Imbuing principles of care: Reflecting on the impact of Venice and Nara in the United Kingdom

Lingle, Ashley, Henderson, Jane ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3027-8452 and Fredheim, Harald 2024. Imbuing principles of care: Reflecting on the impact of Venice and Nara in the United Kingdom. China Cultural Heritage 123 (5) , pp. 54-66.

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Abstract

This paper explores the significance of the Venice Charter and the Nara Document on Authenticity in professional heritage practice, focusing on the UK historic environment. Charters serve to unify and clarify standards within the profession, relying on professional consensus rather than strict mandates for implementation. The Venice Charter was widely embraced in the UK for its clear principles and commitment to preserving heritage for future generations. In contrast, the Nara Document expanded the concept of authenticity to include intangible aspects, challenging the Eurocentric focus of the Venice Charter. However, Nara’s broader and less tangible approach has seen more limited application. The paper gives an historical overview of the development of the UK heritage sector, exploring why the Venice Charter has been more readily accepted by UK practitioners, suggesting that its familiarity and clear guidelines resonate more within the professional community. It also addresses the social and cultural barriers that have hindered the adoption of the Nara Document. The discussion highlights the ongoing challenges in heritage conservation, particularly the balance between professional judgement and adherence to evolving charters. The authors conclude by questioning whether the differential impact of these charters reflects the inherent value of their principles or a professional rluctance to embrace complexity and uncertainty in heritage conservation.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	History, Archaeology and Religion
Subjects:	A General Works > AM Museums (General). Collectors and collecting (General) B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BJ Ethics J Political Science > J General legislative and executive papers
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Venice Charter, Nara Document on Authenticity, Professional Standards, Heritage Practice, Historic Environment, United Kingdom
Language other than English:	Chinese
ISSN:	1672-7819
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	29 January 2025
Date of Acceptance:	10 October 2024
Last Modified:	11 Feb 2025 10:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/175734

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