Understanding public interest in the preservation of Sibiu’slocal heritage

Abstract

Over the past two decades, scholars, heritage practitioners andpolicymakers have increasingly emphasised the role of citizens inheritage practices. Understanding how local communities engagewith cultural heritage is essential for refining preservation strate-gies, developing inclusive and sustainable policies, and responsiblycommercialising local heritage. Preserving cultural heritage notonly enriches community life but also plays a vital role in shapinglocal identities. Despite this, no prior research has examined citi-zens’ perceptions of heritage preservation in Romania. This studyaddresses that need by investigating the interest of Sibiu’s residentsin heritage preservation – a city renowned for its rich culturalheritage and its designation as the European Capital of Culture in2007. Drawing from the ELABCHROM social survey, which included932 respondents from the Sibiu region, and employing multivariatestatistical modelling, we pursue two objectives. First, we assess thelevel of public interest in preserving local heritage. Second, weanalyse the complex interplay of factors influencing this interest,including sociodemographic characteristics, cultural consumptionbehaviours and opinions on the local cultural events. We argue thatcitizens’ attitudes towards heritage preservation are shaped bya multifaceted process that reflects both broader demographictrends observed in other European surveys and unique, context-specific and locally situated influences.