What has the European Year of Cultural Heritage achieved for us in Germany? Have the expectations that the organizers and we, as part of the cultural heritage, had for the year been fulfilled? Bernd Jäger (Managing Director of JaKo Baudenkmalpflege, Rot an der Rot) takes stock
Of course, we rightly ask ourselves these and other questions when we look back on the Year of Cultural Heritage 2018, which was held under the motto “Sharing Heritage”. What was certainly a shame is the fact that this year was not, or only temporarily or only marginally, recognized by the public or society as a whole. On the one hand, this is of course due to the fact that the funding was probably too low to achieve widespread awareness. However, in my opinion, this also brings a “home-made” problem to the surface. From society’s point of view, there is no homogeneity in the “market” of cultural heritage/preservation of monuments. There are various “players” who have not been pulling in the same direction for decades, but are opportunistically trying to degrade or expose the other “players”. Should we all succeed together in changing this perception so that society realizes that, although there are completely different “players”
who are involved in cultural heritage, but that they are all pulling in the same direction – for the good of the greater whole, namely our cultural heritage – then emotions such as passion and passion will suddenly be expressed that will have a lasting impact on our society.
One positive and lasting aspect of this year was certainly the fact that the previously rather passive German National Committee for Monument Protection (DNK) has established and transformed itself into an active contact point for all groups involved in the preservation of cultural heritage. It is also thanks to the DNK, above all its director Dr. Koch, that the topic has become much better established in the political perception.
The Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 will be a lasting success if we all work together, together with the DNK as an active anchor point, to convey the enthusiasm and passion behind our cultural heritage to the public. If we continue to transport various “theaters of war”, then in five years’ time no one will be talking about this impressive opportunity for our cultural heritage from 2018.