International Charters. Research and Values for Cultural Heritage

The Università Iuav di Venezia is conducting experimental research on utilising International Charters as a tool for fostering multidisciplinary dialogue at the global level, aimed at advancing the knowledge and conservation strategies for Cultural Heritage. This investigation traces the evolution of concepts and definitions articulated in key Charters, beginning with the Athens Charter and extending to the most recent international frameworks. The study highlights the dynamic relationship between International Charters and shifting social, cultural, and economic conditions, including the impacts of war, geopolitical reconfigurations, and socio-political transformations. Notable examples such as the ICOMOS Charters of 1982 and 2000, the Dresden Declaration (ICOMOS 1982), the Riga Charter (ICOMOS 2000), the San Antonio Declaration (ICOMOS 1996), the Québec Declaration (ICOMOS 2008a), the Delhi Declaration (ICOMOS 2017), and the Nara Document (ICOMOS 1994) are examined for their evolving responses to issues like territorial boundaries, the conservation and restoration of architectural heritage, and the implications of shifting global power structures. These documents address technical conservation practices and reflect broader concerns, including the principles of interpretation and identifi- cation of cultural heritage, as seen in documents such as the Florence Declaration (ICOMOS 2014b) and the ICOMOS Charter for the Interpretation and Presentation of Cultural Heritage (ICOMOS 2008b). By analysing the evolving frameworks of the Charters, the research positions them as critical instruments for investigating the complex relationships between cultural heritage and communities. The study emphasises their role as privileged observers of the intersection between heritage preservation, global socio-political changes, and the increasing interactions between local and global contexts.