Why is Present Day Cultural Heritage Important
Present day cultural heritage should have no less significance than historical heritage. While much attention is given to promoting the visual arts little public attention is given to preserving the works of present day artists. Most of a society’s creations are dependent on previous generations and new creations cannot be immerge if there are no foundations on which to build. If creative thinking is to progress the works of today’s creators do need to be preserved.
Heritage links us to the past
Heritage links one with the past and the past becomes relevant and personal. Heritage connects the physical to the invisible – the tangible to the intangible. Tangible items can be seen and touched. Intangible elements include cognitive processes and value systems which determine one’s identity. In an age where technology has brought about numerous beneficial changes in society it has also created confusion and anxiety as individuals attempt to keep abreast with the information explosion.
As well as identifying the importance of heritage on the individual, heritage preservation specialist need to identify the importance of heritage to the well being of a community. The relationship between a community and its history should not be underestimated and heritage is a major link between the past and the present. A country which is composed of many diverse nationalities and cultures has a range of social forces at play. Without developing an understanding of the complexities of cultural differences, intolerance prevails and cultural tensions are heightened as demonstrated in recent Australian. Heritage has the potential to bring together many ethnic groups to create a single national culture.
What part does historical heritage play
Where then does historical heritage play its part and why is it important? Heritage is the tangible link between the past and the present. While history is the story of the past, heritage brings history into the present and makes it relevant. WikiAnswers gives an answer to “Why is historical heritage important?”
- The spirit and direction of the Nation are founded upon and reflected in its historic heritage.
- The historical and cultural foundations of the Nation should be preserved as a living part of our community life and development in order to give a sense of orientation to the American people.
- Historic properties significant to the Nation’s heritage are being lost or substantially altered, often inadvertently, with increasing frequency.
The preservation of irreplaceable heritage is in the public interest so that its vital legacy of cultural, educational, aesthetic, inspirational, economic, and energy benefits will be maintained and enriched for future generations of People.” As historical heritage gives the past relevance and the present meaning, it has the capacity to be a stabilizing factor between confusion and order. Heritage greatly enriches a community in which one lives and works and it helps individuals to distinguish one from another.