What lies ahead for cultural heritage? CHARTER’s new report unveils future scenarios and their associated challenges, opportunities and skills needs

The European Cultural Heritage Skills Alliance (CHARTER), funded by Erasmus+, has released a report offering a strategic roadmap for the heritage sector as it navigates an increasingly complex and ever-evolving future. This new delivery constitutes the conclusive report of Work Package 4 for Sector Integrated Dynamics analysis.

Developed through desk research, surveys, and a Think Tank event held in Berlin in September 2023 with experts in the field, this report outlines challenges, opportunities, implications to skills and future jobs, and education and training needs, to address:

• Geostrategic dynamics, in reference to how heritage interacts with global power relations. While cultural heritage can foster community identity and pride, it can also be exploited or targeted for destruction. At the same time, it can serve as a tool for diplomacy, cooperation, and economic and social development.
• Climate change, in reference to human-driven activities increasingly affecting cultural heritage. Extreme weather events such as rising sea levels and heatwaves are causing significant damage to historical sites, threatening not only the loss of cultural landmarks but also impacting jobs and the economy.
• Circular economy, in reference to using products, materials, and resources for as long as possible with minimal waste. This approach not only reduces environmental impacts but also drives innovation and competitiveness. In the cultural heritage sector, the circular economy supports the preservation and reuse of historic buildings, artifacts, and practices. Actions like maintenance, repair, and restoration help reduce waste, while traditional crafts and techniques can inspire sustainable solutions that respect both the environment and cultural values.
• Digital technologies, in reference to the digital shift revolutionising how we access, experience, and preserve cultural heritage. Supported by EU policies like the Digital Agenda and initiatives such as Europeana, these technologies, including AI and immersive experiences, are making heritage more accessible and easier to preserve. As society becomes more digital, heritage organisations must adopt these technologies to engage future audiences and ensure relevance.

The report issues clear calls to action, emphasising the importance of embracing innovation, sustainability, and cross-sector collaboration. Highlighting the need to proactively address and adapt to the future scenarios analysed, the report provides needed changes to set the basis for a transition. Following CHARTER’s tools and analyses, the report calls for the adoption of a new-value chain model for heritage, the development of new curricula offers for future-proofing the sector and the adoption of a new competence framework for skills.

Following a holistic approach, the report serves as a roadmap for policymakers, institutions, and professionals, guiding them through the challenges and opportunities of the coming decades to ensure the resilience and sustainability of cultural heritage in Europe.

Are you equipped for the future needs? Continue reading the full report on the Results section of CHARTER’s website, and get concrete insights and recommendations to face the sector’s current and future challenges.

• Learn more about CHARTER Alliance: https://charter-alliance.eu/ 
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About CHARTER 

CHARTER, the European Cultural Heritage Skills Alliance, brings together and represents the whole range of the cultural heritage sector in Europe. The 47 project partners strive towards making apparent the value of cultural heritage and creating a resilient and responsive sector.

CHARTER works towards creating a lasting, comprehensive strategy that will guarantee Europe has the necessary cultural heritage skills to support sustainable societies and economies.

The Erasmus+ funded project maps the current and future needs of the sector to bridge the gap of skills shortages and mismatches between the educational and occupational fields.