**1. An introduction to cultural heritage and vision**

Cultural heritage defines the identity of a country. It is not often explicitly defined [1, 2] or sometimes is associated to a process of remembering meant to show ways to understand the present by using the past experience [3]. From an economic perspective, cultural heritage is the property of a collectivity [1]; it raises questions on ownership of origin [1] and opportunity [4] and may represent an important source of economic boon [5]. The preservation and judicious promotion

of culture can greatly influence tourism and can contribute to better social coherence [6] and improvement of education and lifestyle. Moreover, heritage preserves the pride of belonging to a historical and territorial community.

**1.1 A snapshot of heritage acknowledgment**

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90793*

communities.

The national acknowledgment of cultural identity represents an expression of the raised awareness of the present under the light of the past [11, 12]. The Ming dynasty is a singular expression of the Chinese lands; the temples of the ancient Gods embody the Greek identity; the Roman baths are reminiscent of the historical presence of the Roman Empire; the Mayan pyramids still praise the ancestors of the Mexican land. The traces of the past invigorated in museums, archeological sites, and cultural establishments are the true ambassadors of wealth and heritage of

*Public Governance and Cultural Heritage: Exploring the Links between Culture and Social…*

In Europe, one of the measures agreed by the member states for the preservation and acknowledgment of community identity [13] was the creation of a system of certification by the EU for buildings, museums, documents, archives, or events, which played a special role in the history of the continent from the perspective of past actions that competed in its current reality. The selection process started in 2013, and by the year 2018, only 38 sites with symbolic cultural value were recog-

In Romania, a single objective was awarded the European Heritage Label, which is the Memorial of the Victims of Communism and of the Resistance, from Sighet. The Memorial was created to commemorate the victory against communism in 1989, and it represents "a means to resuscitate the collective memory" [14] on one

Also, the UNESCO created the List of World Heritage Sites with the core goal to protect the selected properties under the terms of the 1972 UNESCO Convention concerning the protection of heritage. Regarding Romania, eight such objectives were inserted in the UNESCO list, out of which six are of cultural importance and

• The eight monasteries of Moldavia (Voronet, Humor, Moldovita, Sucevita,

mural painting, dating from the first half of the sixteenth century

Cetatuie, Costesti Blidaru, Capalna, Luncani-Piatra Rosie, Banita)

• The villages with fortified churches in Transylvania (Calnic, Valea Viilor,

• The wooden churches of Maramures (Rogoz, Plopis Surdesti, Desesti, Budesti,

• The Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathian and other regions of

When it comes to the preservation of the written format of cultural heritage, Europeana [16] was created, an EU digital platform able to reunite works from all

Arbore, Patrauti, Suceava, Probota Monastery) with exterior very well-preserved

• The Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains (Sarmizegetusa Regia, Costesti

nized by the EU by granting "the European Heritage Label" (**Figure 2**).

milestone of Romania's and Europe's history (**Figure 3**).

two of natural value [15] (**Figure 4**).

• The Historic Centre of Sighisoara

Biertan, Saschiz, Viscri, Darjiu, Prejmer)

Barsana, Ieud-Deal, Poienile Izei)

• The Monastery of Horezu

Europe

**293**

• The Danube Delta

This chapter analyzes cultural heritage as an expression of museums, libraries, cinemas, theaters, archeological sites, and archives of a community. Reminiscent of the past embodies an explorable physical form in museums, a written narrative value [7] transmissible by manuscripts, but also an expression of informative acts and freedom in artistic manifestations.

In the context of globalization and a multicultural world, political strategies [8] capture a special importance both globally but especially at national level. Global increase of population mobility, a continuous change of social context, turbulences, and political conflicts can threaten the preservation of individual and historical values of communities. In this context, the government's approach and concern on laws issued in the cultural field becomes of special importance [9].

In such a context, the governance vision has to address three major requirements: acknowledgement, support, and protection of cultural heritage (**Figure 1**).

As a general remark, the core scope of culture policies should reside in preserving national heritage. Worldwide, regulations regarding the three core elements are set, but it is in the power of every nation to decide on their own specific regulations. As Simmons states, "justice cares about insuring to all persons (access to) their fair share of goods and resources; it cares far less about the manner in which persons use these goods to advance their life plans and particular projects" [10].

Nevertheless, the European nations have agreed on a set of common regulations in order to set the grounds for uniformization and analogy between states' indicators. Still, there are several limitations in acquiring comparable data regarding culture from the member states, because of the use of different approaches in collecting data or reporting. But still, the importance of working and improvement in this field is of utmost importance.

The main limitations in correlating information in the culture sphere between states worldwide reside in the differences in collecting and reporting of statistical data. Comparison between states in this regard is not conclusive.

**Figure 1.** *Synergetic requirements of governance vision.*

*Public Governance and Cultural Heritage: Exploring the Links between Culture and Social… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90793*

## **1.1 A snapshot of heritage acknowledgment**

of culture can greatly influence tourism and can contribute to better social coherence [6] and improvement of education and lifestyle. Moreover, heritage preserves

This chapter analyzes cultural heritage as an expression of museums, libraries, cinemas, theaters, archeological sites, and archives of a community. Reminiscent of the past embodies an explorable physical form in museums, a written narrative value [7] transmissible by manuscripts, but also an expression of informative acts

In the context of globalization and a multicultural world, political strategies [8] capture a special importance both globally but especially at national level. Global increase of population mobility, a continuous change of social context, turbulences, and political conflicts can threaten the preservation of individual and historical values of communities. In this context, the government's approach and concern on

As a general remark, the core scope of culture policies should reside in preserving national heritage. Worldwide, regulations regarding the three core elements are set, but it is in the power of every nation to decide on their own specific regulations. As Simmons states, "justice cares about insuring to all persons (access to) their fair share of goods and resources; it cares far less about the manner in which persons use

Nevertheless, the European nations have agreed on a set of common regulations in order to set the grounds for uniformization and analogy between states' indicators. Still, there are several limitations in acquiring comparable data regarding culture from the member states, because of the use of different approaches in collecting data or reporting. But still, the importance of working and improvement

The main limitations in correlating information in the culture sphere between states worldwide reside in the differences in collecting and reporting of statistical

the pride of belonging to a historical and territorial community.

laws issued in the cultural field becomes of special importance [9]. In such a context, the governance vision has to address three major requirements: acknowledgement, support, and protection of cultural heritage

these goods to advance their life plans and particular projects" [10].

data. Comparison between states in this regard is not conclusive.

and freedom in artistic manifestations.

in this field is of utmost importance.

(**Figure 1**).

*Heritage*

**Figure 1.**

**292**

*Synergetic requirements of governance vision.*

The national acknowledgment of cultural identity represents an expression of the raised awareness of the present under the light of the past [11, 12]. The Ming dynasty is a singular expression of the Chinese lands; the temples of the ancient Gods embody the Greek identity; the Roman baths are reminiscent of the historical presence of the Roman Empire; the Mayan pyramids still praise the ancestors of the Mexican land. The traces of the past invigorated in museums, archeological sites, and cultural establishments are the true ambassadors of wealth and heritage of communities.

In Europe, one of the measures agreed by the member states for the preservation and acknowledgment of community identity [13] was the creation of a system of certification by the EU for buildings, museums, documents, archives, or events, which played a special role in the history of the continent from the perspective of past actions that competed in its current reality. The selection process started in 2013, and by the year 2018, only 38 sites with symbolic cultural value were recognized by the EU by granting "the European Heritage Label" (**Figure 2**).

In Romania, a single objective was awarded the European Heritage Label, which is the Memorial of the Victims of Communism and of the Resistance, from Sighet. The Memorial was created to commemorate the victory against communism in 1989, and it represents "a means to resuscitate the collective memory" [14] on one milestone of Romania's and Europe's history (**Figure 3**).

Also, the UNESCO created the List of World Heritage Sites with the core goal to protect the selected properties under the terms of the 1972 UNESCO Convention concerning the protection of heritage. Regarding Romania, eight such objectives were inserted in the UNESCO list, out of which six are of cultural importance and two of natural value [15] (**Figure 4**).


When it comes to the preservation of the written format of cultural heritage, Europeana [16] was created, an EU digital platform able to reunite works from all

**Figure 2.** *The map of awarded European heritage labels. Source: European Commission.*

the population's trust towards national identity. However, it is interesting to take a glance in time on the governments' measures [12] to support the cultural sector [8]

*Public Governance and Cultural Heritage: Exploring the Links between Culture and Social…*

The financing of the cultural sector has been achieved over time from different sources, while the government's input was more or less significant. Alongside public funding, the cult of sponsorship and donations/maecenates represents an active

The concept of Maecenas, known today as sponsorship, derives from the name of Gaius Cilnius Maecenas, a former Roman statesman who lived in the first century before Christ and whose name remained immortal in history for his merits of protector of arts, literature, and science [17]. Thus, although the maecenate/sponsorship has its origins in sustaining culture, nowadays the meaning and destinations of sponsorship have become much wider, so we can say that the cultural sector "competes" for these sources of financing with other sectors of the economy.

and use its potential in the social sphere (**Figure 5**).

*The National Village Museum "Dimitrie Guști," in Bucharest, Romania.*

**Figure 5.**

**295**

**Figure 4.**

*Sucevița monastery, in Romania.*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90793*

source of income with old origins for sustaining culture heritage.

**Figure 3.** *Sarmizegetusa Regia, the pagan Dacian temple, in Hunedoara, Romania.*

over Europe and share it with libraries, archives and museums. The contribution of such initiative is of uttermost importance for education, research and recreative activities [3].
