The Heritagisation Discourse Network (HDN) seeks to facilitate open and critical exploration of the intricate and multifaceted dynamics of heritagisation, which encompass state-led decisions, stakeholder involvement, and the limitations of static approaches in cultural heritage studies
OUR APPROACH
What is Heritagisation
Heritagisation refers to a heritage-making process by which cultural practices, sites, and objects are identified, preserved, and often commodified as a ‘recognised’ heritage. The concept of heritagisation gained prominence during the late 20th century, influenced by global movements advocating for cultural preservation amidst modernisation. This phenomenon involves a dynamic interplay between local traditions, global influences, political interventions, and socio-economic imperatives, shaping how cultural heritage is valued and managed as a ‘nation brand’
In the Arab region, heritagisation emerged as a response to colonial legacies, urban development, and tourism-driven economies. From ancient cities to intangible traditions, the process has been instrumental in shaping cultural identities and narratives. In this context, heritagisation serves as a double-edged weapon, offering modern solutions for heritage conservation while risking homogenisation, loss of authenticity, and mutation of local identity
This perspective aligns with the works of prominent researchers, including Hall (2002), Smith (2006), Di Giovine (2008), Harrison (2013), Sjoholm (2016), AlShaikh (2017), Colomer (2017), Nilsson (2018), Gravari-Barbas & Jacquot (2019), Mai Le Quin (2021), Gravari-Barbas (2002) Perez & Colomer (2024), Hanif & Riza (2024), and AlShaikh (2024).
Why Join
By fostering inclusive and interdisciplinary discourse, we aim to challenge and expand the conventional frameworks of heritagisation, contributing to a more equitable and comprehensive understanding of cultural heritage (tangible and Intangible) in the Gulf region which allows you to:
-
Engage in critical discussions on heritagisation and its socio-cultural impacts.
-
Collaborate with researchers, practitioners, and policymakers across disciplines.
-
Access and contribute to a growing repository of knowledge and case studies.
-
Influence policies and practices for sustainable heritage management.
-
Participate in the seminars and webinars organised in collaboration with the universities and other non-profit NGO’S dedicated to safeguard Cultural Heritage?
-
Foster collaboration with scholars and researchers from Gulf countries and the broader Arab world, committed to critically examining and exploring efforts related to cultural heritage preservation.
OUR INTELLECTS
The network consists of a collective of scholars, cultural practitioners, heritage managers, policymakers, and community representatives. Together, we strive to:
-
Bridge gaps between theory and practice.
-
Advocate for ethical and inclusive approaches to heritagisation.
-
Encourage open and safe dialogue between researchers and decision-makers from regions facing similar heritage challenges.
-
Raise effective awareness on the risks of commodifying culture for commercial gains that may:
-
prioritise staged or "idealised" heritage over authentic practices.
-
lead to potential marginalisation of local voices and stakeholders.
-
-
Create an impact to mitigate the effects of authorised heritage discourse (AHD) within the increased implementations of heritagisation.
-
Encourage bottom-top approach instead of the commonly practiced top-bottom one.
By sharing research, members can:
-
Discuss contextual conditions and real-life consequences of heritagisation.
-
Highlight the nuanced impacts of heritagisation.
-
Propose actionable solutions to contemporary heritage issues.
-
Inspire others through case studies and success stories
SHARE YOUR WORK
Our research corner features a dedicated section entitled Manchettes for members to showcase their research collaboration and insights. Contributions may explore topics such as – but are not limited to:
-
Conceptualisation and theorisation of heritagisation.
-
Connections between heritagisation, commodification, cultural heritage tourism, and the creative economy.
-
The impact of staged heritage in meaning-making processes of national identity.
-
Traditional and modern methods of conservation and safeguarding different forms of cultural heritage.
-
Creative Destruction in the context of cultural heritage: Methods of destruction, construction, and reconstruction of heritage.
-
Issues of cultural sensitivity, ownerships, and emotional memory.
-
Capitalisation, commercialisation, exploitation, and utilisation of built and/or living heritage.
-
The role and contribution of communities in the heritagisation processes.
-
Discussing the notions of ‘whose’ heritage while advocating heritage for all approach.
get involved
We invite you to join the Heritagisation Discourse Network and contribute to shaping the future of heritage conservation in the Arab region and beyond. Together, we can ensure that cultural heritage remains a vibrant, authentic, and inclusive part of our shared human experience. For inquiries or membership details, write to us at connote@dlala.net
