Great Expectations…

…is something we should avoid having, in dealing with stakeholders floating around the great Cultural Heritage pie: State budgets being renownly lean, companies being far away from a Renaissance patron’s mentality, and international institutions being - well… as powerful as others think them to be.

Nevertheless, the new Paris Declaration approved by ICOMOS 17th General Assembly in Paris, yesterday, is a refreshing step forward.

In the first place, because it stresses again culture as a fundamental pillar of development (as defined in Johannesburg in 2000), in the second place, because it gives stakeholders a roadmap to follow in defending heritage though not avoiding development. Last not least, because it gives new motivation to cultural heritage professionals - being backed up in their efforts by a large and relatively influential professional group.

However, as it has been properly said in that same occasion (Gideon Koren): we should try to focus on achievable goals - underdeveloped areas and heritage degradation exist, and will exist further, nor is it in our power to modify such a thing. But we can apply our effort in reducing damage, improve local conditions, and preserve authenticity. This will be requiring hard working enough.

(Paris, 2 December 2011)