I took part in the activities within the framework of the Action “Cultural Heritage in Crisis. Transdisciplinary Assessment of Legal and Regulatory Frameworks” (CRICULT) CA24125, supported by the European Union and carried out by European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST), between 17/12/2025 and 29/06/2026.
Within the scope of this comprehensive four-year Action, proceeding from the reality that cultural heritage is not merely a physical asset but a social ecosystem, the destructive effects of both human-made conflicts and natural disasters on heritage are scrutinised. In contrast to cultural security research that has been fragmented and sparse in the past, this project aims to develop universal legal frameworks and operational solution matrices to protect cultural heritage in times of crisis through a transdisciplinary approach ranging from law to architecture, and from sociology to conservation sciences.
The working groups I was a member of within this international network, and the main issues they focused on, were as follows:
- The Crisis of Intangible Heritage and Its Impact on Tangible Heritage Loss (WG4): In this group, where the holistic structure of cultural heritage is addressed, it is examined how the loss of intangible heritage, such as traditions, rituals, and social bonds, renders the tangible sites (historic buildings, sacred places) where these traditions are practiced obsolete and leads them to demise. The objective is to focus on legal solutions that will secure both the traditions and their material carriers in order to protect physical heritage that “loses its meaning”, particularly under the influence of migration and societal changes.
- Overtourism and Neglect of Cultural Heritage (WG5): In this group, which analyses two opposing extremes threatening heritage sites, both the physical deterioration and cultural erosion caused by overcrowding on the one hand, and the extinction processes resulting from neglect and lack of interest on the other, are examined. This working group aims not only to assess the situation but also to develop sustainable tourism policies and management strategies in cooperation with local communities and the tourism industry.
To access the details of the Action, please click on the image below.
