Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Milli Folklor, cilt.17, sa.129, ss.124-135, 2021 (AHCI)
The relationship between museums and sustainability has been interpreted in terms of the functioning of museums as an institution and the role of museums in sustainable development. These two assessments are also considered as a whole for the sustainability of the museums. Studies on museums and sustainability focused on the social, environmental and economic practices of museums in sustainable development, and the methods used by museums in these practices or how to raise awareness on this issue in the society were questioned. Among these studies, the contribution of museums to environmental sustainability has taken its place among the most discussed topics. However, the fact that museums are institutions that collect, preserve, research, share, exhibit and transmit tangible and intangible cultural heritage shows that the cultural aspect of sustainable development should also be evaluated in terms of museums. Therefore, the article focuses on the cultural aspect of sustainable development, and this context is interpreted as a main topic for museums that should not be attached to the social, environmental and economic aspects of sustainability, but should also be examined and investigated in terms of its consequences. In this respect, firstly, the relationship between museum and sustainability is emphasized and the meanings of sustainability for museums is discussed. Later, from the first definition of sustainable development in the “Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future” report published by the United Nations in 1987, to the announcement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, the process is evaluated in terms of the practices of museums in this field and approaches in museums. After 2015 the management of the museum, the museum building, attention was directed towards sustainable development objectives until the effectiveness of the functions shall be resolved through examples in the world and Turkey. In addition, it will be mentioned how these goals can be implemented both in the functioning of museums and in the daily life of the society, and the cultural aspect of sustainability. Three different definitions of cultural sustainability are given and based on these definitions, it is discussed which definition of cultural sustainability the museums accept. For the definition of cultural sustainability of museums, the importance of interpreting together the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage adopted in 2003 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, whose short name is UNESCO, the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions adopted in 2005, and sustainable development are mentioned. In this way, it is explained how museums can create cultural strategies in order to safeguard the intangible cultural heritage alive from generation to generation, continuously recreate it, protect and maintain cultural diversity, develop intercultural dialogue and, create spaces for communities to safeguard their cultural heritage. The role played by participation and transmission in museums in sustainability, as it places people at the focal point, is highlighted and the practices of museums related to cultural sustainability are evaluated with examples. Finally, the use of areas such as cultural tourism, cultural industry or urban creativity by museums, which are directly addressed in terms of economic development but also require examination in terms of cultural sustainability, are emphasized.