The 2018 theme for the ICOMOS International Day for Monuments and Sites on 18 April is ‘Heritage for Generations’, complementing the IHBC’s 2018 School theme on ‘Shared heritage’, both being tied to the 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage; #EuropeForCulture.
image ICOMOS website
ICOMOS writes:
Sharing stories and the transfer of knowledge between generations is a crucial step in cultural development, characterising the human experience since time immemorial. ‘The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow’.
The ICOMOS International Day for Monuments and Sites Day 2018 seeks to celebrate Inter-generational transfer of knowledge: engagement across the global community to emphasize the importance of knowledge exchange between generations to promote the ICOMOS ethos for the conservation and protection of cultural heritage;
Youth leadership: Emerging Professionals in each country will take the lead in organising events that focus on reaching the younger members of the wider public community by showcasing the creative use of social media. Communication across generations of heritage practitioners generates enriching exchanges. Combining the knowledge of experienced practitioners with the energy and dynamism of newer members brings about a more holistic approach to ongoing initiatives.
The International Day for Monuments and Sites 2018 is an opportunity to emphasize the importance of intergenerational exchanges when it comes to safeguarding and celebrating our heritage. Activities to foster fruitful dialogue between generations may include, but are not limited to: conferences, lectures, training sessions, round-table discussions, poster sessions, pub nights involving Q&A sessions with younger and older members of professional and non-professional heritage communities, interactive site visits to heritage properties and others.
Information on events will be shared on social media as a central communication strategy of this year’s International Day for Monuments and Sites. From mankind’s earliest cave paintings to the genesis of the printed page, methods of communication continue to evolve. At the dawn of the so-called ‘information age’, heritage practitioners are presented with a multitude of options for exchanging information and voicing their ideas. Communication via social media and digital technologies has become the norm for learning in the classroom, practice and in the field for recording and interpreting.
Employing new communication technologies also facilitates the dissemination of ideas for the protection of cultural heritage. As part of the Day’s initiative, the hashtag #heritage4generations will be promoted to encourage individuals and groups to share their experiences with the global ICOMOS community and beyond. Those visiting a monument or attending events may use the hashtag to share why it is special to them and connect with others doing the same.
For more in the IHBC’s 2018 School in Belfast, 21-23 June, see belfast2018.ihbc.org.uk
