This paper addresses the evolving landscape of cultural heritage management, emphasizing the imperative of inclusive practices involving diverse stakeholders, notably underrepresented youth. Despite their potential as future decision-makers, youth participation in heritage management remains limited due to perceived lack of capacity and motivation. Existing literature from participatory urban planning, design, governance, and heritage management fields offers insights into defining youth roles, levels of participation, and engagement methods. However, it often overlooks the dynamic nature of youth involvement and lacks youth perspectives on their participatory experiences.
To bridge this gap, an integrative literature review was conducted, culminating in a proposed conceptual framework comprising four dimensions: purpose, positioning, perspectives, and power relations. This framework aims to theoretically and methodologically define youth participation in cultural heritage management, moving beyond traditional hierarchical models to acknowledge the fluidity and iterative nature of participation processes.
The study critiques current youth participation theories for their Western-centric biases, which may homogenize youth experiences and fail to address diverse vulnerabilities and inequities. It argues for a more nuanced understanding that incorporates multiple youth voices and challenges the dominant authorized discourse in participatory heritage practices.
Looking forward, the framework encourages further exploration of participatory methods, particularly those leveraging digital technologies, to enhance theoretical understanding and practical applications of youth engagement in local heritage management. It calls for ongoing refinement and contextualization of the framework across diverse social, cultural, and political settings, with a focus on addressing additional complexities such as gentrification, colonial legacies, and gender inequities.
In conclusion, this research underscores the importance of empowering youth as active agents in shaping cultural heritage narratives and practices. By embracing a comprehensive framework that integrates youth perspectives and experiences, heritage management can evolve towards more inclusive and effective community engagement strategies.
