Location of the initiative:

 FINLAND

Relation to Strategy 21 Recommendations:

S7 - Develop and promote participatory heritage identification programmes

Time span of the initiative:

The project was executed in 2014. The project report was published in the spring of 2015.

Brief description of the initiative:

“Everyone’s cultural heritage” refers to the Finnish background work for joining the Council of Europe Faro Convention. In the spirit of the Faro Convention, a participatory approach was chosen for the preparations.

The purpose of the project was to map and assess the citizens’ and stakeholders’ views regarding the topical challenges in fostering cultural heritage and promote discussion on the value of heritage for society, communities and individual citizens. Another aim was to make the Convention and its content better known in Finland. Identification of existing good practice was an additional goal.

In the interactive preparation process, an open Internet survey (otakantaa.fi) was executed and three discussion fora were organised in different parts of the country. Social media and traditional media were actively used as well. The dialogue was structured under three themes: first, cultural heritage as part of everyday life of communities and individuals, second, heritage as a resource for sustainable development, and third, open, fair and people-oriented heritage governance.

The Internet survey mapped what kind of heritage and environment were regarded as significant and valuable by the respondents. It contained questions such as: what kind of heritage do you wish to sustain and transmit to future generations? Do you expect and need support in fostering heritage, and, if yes, what kind of support and advice and from whom? What kind of new, innovative ways to utilize and use heritage you can name, e.g. in your neighbourhood? Should heritage be included in childhood education, primary and secondary school and adult education and how? If and how does heritage affect your quality of life? In what ways should the heritage administration be developed, what kind of new channels and methods of cooperation are needed? Also the value of heritage to society was touched upon.

The project, executed in 2014, was a joint effort of the National Board of Antiquities and the Finnish Local Heritage Federation. The Ministry of Culture and Education financed the project. The final report of the project presented the Convention and its main principles, as well as contained an analysis of the findings of the project and outlined a number of conclusions on the consequences of the ratification of the Convention. The report published in the spring of 2015 also recommended the ratification of the Faro Convention.

Objectives of the initiative:

• Explore the implications of the ratification of the Council of Europe Faro Convention
• Make suggestions for actions in the spirit of the Convention
• Arouse discussion on the value of cultural heritage for society, communities and individuals

Brief assessment of the initiative’s results:

“Everyone’s cultural heritage” strengthened the process of the ratification of the Faro Convention and the sense of shared responsibility as well as improved the capability of the officials to take into account the needs of the public.

Online resources:

• https://www.museovirasto.fi/uploads/Meista/kohti-kestavaa-kulttuuriperintotyota.pdf
• https://www.museovirasto.fi/en/about-us/international-activities/international-conventions
• https://rm.coe.int/towards-the-ratification-of-the-faro-convention-the-finnish-experience/16807599fa

Contact:

Ulla Salmela
tel. +358 295 33 6251
[email protected]