Cultural Conservation and Economic Development

***DIRECTIONS***: Please read each question and select the answer that most nearly expresses your own opinion. We encourage you to use the “explain your answer” box to comment on your answer. We want to hear your thoughts! If you do choose to comment on any of your answers, you'll be asked to indicate whether we have your permission to share and/or publish your remarks.

DEFINITIONS: For purposes of this survey, "cultural resource," "economic development," and "cultural conservation" may be defined as follows...

CULTURAL RESOURCE: Any resource that reflects or contributes to the identity of a group of people or a place. Tangible cultural resources include historic sites, landmarks, architecture, and traditional material arts and crafts (food, visual arts, pottery, textiles, furniture, etc.). Intangible cultural resources include historical narratives, oral traditions, storytelling and other verbal arts, traditional beliefs, customs, music, dance, traditional occupational knowledge and practices, etc. Cultural resources may also be called "heritage resources."

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Any collective effort or strategy (or combination of efforts or strategies) aimed at improving economic conditions or promoting economic growth or opportunity.

CULTURAL CONSERVATION: Any collective effort or strategy (or combination of efforts or strategies) aimed at maintaining and caring for cultural resources. Cultural conservation doesn't necessarily involve preventing cultural resources from changing, but it may involve trying to prevent them from changing in ways that reduce or fundamentally alter their cultural significance.

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* 1. Generally speaking, should cultural resources be used as a basis for economic development?

A. Yes. Generally speaking, using cultural resources as a basis for economic development is appropriate.

B. Perhaps, but only if it is done in a way that is both economically sensible and respectful of the cultural resources and the people to whom they belong.

C. Rarely, if ever, because economic development based on cultural resources often turns out not to be economically sensible.

D. Rarely, if ever, because economic development based on cultural resources often turns out not to be respectful of the cultural resources and the people to whom they belong.

E. Other. (Please explain your answer in the comment field below.)

Explain your answer (optional, but recommended):

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* 2. If cultural resources are to be used as a basis for economic development, should most of the decisions about how to do so be made within the public sector or within the private sector?

A. Most or all decision-making should occur within the public sector.

B. Most or all decision-making should occur within the private sector.

C. A balanced combination of public-sector and private-sector entities should participate in decision-making.

D. Other. (Please explain your answer in the comment field below.)

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* 3. In your opinion, to what degree is it possible to achieve situations in which cultural conservation and economic development are mutually beneficial?

A. It’s essentially impossible, or at least extremely difficult. Cultural conservation and economic development are intrinsically at odds.

B. It’s not out of the question. Too often, however, when economic development and cultural conservation are linked, economic considerations take precedence and cultural considerations are ignored.

C. It’s not out of the question. Too often, however, efforts to base economic development on cultural conservation don’t generate enough jobs or revenue to justify the initial investments of capital, time, and effort.

D. It’s entirely possible and worth pursuing, but achieving such situations is often more challenging in practice than in theory. Many different ethical and practical issues may arise, calling for sensitivity and careful judgment.

E. It’s entirely possible, and it often happens successfully. In many cases, the conservation of cultural resources generates economic opportunity, and that economic opportunity, in turn, incentivizes ongoing cultural conservation.

F. Other. (Please explain your answer in the comment field below.)

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* 4. On a scale of one to five, how familiar are you with issues related to cultural conservation and economic development? ("1" would indicate that this subject matter is almost entirely new to you. "5" would indicate that you have addressed such issues in your own work and/or studied them extensively.) If you wish, you may expand upon your answer in the comment box below.

1 (unfamiliar)

5 (very familiar)

Explain your answer (optional):

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* 5. On a scale of one to five, how difficult did you find it to understand and complete this survey? If you wish, you may expand upon your answer in the comment box below.

1 (very easy)

5 (very difficult)

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* 6. Have you written any comments in any of the comment boxes on this page?

Yes