Cultural Governance: A Participatory Approach Towards Sustainable Heritage Management

Abstract

The study explores the heritage management framework established by the Bopiliao Historic Block in Taipei, Taiwan, looking primarily at the methodologies employed to address the competing tensions between stakeholders. Through creative economy and heritage tourism, paved the way for cultural governance to become a significant tool of sustainable heritage management. The central purpose of the study is to present a case analysis of the Bopiliao Historic Block in Taipei, Taiwan, and the district of Escolta in Manila, Philippines, to demonstrate how cultural governance can generate a sustainable community-based cultural heritage preservation framework. Using the research methods of archival research and participant observation, the study was able to identify factors from the success story of the Bopiliao Historic Block in Taipei, Taiwan that can serve as learning points for the Escolta district in Manila, Philippines, to consider. The findings of the study reveal that it requires more than just the active participation of the civil society to develop a sustainable heritage management framework. Instead, it requires support from all the key stakeholders, and though the levels of support may vary, the major deciding factor is the recognition and acceptance of the historic and cultural value of the community.