Heritage Practice (vs. Place)

Heritage practice refers to the diverse activities, expressions, and processes through which cultural or natural heritage is continuously maintained, transmitted, and revitalized. These practices may include rituals, oral traditions, craftsmanship techniques, environmental stewardship, and conservation methods, often rooted in local knowledge systems and intergenerational transmission.Unlike a heritage place, which is typically spatially and materially defined, heritage practice emphasizes the dynamic, lived, and relational dimensions of heritage. It highlights the ongoing actions that sustain the meanings, values, and significance of heritage over time and across changing contexts (UNESCO World Heritage Centre, UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2003).