2nd Heritage Forum of Central Europe: The limits of heritage

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The central theme of the 2nd Heritage Forum of Central Europe, held on 11–14 June 2013, was The Boundaries of Heritage.

The second decade of the 21st century invites reflection not only on the system of heritage protection itself, but also on its scope and underlying philosophy: What should be protected? How should relationships between the present and the past be shaped? In the context of international and local lists of cultural heritage sites, places and forms — where does heritage end, and when does the present become heritage?

Over the course of two days of discussions, organised into six thematic sessions, participants addressed a range of pressing issues, including the limits of monument reconstruction, the political and economic dimensions of heritage, the growing importance of intangible heritage, and the management of large-scale heritage sites.

The 2nd Heritage Forum of Central Europe confirmed Poland’s leading role in Visegrad cooperation in the field of culture. It also strengthened Kraków’s position as Poland’s window onto Central Europe. It was therefore no coincidence that the conference took place at the International Cultural Centre, which for more than twenty years has served as a voice of Central Europe in the international debate on cultural heritage, conducting research and implementing specialised educational programmes devoted to heritage.

OPENING LECTURE: “Si Monumentum Requiris…” – Prof. Joseph Rykwert

The Forum brought together researchers and experts not only from the Visegrad countries, but also from nearly twenty European countries, as well as from Asia and Australia. Thanks to the activities of the International Cultural Centre, the issues of Central European cultural heritage reach far beyond the borders of the Visegrad Group countries.

The conference opened with a lecture by Prof. Joseph Rykwert, a world-renowned scholar of architecture. Among the Forum’s 78 speakers were, among others: Prof. Marie-Theres Albert, Prof. Gregory J. Ashworth, Prof. Ewa Chojecka, Peter van Dun, Dr Tamás Fejérdy, Dr Krzysztof Kowalski, Prof. Małgorzata Omilanowska, Prof. Jacek Purchla, Dennis Rodwell, Dr Marko Špikić, Dr Gábor Soós, and Dr Jan Sucháček.