Dall’inazione alla partecipazione. Aspetti sociali della conservazione nel “secolo delle Carte”

The debate among conservation specialists on an international level reached a fundamental juncture after the First World War when political and social issues were introduced, in addition to the usual themes of how to intervene in restoration. For instance, the so-called Athens Charter already mentioned the crucial role of the population in conservation and how its contribution could have positive repercussions if carefully directed by conservation bodies. The social aspect of heritage conservation was further extended after World War II through international conventions, thanks to which heritage took on the strategic connotation of being considered as a privileged means of knowledge between different nations. This was a rather ignificant innovation in the field of conservation, as it strongly opened up the issues of direct involvement of people in conservation processes and influenced subsequent debates. This can also be seen in the work of the Venice Charter, which can be considered a prodrome for many subsequent documents. The contribution, therefore, aims to analyse, on the basis of Venetian documents and acts and through the perusal of later documents and conventions, how it was possible to move from cultural heritage rights to the right to cultural heritage.