allows us to define ourselves, but needs constant protection and development. Heritage is fragile, and it delivers so much in terms of important human experience and enjoyment. Heritage is a form of ‘representation’, which has the potential both to include, exclude or exploit certain members of society. When we talk about heritage as a form of representation, we refer to the way in which heritage objects, places, and practices come to ‘stand for’ something else, whether that be an idealized version of the past, a particular set of values, or a particular way of life.