Community engagement; emerging players in monuments’ rescue

Conservation charters started already in the 1970s to underline the necessity of communities as potentially powerful guardians of heritage but experiences vary significantly across Europe. The discussion is using some very successful initiatives in Scotland as springboard. The case studies were selected according to the degree of communities' initiative for their monuments' preservation (Balmerino Abbey) and management (Tarberth Castles). Insight was gathered through site visits and interviewing the community groups, like Tarbert Castle Trust and Balmerino History Group. The former consolidated the ruins and opened the castle to the public and the latter accommodated a Conservation Working Party which undertook some conservation preservation works. The discussion extends to examples from Italy (Rocca Albornoziana) and Greece (Pyrgos Moutzinon). This paper explores what makes successful community engagement (policy, private initiative, funding) and assesses the impact of conservation cultures on this emerging trend to create a sustainable future of monuments.