Maintenance Of Cultural Heritage Research Articles

A magyar kultúra nemzeti karaktere : Kihívások az újmédiatérben

Globalisation and the explosion of communication technologies have created unprecedented challenges for states, with regard to their responsibility for the preservation and maintenance of cultural heritage. In the era of digital content production, state cultural institutions have become key players, as they undertake the tasks of value preservation, value creation and value transfer, and in so doing provide an important public service. Such organisations are responsible for preserving the national character of culture in the face of the negative effects of globalisation, while creating a twenty-first century version of culture that meets the demands of the new media space and social networks.

Assessing attitudes towards mutual acculturation in multicultural schools: Conceptualisation and validation of a four-dimensional mutual acculturation attitudes scale

Assessment of acculturation attitudes usually has focused on the importance of two dimensions: first, immigrants’ maintenance of cultural heritage and, second, immigrants’ adoption of the majority culture. Because acculturation is a reciprocal interaction, we extended a bidimensional scale to four dimensions to assess mutual acculturation. Given the importance of the social context for acculturation and schools as a crucial context for immigrant pupils’ acculturation, the scale extension was validated within the context of school. We hypothesised that acculturation attitudes are held not only towards immigrant pupils but also towards native pupils and towards schools’ responsibility to support intercultural contact. The study sample comprised 364 secondary school pupils in Swiss multicultural schools. Using exploratory structural equation modelling, we validated four distinct dimensions of acculturation attitudes: attitudes towards immigrant pupils’ (a) heritage culture maintenance and (b) adoption of the dominant culture and attitudes towards (c) native pupils acquiring cultural knowledge and (d) schools enabling intercultural contact. We conclude that the proposed four-dimensional scale is a valid tool for assessing attitudes towards mutual acculturation within the school context and that acculturation attitudes are held not only towards immigrant pupils but also towards native pupils and schools.

Mother tongue disability and socio-cultural development in Nigeria

Mother tongue disability refers to some or total inadequacy in one’s native language. It implies a situation where individuals or groups of persons are unable to speak/ write their native language. This is a common phenomenon among Nigerian youths. As a result, research has shown there are over 450 indigenous languages in Nigeria, which may go extinct (Rotimi, 2012; Bankole, 2010). Colonization and the introduction of western civilization had often been blamed for mother tongue disability. However recent happenings indicate that factors such as the fast decreasing value for mother tongue and parental negative attitudes may be more responsible for mother tongue disability. The paper aims at explaining causes and effects of mother tongue disability in Nigeria and its consequences on socio-cultural development in the country. It concludes that the speaking, writing, as well as the understanding of mother tongue is beneficial for social solidarity, peaceful co-existence (without which there cannot be meaningful development), the maintenance of cultural heritage and values, and for the growth of the tourism industry.

Liberalism Versus Communitarianism in Cultural Heritage Law

The aim of this study is to investigate the important role of liberal-communitarian debate in cultural heritage law and politics. Derek Gillman in the book titled “The Idea of Cultural Heritage” stressed that “During recent decades, two parallel debates have occurred with respect to public policy and heritage”, and mentioned above is the second one, which “takes place between political philosophers, especially liberal and communitarian thinkers of various shades.” The following study brings attention to the external perspective. That is, these philosophical concepts which appeared beyond legal sciences, but they have the impact on both law and almost all aspects of social life. Liberalism and communitarianism, despite their differences, are particularly useful lens through which to consider law and its functions within contemporary society. Therefore, this begs the question as to what is their approach to the cultural heritage law and practice. While much has been written about liberalism and communitarianism, their impact on cultural heritage still remains shrouded in mystery. We do accept and stress that cultural heritage law is nowadays recognised as the multilevel legal instruments for safeguarding, protection, preservation and maintenance of cultural heritage, cultural property, or even cultural rights. It is not only “multilevel”, but also “multivalued”, and for that reason many theoretical and practical problems are noticed. Liberalism versus communitarianism is one of the most significant debate. As a result, the main aim of this article is to outline the influence of liberalism and communitarianism on cultural heritage law.

Rozważania nad kierunkami rozwoju turystyki kulturowej

<p>Celem pracy jest analiza opinii studentów na temat wybranych nowych form turystyki kulturowej. Przedmiotem badania były: poorism, urbex, turystyka ezoteryczna, questing, tanatoturystyka i geocaching. Konsekwentnie zbadano stopień ich znajomości i zebrano informacje na temat ich postrzegania. W celu zebrania informacji, które pozwoliły na dokonanie oceny stopnia znajomości oraz uczestnictwa we wspomnianych formach turystyki, posłużono się techniką CAWI (Computer Assisted Web Interviews), docierając tym samym do społeczności studenckiej Uniwersytetu Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu. Badania przeprowadzono w okresie od kwietnia do lipca 2018 r. Za istotne uznano ustalenie, czy te, obecnie niszowe, odmiany turystyki kulturowej mogą w przyszłości mieć wpływ na jej kształt. Zebrane opinie, zgodnie z przyjętym założeniem, mogą stanowić prognostyk przyszłego kierunku rozwoju turystyki kulturowej jako jednej z form turystyki mającej wpływ na podtrzymanie dziedzictwa kulturowego. W badaniu ustalono, że gry terenowe, jak geocaching oraz questing, postrzegane są przez respondentów jako formy bardzo ciekawe i pożyteczne, zarówno dla turystów, jak i dla promocji regionu. Za atrakcyjny jest też uważany urbex, który dostarcza znacznie silniejszych emocji niż rywalizacja podczas gry. Ze względu na swój eksploracyjny oraz nierzadko zewnętrzny charakter forma ta uważana jest przez respondentów za najbliższą turystyce autentyczności. Natomiast za najmniej rozwojowe formy ankietowani uznali poorism i turystykę ezoteryczną.</p>

RECONSTRUCTION OF ARTESIAN WATER IN THE MANOR OF A. K. TOLSTOY

Currently, the issue of preservation and effective use of cultural heritage is relevant. Bryansk region has a significant number of valuable historical and cultural monuments. Almost every district is rich in unique places of interest, a special place among which is occupied by the estate. Within the framework of the concept of landscaping of the estate of Alexei Konstantinovich Tolstoy in the village of Krasny Rog, Pochepsky district, Bryansk region, together with the company "Bryanskpromburvod" were carried out field surveys, engineering-geological, hydrological surveys and other necessary activities in order to compile a pre-project proposal for the reconstruction of the source of artesian water, taking into account archival and bibliographic materials, with minor changes in view of the current state of the territory of the object of cultural heritage. Taking into account engineering-geological and hydrological researches, results of full-scale inspection of the territory, the technology of drilling of a well, necessary materials and the equipment for its arrangement is picked up. The article considers the issue of attracting tourists and vacationers to the source of artesian water in the estate of Alexei Konstantinovich Tolstoy. Above the source it is recommended to install a pump room for the release of water, in order to protect it from pollution, and perform it in the architectural style corresponding to the period of life of Alexei Konstantinovich Tolstoy in the estate. Historical and cultural heritage can act not only as a factor in the development of spiritual life, but also as one of the promising areas of economic development in the Bryansk region. The attractiveness of the Museum-estate increases the tourist attendance, and part of the funds can be used for the maintenance of cultural heritage.

Glocal Participatory System for the Recording, Documentation and Promotion of Cultural Heritage: A Greek Case-Study

The recording, documentation and promotion of local cultural heritage has been the subject of significant research from scientists from various fields such as architecture, anthropology, history, folklore, ethnomusicology, and museology. This paper argues that digital technologies could have a catalytic role concerning the operational part of a holistic–interdisciplinary approach to the maintenance of cultural heritage. Simultaneous and bidirectional recording, documentation and promotion of human histories, material elements of space, personal and collective memories, music, dance, singing and other performances, customs, traditions etc. has the effect of improving the understanding of each place and, therefore, contributing to the establishment of sustainable living conditions and environmental balance. At the same time, it facilitates the process of presenting the place’s local identity as well as its tangible and intangible cultural heritage. The paper proposes the design, the creation and the pilot operation of a glocal hybrid (physical and digital) participatory system for monitoring cultural heritage, which consists of (a) spatial recording and projection constructions (open micro-labs); (b) research and documentation centers; and (c) digital databases and mobile applications for interconnection and diffusion of digital content. The system’s implementation domain is considered to be “historic urban landscapes”, i.e., geographical areas with particular cultural features such as traditional settlements, monuments and historical centers, regarded as exceptional universal heritage. In particular, the project’s prime exemplary pilot setup is considered to be operated in specific Greek areas of cultural importance.

Protecting of Marble Stone Facades of Historic Buildings Using Multifunctional TiO2 Nanocoatings

Stone surfaces and facades of historic buildings, due to their predominately outdoor location, suffer from many deterioration factors, including air pollution, soluble salts, relative humidity (RH)/temperature, and biodeterioration, which are the main causes of decay. In particular, the facades of the buildings deteriorate with direct exposure to these factors; deformation and disfiguration of superficial decoration and formation of black crusts are often observed on the stones. The development and application of self-cleaning and protection treatments on historical and architectural stone surfaces could be a significant improvement in the conservation, protection and maintenance of Cultural Heritage. A titanium dioxide nanoparticle has become a promising photocatalytic material, owing to its ability to catalyze the complete degradation of many organic contaminants and environmental factors. In this study, TiO2 nanoparticles, dispersed in an aqueous colloidal suspension, were applied directly to historic marble stone surfaces, by spray-coating, in order to obtain a nanometric film over the stone surface. The study started with an investigation of some properties of TiO2 nanoparticles, to assess the feasibility of the use of TiO2 on historic stone and architectural surfaces. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was, coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) microanalysis, (SEM-EDX), in order to obtain information on coating homogeneity and surface morphology, before and after artificial aging; the activity of the coated surface was evaluated through UV-light exposure, to evaluate photo-induced effects. The changes of molecular structure occurring in treated samples were spectroscopically studied by attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR); activity of the hydrophobic property of the coated surface was evaluated by Sterio microscopy, model Zeiss 2010 from Munich, Germany, equipped with photo camera S23 under 80X magnification. The efficacy of the treatments was evaluated through capillary water absorption, and colorimetric measurements, performed to evaluate the optical appearance. Results showed that TiO2 nanoparticles are good candidates for coating applications on historic stone surfaces, where self-cleaning photo-induced effects are well evident; they enhanced the durability of stone surfaces toward UV aging, improved resistance to relative humidity (RH)/temperature and abrasion affect, reduced accumulation of dirt on stone surfaces when left in open air for 6 months, and did not alter the original features.

Community print media: perceiving minority community in multicultural South Australia

This article presents findings from a small-scale pilot study of community (print) media in South Australia serving minority ethnic and migrant communities. The study undertook to determine the extent to which community press publishers, editors, staff and others involved in production held views about the relationship between local ethnic print news media and communities, with particular regard to the ways in which communities are understood in terms of local/global concepts, the formation of diaspora and hybridity, and in the context of migration to ‘multicultural’ Australia. This paper argues that publishers, editors and other production stakeholders hold complex views on the meaning of community that are governed by a number of factors, including perceptions of local and home and hybridity. Furthermore, it is argued that community media publications negotiate a distinction between assimilation (or integration) and the maintenance of cultural heritage from countries of origin, and that the ways in which this is undertaken are influenced not only by existing policies of Australian multiculturalism but also by recent debates around the value of multicultural pluralism.

Quantification of wall surface heterogeneity and its influence on species diversity at medieval castles – implications for the environmentally friendly preservation of cultural heritage

Abstract Historic buildings are important for cultural history and provide a variety of habitats for animals and plants. Especially structural heterogeneity of wall surfaces is perceived to support biological diversity. Nevertheless, in traditional approaches goals of biodiversity preservation and monument restoration are perceived to interfere and to be mutually exclusive. As a consequence, priority is often given to constructional restoration accepting the loss of local populations and biodiversity. At walls of medieval castles, including an experimental restoration project where conventional and less intensive restoration techniques were applied, we relate species composition and richness to wall properties. Especially wall surface structure is quantified using a novel approach. The study focuses on lichens, mosses and vascular plants. Boosted regression tree analyses and non-metric multidimensional scaling techniques are applied to detect the influence of abiotic site conditions on biodiversity. We find species richness to be promoted by wall surface heterogeneity. However, species composition is more affected by restoration approaches than species richness. Lichen composition varies considerably while vascular plants and mosses are less affected by wall properties. We suggest strategies that are combining both societal targets, the preservation of historic monuments and of species diversity. Careful restoration is capable of supporting both, the maintenance of cultural heritage and of rare and unique anthropogenic habitats. Wall surface heterogeneity needs to be witnessed for both aspects as it affects both species composition as well as the effectiveness of cleaning methods.

Toka Boot/The Big Jam: Making music in rural East Timor

This article discusses a community music project in rural East Timor. Australian musician Gillian Howell lived for three months in the isolated town of Lospalos as an Asialink artist-in-residence, where she worked with local community members and visiting Australian musicians to share music and ideas, and to communicate across cultures. Three activities are described in detail: a songwriting project, a large-scale community music event and a series of informal jam sessions, particularly with respect to the context, teaching and learning models used. An evaluation of the impact of the project on participants, other community members and visiting musicians, indicated that stakeholders valued the project highly for a range of different reasons. These included fun and enjoyment, maintenance of cultural heritage, creative expression, English language learning and cross-cultural exchange. Learnings and recommendations for future similar cross-cultural collaborations include the value of integrating local music traditions with new participatory arts approaches.

Smart surfaces for architectural heritage: Preliminary results about the application of TiO2-based coatings on travertine

Abstract The development and application of self-cleaning treatments on historical and architectural stone surfaces could be a significant improvement in conservation, protection and maintenance of Cultural Heritage. In this paper, a TiO 2 -based coating has been investigated in order to evaluate its possible use as a self-cleaning treatment. This coating was obtained by a sol-gel and a hydrothermal (134 °C) processes and then it was applied on travertine (a limestone often used in historical and monumental buildings) in two ways, obtaining a single-layer and a three-layer treatment, respectively. In order to verify its potential use in the field of Cultural Heritage, the maintenance of appearance properties of the treated travertine surfaces was monitored by colour and gloss analyses. Besides, de-pollution and soiling removal tests were carried out under ultraviolet-light exposure to evaluate photo-induced effects and self-cleaning efficiency. Results seem to allow the use of TiO 2 -based treatments on historical and architectural surfaces made up by travertine, where de-pollution and self-cleaning photo-induced effects are well evident, maintaining their original visual appearance. Anyway, before applying TiO 2 -based coatings as conservative treatments, further tests are needed especially on their durability, that is mandatory for Cultural Heritage applications. On-site test in an urban environment and accelerated test by weatherometer are currently under way.

Steering towards growth: Symbolic urban preservation in Beijing, 1990–2005

This article examines the rise of symbolic urban preservation as a means of urban growth in the spatial transformation of Beijing from 1990 to 2005. The author argues that urban preservation, often considered to be in opposition to demolition and redevelopment, is nevertheless adopted by public officials and developers in Beijing as a more sophisticated instrument to achieve urban growth. While the housing renewal programme led to the demolition of a large number of courtyard houses and the construction of modern high-rises, a variety of symbolic preservation projects were carried out by the local government to reconcile various economic and political interests. These included the designation of preservation districts, the restoration of historic monuments and the creation of cultural tourism districts. This twisted take on urban development has had negative effects on the maintenance of cultural heritage and community life in the city.

Potential and pitfalls of GPR traveltime tomography for ancient buildings investigation: experiments on a small‐scalem real and synthetic calcarenitic block

ABSTRACTEven if its use is not widespread in the archaeological community, GPR tomography is a viable tool in the maintenance of Cultural Heritage and for the diagnosis of internal defects in masonry, originating either at the building stage or later because of normal decay or natural disasters. Two‐dimensional GPR traveltime tomography aims to obtain information on the distribution of the dielectric constant on a section of the investigated medium from the picked direct arrival traveltimes between sources and receivers. This paper shows the results of a GPR tomographic experiment on a calcarenitic stone block with an empty central hole, using 1000 MHz as transmitter and 1800 MHz as receiver antennas. The original aims of this work were firstly, to assess the usefulness and limits of very basic tomographic tools, accessible also to the non academic community, in the limited case of locating voids in small‐scale structures (pillars or columns) and secondly, to identify possible pitfalls due to acquisition/ processing procedures or to inadequacy of the inversion algorithm. We examine some problems encountered in data acquisition and we propose a method to estimate the effective bandwidth of antenna pairs of different nominal frequencies and to estimate the zero time correction. The experiment shows that picking the first arrivals is a very delicate operation when the airwaves interfere with the transmitted ones and that using the wrong picked traveltimes in the inversion could lead to inconsistencies or to strong reconstruction artefacts. Finite‐difference numerical modelling is helpful both for identifying the correct arrivals to be picked and for exploring the dependence of the tomographic inversion on cell size, geometry of transmitters and receivers and initial model. The inversion results show a strong dependence on the angular ray coverage. The general improvement observed by increasing the illumination directions confirms the opportunity of using, whenever all sides are accessible, as in the case of columns or pillars, both parallel and orthogonal antenna positioning. In the presence of strong velocity gradients, as in this case, even using the best acquisition configuration for transmitters and receivers, the straight‐ray tomography based on the SIRT algorithm can only detect the anomaly but is unable to resolve adequately its geometry and dielectric constant. Although more time‐demanding, curved‐ray tomography or more sophisticated algorithms are therefore necessary for a better characterization of internal defects in most problems of structural assessment.

A Study of Attitudes to the Introduction of Ethnic Languages and Cultures in Australian Schools

In view of the recent demands for the introduction of courses in ethnic languages and cultures into Australian schools, it is important that educational authorities should know what attitudes different groups in Australia adopt toward such innovations, as well as the grounds on which they do so. Humanistic sociology provides a specially sensitive methodological approach to investigate such questions. It has, therefore, been applied here to the analysis of submissions received by the Australian Government's Committee on the Teaching of Migrant Languages in Australian Schools. Although the majority of submissions favoured the introduction of ethnic languages and cultures into Australian schools, the reasons they gave revealed a number of different attitudes to cultural interaction. Most of the submissions stressed the benefits that Australian society as a whole would gain from ethnic education, as well as the way it could help individual ethnics. Only submissions from ethnic organizations, however, clearly recognized the importance of the maintenance of cultural heritage of ethnic groups in Australia as a prerequisite for significant two-way interaction.