The Role of Creativity in the Historical and Cultural Heritage Preservation

Abstract

One way to preserve historical and cultural heritage is to use a creative approach. Creativity has become an important component of the modern postindustrial knowledge-based economy. The aim of the article is to form a theoretical basis for the implementation of the creative approach to the preservation of historical and cultural heritage. Methodology. The first part of the research is based on the case study as a method for studying the creative practices of museums. The second part of the study is based on the analysis of statistical indicators to assess the risks of cultural and historical heritage preservation. This article uses a combination of interdisciplinary, innovative and inclusive approaches to explain the introduction of creativity in the activities and practices of The Natural History Museum Vienna (2021), The Warsaw museum (2021). The results demonstrate a direct correlation between the quality of life of the population in different countries of the world and the expenditure per person in cultural heritage. The cases of Austrian and Polish museums with different specialization and different public expenditures per person in cultural heritage ($107 and $75.8) are considered. It is revealed that the modern activity of museums goes beyond the classical organization of exhibitions. Museums are becoming centers of research, educational and cultural, scientific activities. Based on an interdisciplinary approach, co-creation is formed. Visitors are attracted using a dynamic approach to the organization of exhibitions, which is integrated into the activities of the museum through digital technology and research activities. Based on case studies and the practices of museums in Vienna (Austria) and Warsaw (Poland), the following basic elements of creativity for the preservation of historical and cultural heritage are proposed: 1) an interdisciplinary approach to research, educational and cultural, scientific activities; 2) an innovative and inclusive approach to exhibition and visitor engagement based on digital technologies as a tool to encourage collaborative creativity.