Participatory Process for Regenerating Rural Areas through Heritage-Led Plans: The RURITAGE Community-Based Methodology

Claudia de Luca, Javier López-Murcia, Elisa Conticelli, Angela Santangelo, Michelle Perello and Simona Tondelli
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Claudia de Luca: Department of Architecture, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy
Javier López-Murcia: Consulta Europa Projects and Innovation, S.L., 35006 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Elisa Conticelli: Department of Architecture, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy
Angela Santangelo: Department of Architecture, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy
Michelle Perello: Consulta Europa Projects and Innovation, S.L., 35006 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Simona Tondelli: Department of Architecture, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-22

Abstract: Rural areas in Europe host more than 55% of the overall population and embed a unique and peculiar cultural and natural heritage. Nevertheless, they are facing common issues of disengagement, depopulation and economic and social crises. Rural communities are increasingly interested in setting up inclusive and participatory regeneration processes, but participatory planning experiences in rural areas are still limited. This paper introduces the Community-based Heritage Management and Planning methodology (CHMP) developed within the RURITAGE project, and analyzes and presents the results of its implementation in six demonstrators around Europe and beyond. The methodology is based on the establishment of Rural Heritage Hubs (RHH), intended as the community of local stakeholders and a physical place to run the co-creation activities. We used four types of feedback—online survey, in-presence survey, consultations and interviews with RHH Coordinators—to analyze the implementation of the CHMP. The research findings show that through built capital (RHH places activated) and through the activation of local social and human capitals (RHH communities engaged in the process), participatory processes can attract local communities and engage them into the development and the implementation of local regeneration plans, fostering heritage ownership and inclusion.

Keywords: rural development; participatory process; rural communities; cultural heritage; rural regeneration plans; stakeholder engagement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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