Abstract
The standard methodology for the assessment of cultural heritage significance relies on hindsight, with a passage of time elapsed between the creation of the site or object and its assessment. There are, however, cases where heritage significance is instant (e.g., sites associated with the first Moon landing). This paper argues that hindsight will not be required to determine that the COVID-19 pandemic will come to be considered as a significant historic event, as COVID-19 has already manifested itself as a social, cultural and economic disruptor on a global scale with a mortality in the millions. Heritage professionals have the unique opportunity to assess and document places and structures associated with the pandemic, that are poised to be worthy of a heritage listing in the near future, while they are still in use and function as intended. This paper discusses the nature of the sites and structures and explores possible management approaches to safeguard evidence of the pandemic for future generations.
Highlights
Soon after its existence became public in late January 2020, COVID-19, the disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [1], rapidly developed into a global pandemic affecting every continent
Even at a sub-national level, governments engaged in measures to curb or at least slow the progress of COVID-19 and to ensure that the public health system was not overwhelmed by cases requiring hospitalization
There is a growing body of literature that comments on the impact of COVID-19 and the associated restrictions on gatherings and people’s movement on exhibitions [9], performances [10,11], museums [12,13], heritage conferences [14], employment conditions of heritage professionals [15], heritage tourism [16,17], library use [18], historic gardens [19], heritage soundscapes [20,21] and cultural festivals [22]
Summary
Soon after its existence became public in late January 2020, COVID-19, the disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [1], rapidly developed into a global pandemic affecting every continent. There is a growing body of literature that comments on the impact of COVID-19 and the associated restrictions on gatherings and people’s movement on exhibitions [9], performances [10,11], museums [12,13], heritage conferences [14], employment conditions of heritage professionals [15], heritage tourism [16,17], library use [18], historic gardens [19], heritage soundscapes [20,21] and cultural festivals [22] While they describe the effects of the pandemic on cultural industries, these approaches are purely retrospective. In order to adequately exemplify aspects of these temporary sites, this paper is unashamedly rich in images, which provide documentation in their own right
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
