Heritage Forum: Management & Storytelling
The Forum presents challenges to the preservation of immovable cultural heritage in Bulgaria, while looking for good practices and possible practical applications.
Program
30 November 1, 2023 (Thursday) - Management
- Panel 1: The State System for Cultural Heritage Preservation
- Panel 2: Management Models for Cultural Heritage Sites
December 1, 2023 (Friday) – Interpretation
- Panel 3: Storytelling: inngaging the Public in Creating and Presenting a Multi-Perspective Narrative
- Case Study Workshop: How to Tell the Story of Buzludzha?
The event is organized by the Buzludzha Project Foundation and is held with the support of the French Institute in Bulgaria, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Sofia and the British Embassy Sofia. The forum is implemented with the financial support of the National Fund "Culture" under the program "One-year grant" - 2022. Media partner of the event is "България на длан".
Location
The forum will be held at the French Institute in Bulgaria at Slaveykov Square 3, Sofia
ИЗВОДИ ФОРУМ 2023
Conclusions on Management from the Heritage Forum 2023:
1. Strategic objectives
- Work on a national strategy for the protection and management of immovable cultural heritage.
2. Strengthening responsibility for cultural heritage at the regional and local levels
- Organizing regional structures and ensuring their operation.
- Organizing municipal structures and appointment of chief architects for the preservation of immovable cultural heritage.
- Initiating municipal funds for the protection of immovable cultural heritage.
3. Involving the local community through the non-governmental and private sector for state-owned heritage sites
- Implementation of a management model in which the state-owned heritage sites can be managed by representatives of the non-governmental and private sector with the support of the state.
- Implementation of a management model in which the state-owned heritage sites can be managed by an organization in which the state participates and stakeholders with a socially justifiable interest.
4. Support and control for private heritage sites
- Methodological assistance and co-financing mechanisms for heritage site owners. Expand public incentives such as subsidies and tax breaks to engage the private and civil sectors.
- Mechanisms for state and municipal control and effective sanctions, including expropriation in case of malicious action or abandoned sites.
5. Encouraging participation in EU cultural heritage activities
- More information on European programs to promote their use
- Participation in European Heritage Days
- Participation in the European Heritage Label
- Participation in European Cultural Routes
Video on Management from the Forum 2023
Conclusions on Storytelling from the Heritage Forum 2023:
1. Immersive interpretation is an important tool for the sustainable preservation of cultural
heritage.
Cultural heritage sites gain their meaning through the narrative they convey. This narrative is the result of interpretation and creates the relationship between sites and society. For the sustainable preservation of the sites, a society that considers the site as its heritage is needed above all. The integration of the local community is therefore the key.
2. The successful interpretation of a heritage site places the visitor at the center of the experience.
Sites and museums mediate between history (science and findings) and visitors. When creating
exhibitions, they should involve the visitor as much as possible.
3. To create an exposition, the story is the leading one. Based on the narrative and its messages, the
means of expression are chosen and the form is created.
Storytelling, rather than strictly scientific presentation of facts, is a successful method of engaging audiences and creating lasting knowledge. All methods and technologies used to represent the sites depend on the concept of narrative.
4. It is necessary to build capacity in the field of interpretation of heritage sites.
Educational programs, workshops, etc. are needed to develop capacity in the field. The target groups
would be museum workers who develop exhibitions, municipal officials who manage museums, as well
as external experts.
5. It is necessary to build a professional community.
The creation of a broad professional community that conducts exchange of knowledge, contacts and good
practices would develop capacity and results in the field.
6. The narrative of dissonant heritage sites from the recent past is necessary and multi-layered.
The story of the recent past cannot be told in the way it was told at the time it happened, a thorough and
critical analysis is required.
The narrative of dissonant heritage sites offers the chance for layering, multiple interpretations and
alternative perspectives, including personal narratives. It requires an acceptance of the complexity of
memories, both collective and individual experiences. Therefore, there cannot be one new narrative, but a
complex presentation. It is necessary to preserve the material and immaterial traces and layers. This leads
to the preservation of traces of ruin that are part of history.