Coordinators: Dr. Giulia Kakavas — giulia.kakavas@unimore.it Dr.Alessandra Viani – alessandra.viani@unimore.it | PARTNERS: University of Rome La Sapienza – Dipartimento STUDI GIURIDICI ED ECONOMICI (DSGE), Prof. Fabio Franceschi University of Parma, Dipartimento di Discipline umanistiche, sociali e delle Imprese culturali (DUSIC) – Prof. Giancarlo Anello University of Genova, DISPI. Dipartimento di scienze politiche e internazionali, Prof.ssa Daniela Tarantino |
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Research Cluster on Religious Cultural Heritage
The ratification of the Faro Convention, with Law No. 133 of 2020, has introduced new perspectives and responsibilities that prompt a profound reassessment of how cultural heritage is perceived and protected. The Convention promotes an integrated and participatory vision of cultural heritage, grounded in a dynamic and broad definition that includes both tangible and intangible elements, recognizing the interaction between people and places as a central element for its development.
This legal instrument places the concept of the “heritage community” at the core of its conceptual framework. This term refers to a group of people who, recognizing and attributing value to specific elements of cultural heritage, actively commit to safeguarding them and transmitting them to future generations. This redefinition of heritage shifts the focus from a static and material idea of cultural goods, enriching it with the intangible and value-based dimensions that reflect evolving beliefs, practices, and knowledge resulting from the dynamic interaction between individuals and places over time.
The Convention thus introduces a paradigm shift that transcends the traditional vision of mere conservation of cultural goods, recognizing every individual’s right to fully participate in the cultural life of their community, interact with heritage according to their own choices, and contribute to its enrichment. From this perspective, cultural heritage becomes an essential resource not only for sustainable development but also for promoting collective well-being, closely tied to social cohesion and intercultural dialogue. The active participation of communities, far from being an accessory element, is elevated to a guiding principle of an integrated approach to the protection and enhancement of heritage, recognizing that the direct involvement of people is key to its very survival and its contemporary significance.
In light of the principles outlined by the Faro Convention and the growing importance of religious cultural heritage as an integral part of Europe’s common heritage, the opportunity to establish a research cluster dedicated to the study and research of these themes has become evident. The creation of such a cluster not only responds to the need to deepen knowledge related to religious cultural heritage but also to the urgency of integrating this heritage into the context of contemporary social and cultural dynamics, which are constantly evolving. The cluster will serve as an academic hub for developing innovative and sustainable policies that enhance the contribution of religious heritage to social cohesion, interreligious dialogue, and the formation of an increasingly inclusive citizenship.
Operating in synergy between different universities, the cluster has the potential to attract and coordinate experts from various fields—law, anthropology, history, and cultural heritage studies—to develop interdisciplinary approaches capable of addressing the complex challenges posed by the protection and enhancement of religious cultural heritage. Through comparative studies and internationally focused research projects, the cluster will offer new interpretive keys for understanding the role that religious heritage can play in fostering a democratic and inclusive vision of contemporary societies, in line with the principles enshrined in the Faro Convention. The active participation of religious and civil communities, as provided by the Convention itself, can also promote a shared and sustainable management of cultural heritage, building a model of intergenerational and intercultural dialogue based on mutual respect and the mutual enrichment of diversity.
a) Innovation and Democratic Participation in Religious Cultural Heritage:
The Faro Convention promotes a vision of heritage that goes beyond simple material conservation, encouraging the active participation of communities in the management of cultural heritage. The cluster will serve as a reference point for developing and coordinating studies and projects that actively involve religious and civil communities in the enhancement of their heritage. This democratic participation is essential for promoting inclusive intercultural dialogue.
b) Religious Cultural Heritage as a Tool for Social Inclusion:
Religious heritage is a key element in the construction of a common cultural heritage and in strengthening intercultural dialogue. The Faro Convention highlights how cultural heritage can promote social cohesion and peace. The study cluster aims to analyze how religious heritage can be a vehicle for inclusion, dialogue, and understanding among different communities, particularly in multireligious and multicultural contexts.
c) Interdisciplinary Approach and Coordination between Universities:
The establishment of a cluster harnesses the multidisciplinary expertise necessary to address the theme of religious cultural heritage from various perspectives. Religious heritage touches on multiple fields, from law to sociology, from anthropology to art history. The cluster will enable collaboration between universities and scholars from different disciplines, fostering the development of shared research programs and promoting a broader and more coordinated reflection.
d) Legal Implications:
The ratification of the Faro Convention by Italy has led to a revision of the legal framework regulating cultural heritage. The cluster will play a key role in studying the new legal framework introduced, promoting legal research and comparative analyses on the topic of the protection of religious cultural heritage. This reflection is essential for developing policies that respect cultural and religious diversity while also protecting the common heritage.
e) Enhancement of Religious Cultural Heritage and New Technologies:
The use of advanced technologies for the conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage is increasingly relevant. This cluster will become a center of innovation, developing technological projects for the digitization, conservation, and dissemination of religious heritage. In collaboration with public and private entities, the cluster could promote the use of new technologies to ensure the sustainable and inclusive management of religious cultural goods.
f) Training and Dissemination of Skills:
This cluster will be fundamental for training new generations of professionals capable of managing religious cultural heritage in a sustainable and participatory manner. Through advanced training courses, seminars, and workshops, the cluster would contribute to disseminating specific skills in this sector, ensuring the continuous training of cultural operators. Moreover, it will promote the exchange of expertise between experts and local communities, creating a network of shared knowledge.