Thematic sessions

Thematic sessions and four main presentations on the following questions:

• How do you promote economic development based on heritage?
• How do you share the benefits of economic development?
• How do you manage the development pressures?
• What kinds of practical tools can be used to achieve the goals of enhancing both heritage and economics in historic cities?

Discussion of the main reports in five groups according to the languages of the Congress.

Presentations:

1.

Wednesday June 20, 9:15
Korston

What is Heritage Economics?

By David Throsby, Macquarie University, Sydney
(Presentation in English, with simultaneous translation in all Congress languages)

Heritage buildings, historic sites and cultural districts should be seen as assets in a city’s urban fabric – assets that have both economic and cultural value. They contribute economic value through their commercial potential for tourism and for adaptive re-use as housing or commercial space. They contribute cultural value through their role in creating livable urban environments, and providing cultural enrichment in the lives of locals and visitors alike. This presentation will show how economics can help in understanding, interpreting and measuring these contributions to urban development, leading to outcomes that are sustainable in both economic and cultural terms.

David Throsby is Professor of Economics at Macquarie University in Sydney. He is internationally known for his work in the economics of the arts and culture. His recent research has focused on cultural policy, culture in economic development, and the economics of heritage conservation. His book Economics and Culture, published by Cambridge University Press in 2001, has now appeared also in Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Korean and Japanese translations.

2.

Wednesday June 20, 9:45
Korston

How do you promote economic development based on heritage preservation and share the benefits?

By Mona Seregaldin, Harvard University
(Presentation in English, with simultaneous translation in all Congress languages)

Sustainable Development entails change but also embodies the sense of cultural continuity that is necessary to preserve a sense of identity. Development and identity are multidimensional concepts consisting of overlays of mutually reinforcing components. The value placed on these different dimensions as well as on the different components of the heritage varies widely among actors, stakeholders and custodians and these viewpoints evolve over time. In developed countries investment in heritage preservation has become a strategic objective of economic development. In the developing world, globalization and the rapid pace of technological innovation tend to impede such efforts except in the case of major tourism attractions.

The experience of cities that have used culture and heritage as a driver of economic development points to key ingredients of success: an entrepreneurial spirit, an understanding that preservation is the cornerstone of sustainable valorization, operational strategies linked to regional and urban growth dynamics, strategic use of public investment as a pump-priming mechanism, an inclusive outreach and participatory process, a sustained effort at maintaining social balance and an effective monitoring system.

Equitable sharing of the benefits of growth must be based on a realistic assessment of the economics of heritage preservation to foster private investment in valorization, reach local stakeholders, contribute to municipal finance and most importantly provide for the preservation of the heritage itself.

Mona Seregaldin is Adjunct Professor of Urban Planning at Harvard where she has been a member of the faculty since 1985. She has over 30 years of professional and academic experience in the United States and abroad and has worked on projects sponsored by USAID, UNCHS/HABITAT, the World Bank, and various foundations in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Dr. Serageldin has developed new approaches to project design and implementation that rely on capacity building methods through training and technical assistance. Actively involved in national and international conferences, her ongoing research and numerous publications have dealt with issues of urban strategies for economic development, strategic planning, public/private partnerships, small business development and micro-credit, and community-based approaches to housing and economic development


3.

Thursday June 21, 9:15
Korston

Managing Development Pressures in Urban Heritage Sites.

By Eduardo Rojas, Inter-American Development Bank
(Presentation in Spanish, with simultaneous translation in all Congress languages)

Significant costs are involved in the successful economic development of urban heritage sites. Expanding economic activities demand floor space and services in the site and pressure for its provision. Examples of negative impacts abound such as: public spaces lose their character when modern transportation modes are introduced; heritage buildings are torn down or grossly defaced to expand commercial, office or residential floor space; and new buildings in empty lots do not fit the character of the site in bulk, materials or design. Economic success often leads to gentrification that displaces the original residents and users of the heritage sites; in turn, this creates social tension and loss of political support for heritage preservation and development activities.

Managing the economic development of urban heritage sites requires thorough government intervention. Technical instruments abound, including economic and operational incentives and command and control tools that can help prevent the negative outcomes of unregulated development. Nonetheless, effective management of urban heritage sites is only possible when a broad consensus exists with regards to the values of the heritage site and the economic losses the community is prepared to take to preserve them.. Extreme outcomes, such as the rampant destruction of heritage values observable in unmanaged sites or the development freeze that usually accompanies full and inflexible preservation efforts, must be avoided. A well-balanced set of preservation and development objectives approved by all stakeholders is the best foundation for the legal and institutional framework for the preservation and development plans and for the judicious application of the available management instruments. Such a consensus is usually the result of complex political negotiation that tests the leadership skills of majors, elected officials, and community leaders.

Eduardo Rojas is a Principal Specialist in Urban Development with the Inter-American Development Bank. His current responsibilities comprise policy and strategy formulation and best practices research and dissemination in the urban sector. He also serves as Team Leader and Advisor of Project Teams in the assessment of innovative urban development, municipal finance, housing, and urban heritage preservation loans. Prior to joining the Bank, he worked with the Regional Development Department of the Organization of American States and as Assistant Professor of Urban Planning in the Masters Degree Program in Urban Studies at the Catholic University of Chile. He is the author of several books, a regular contributor to technical journals and guest lecturer at European and American universities. He holds a degree in Architecture from the Catholic University of Chile, an M.Phil. in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Edinburgh, an M.B.A., with a concentration in Finance, from Johns Hopkins University, and a Diploma in Environmental Management from Centre d'Etudes Industrielles in Geneva, Switzerland.

4.

Thursday June 21, 9:45
Korston

What kinds of practical tools can be used to achieve the goals of enhancing both heritage and economics in historic cities?

By Jean-Louis Luxen, Culture, Heritage and Development International
(Presentation in French, with simultaneous translation in all Congress languages)

This presentation will address ways of mobilizing additional (public and private) funding for conservation; the kind of expenditures to be taken into account; the role of public authorities; the fiscal and administrative tools available; and the appropriateness of various measures according to the type of expenditures.

Jean-Louis Luxen graduated with a PhD in Law at the Unviersity of Leuven and has been a graduate fellow in Economics at Standford University. He is currently president of Culture, Heritage and Development International ASBL, based in Brussels. He previously was the general administrator of the Department of Education and Culture in the Communauté Francaise of Belgium. He is also a professor and board member of the University of Leuven. He has been working in the field of Heritage Preservation since 1973 leading the field at the National and European levels. He became General Secreatry of ICOMOS in 1993 and has been on charge of the preparation of important reports for international organizations such as the Council of Europe. He was also the Liason officer of ICOMOS for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention of UNESCO.He is currently working on the promotion of cultural and development projects at non-governmental organizations.



Group discussions

Wednesday June 20 and Thursday June 21, 10:45-12:30
Korston, small group sessions

(conducted in one language per group, no simultaneous translation)

Immediately following the keynote presentations, participants will be divided into groups according to one of five languages: English, Spanish or French (the three official languages of the OWHC), and Russian and Tatar (the main languages associated with the host city).

Facilitators will lead the group discussions and promote the exchange of ideas and experiences among participants. Rapporteurs related to each of the 5 languages will collect the conclusions reached during those discussions and, at the Congress’ summary session, General Rapporteurs will share those conclusions and their implications with the plenary audience.

English group:
Moderator: Jeff Cody
Rapporteur Dino Bumbaru

French group:
Moderator: François Leblanc
Rapporteur: Christian Ost

Spanish group:
Moderator: Claudia Cancino
Rapporteur: Alfredo Conti

Russian group:
Moderator:
Rapporteur:

Tatar group:
Moderator:
Rapporteur: