Empowering Communities Through the Faro Convention: Pathways to Participatory Governance

This paper examines the paradigm shift introduced by the Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (Faro Convention), placing it within the broader evolution of the concept of cultural heritage promoted by major international conventions. Moving from an object-centred to a people-centred approach, the paper highlights how cultural heritage is increasingly understood as a dynamic social process in which communities play an active role in identifying, interpreting, safeguarding, and enhancing heritage. The study reviews emerging models of participatory governance, emphasizing the transition from top-down management to co-creative approaches involving heritage communities. Drawing on examples from Europe, including digital initiatives and community-led projects, it illustrates the opportunities and challenges of citizen participation in cultural heritage governance. Finally, the paper discusses critical issues related to participatory processes, such as the risk of tokenism, the need for new professional and legal frameworks, and the importance of ensuring long-term, inclusive, and sustainable community engagement in heritage management.