TThhee IICCOOMMOOSS CChhaarrtteerr ffoorr tthhee IInntteerrpprreettaattiioonn aanndd PPrreesseennttaattiioonn ooff CCuullttuurraall HHeerriittaaggee SSiitteess PROPOSED FINAL DRAFT Revised under the Auspices of the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Interpretation and Presentation 10 April 2007 Preamble Definitions Objectives Principles1PREAMBLE Since its establishment in 1965 as a worldwide organisation of heritage professionals dedicated to the study, documentation, and protection of cultural heritage sites, ICOMOS has strived to promote the conservation ethic in all its activities and to help enhance public appreciation of humanity’s material heritage in all its forms and di-versity. As noted in the Charter of Venice (1964) “It is essential that the principles guiding the preservation and restoration of ancient buildings should be agreed and be laid down on an international basis, with each country being responsible for applying the plan within the framework of its own culture and traditions.” Subsequent ICOMOS char-ters have taken up that mission, establishing professional guidelines for specific con-servation challenges and encouraging effective communication about the importance of heritage conservation in every region of the world. These earlier ICOMOS charters stress the importance of public communication as an essential part of the larger conservation process (variously describing it as “dissemi-nation,” “popularization,” “presentation,” and “interpretation”). They implicitly ac-knowledge that every act of heritage conservation—within all the world’s cultural tra-ditions—is by its nature a communicative act. From the vast range of surviving material remains and intangible values of past communities and civilisations, the choice of what to preserve, how to preserve it, and how it is to be presented to the public are all elements of site interpretation. They represent every generation’s vision of what is significant, what is important, and why material remains from the past should be passed on to generations yet to come. The need for a clear rationale, standardised terminology, and accepted professional principles for Interpretation and Presentation* is evident. In recent years, the dra-matic expansion of interpretive activities at many cultural heritage sites and the in-troduction of elaborate interpretive technologies and new economic strategies for the * See definitions on page 3.2marketing and management of cultural heritage sites have created new complexities and aroused basic questions that are central to the goals of both conservation and the public appreciation of cultural heritage sites throughout the world: -- What are the accepted and acceptable goals for the Interpretation and Pres-entation of cultural heritage sites? -- What principles should help determine which technical means and methods are appropriate in particular cultural and heritage contexts? -- What general ethical and professional considerations should help shape In-terpretation and Presentation in light of its wide variety of specific forms and techniques? The purpose of this Charter is therefore to define the basic principles of Interpreta-tion and Presentation as essential components of heritage conservation efforts and as a means of enhancing public appreciation and understanding of cultural heritage sites.* * Although the principles and objectives of this Charter may equally apply to off-site interpretation, its main focus is interpretation and presentation at, or in the immediate vicinity of, cultural heritage sites.3DEFINITIONS For the purposes of the present Charter, Interpretation refers to the full range of potential activities intended to heighten public awareness and enhance understanding of cultural heritage site. These can in-clude print and electronic publications, public lectures, on-site and directly related off-site installations, educational programmes, community activities, and ongoing re-search, training, and evaluation of the interpretation process itself. Presentation more specifically denotes the carefully planned communication of in-terpretive content through the arrangement of interpretive information, physical access, and interpretive infrastructure at a cultural heritage site. It can be conveyed through a variety of technical means, including, yet not requiring, such elements as informational panels, museum-type displays, formalized walking tours, lectures and guided tours, and multimedia applications and websites. Interpretive infrastructure refers to physical installations, facilities, and areas at, or connected with a cultural heritage site that may be specifically utilised for the pur-poses of interpretation and presentation including those supporting interpretation via new and existing technologies. Site interpreters refers to staff or volunteers at a cultural heritage site who are permanently or temporarily engaged in the public communication of information re-lating to the values and significance of the site. Cultural Heritage Site refers to a place, locality, natural landscape, settlement area, architectural complex, archaeological site, or standing structure that is recog-nized and often legally protected as a place of historical and cultural significance.4 OBJECTIVES In recognizing that interpretation and presentation are part of the overall process of cultural heritage conservation and management, this Charter seeks to establish seven cardinal principles, upon which Interpretation and Presentation—in whatever form or medium is deemed appropriate in specific circumstances—should be based. Principle 1: Access and Understanding Principle 2: Information Sources Principle 3: Attention to Setting and Context Principle 4: Preservation of Authenticity Principle 5: Planning for Sustainability Principle 6: Concern for Inclusiveness Principle 7: Importance of Research, Training, and Evaluation Following from these seven principles, the objectives of this Charter are to: 1. Facilitate understanding and appreciation of cultural heritage sites and fos-ter public awareness and engagement in the need for their protection and con-servation. 2. Communicate the meaning of cultural heritage sites to a range of audiences through