“Cultural heritage management: insights and challenges” Victoria Ateca-Amestoy Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea Asociación Española de Gestores de Patrimonio Cultural (AEGPC) e-mail: victoriamaria.ateca@ehu.es
“The management of the Spanish cultural heritage is a profession that requires special skills and a wide formation, as it affects elements of a relevant historic, artistic or cultural value. This activity puts in the hands of the professional cultural heritage manager highly valuable resources that embody important social, historic and cultural value.” (from the Preamble of the Code of Ethics of the Spanish Association of Cultural Heritage Managers)
Introduction In this chapter, we would like to present the experience of the Spanish Association of Cultural Heritage Managers (Asociación Española de Gestores de Patrimonio Cultural, AEGPC), a professional association that was created in 1997: During the last two decades, we have seen a number of changes that have created new challenges, required new skills and training and, at the same time, have opened new professional avenues and business opportunities. During this period, the concept itself of cultural heritage has evolved to a more integrated approach between material and intangible resources, becoming more related to the identity and development of communities.