This subject is a first approach to one of the main European values: its cultural heritage.

From a critical-constructive perspective, students will acquire basic notions about the concept of cultural heritage and its treatment, as well as management strategies to ensure its knowledge, protection, conservation, safeguarding, dissemination and enjoyment. The focus will be on the current challenges of wealth management in Europe and on a person-based approach.

1. To raise interest among students for researching into the nature of Cultural Heritage and its management.

2. To ensure that cultural properties reach an appropriate treatment by the society through the students ‘future work.

3. To understand the different management activities and strategies for

cultural heritage used throughout Europe’s varied

countries to develop critical stances towards these systems, while proposing improvements

1. The concept of Cultural Heritage: its history, implication of

European policies in its management (European Union, Council of

Europe). Critical perspective in heritage studies.

2. Types of Cultural Heritage: intangible and tangible properties/goods/assets.

3. Managing Cultural Heritage and their activities: knowledge,

planning, enforcement, dissemination and assessment. From museums to sites and intangible heritage.

4.The relationship between cultural properties and the environment:

Europe’s public policies. Environmental assessments, “natural” parks.

4. Safe and Cultural Heritage: commerce and exportation,

Looting. Risk and emergency management.

5. Social Dimension of Cultural Heritage: vulnerability, genre, the phenomenon of

depopulation and immigration. Mass media, education and participation.

6. The tourist phenomenon: cultural tourism, socioeconomic impact, gentrification.

Most of the classes supposes the use examples of case studies of European context. The students will make work field with a specific case of study of Madrid: “plaza de Mayor”