Experience and heritage performance of some local communities in the Vietnam’ Central Highlands

Abstract

On the one hand, official discourses on heritage highlight the communities and artisans as the most important holders of cultural values. On the other hand, they often claim that the latter is neither fully aware of the meaning and value of heritages nor have enough knowledge and skill to keep and preserve them. This argument is the primary basis for cultural agencies to promote activities of collecting, transmitting, restoring and performing local cultural practices to raise the people's awareness of heritages or bring heritages back to communities. This article explores local perspectives on heritage policies and practices. Furthermore, it points out that while often hiding under and seemingly concurring with official discourses, the local communities have their own thoughts and conceptions about the values of their heritage, by which they adapt and choose performances compatible with their cultural values. Not only benefiting from policies, local communities also contribute to shaping the representative image of the heritages performed on stage and being an essential link in the operation of heritage management system.