Cultural heritage and its enjoyment in pandemic times: comparison of cultural approaches in India and Italy

The restraints due to the Covid-19 pandemic have not only deeply changed our daily habits but have also affected the world of culture, as gatherings of people and visits to places have been banned. This situation has highlighted strengths and weaknesses of cultural systems and tools supporting the public ‘use’ of heritage, as well as the need for innovation for the safeguarding and ‘production’ of heritage. Indeed, the response of the various cultural actors disclosed their real priorities revealing sometimes inadequacies or, vice versa, creative capacities. The health emergency, confirming the socioeconomic role of culture, affected the bond between people and cultural heritage. This paper aims to explore what happened in two very different geographical and cultural contexts, India and Italy, and to identify impacts and actions undertaken to support the cultural sector, and to maintain communication with audiences. There is an increasing recognition among all stakeholders of the role of information technology for providing ‘virtual access’ to cultural heritage, and for supporting initiatives for ensuring resilient, sustainable livelihoods for artisans and workers, as custodians of traditional knowledge. The comparison shows how heritage represents a fundamental factor of community resilience, and how different approaches offer opportunities for contamination, containment, recovery, and resilience. Broader reflections can be considered for the future role of Cultural Heritage in the real life of citizens.