European Cultural Heritage Strategy for the 21 st century „ Page 23 Courses of action „ Identify the barriers to citizen participation and put forward proposed solutions „ Assess existing practices and methods with a view to developing citizen participation in the gover- nance of cultural heritage: identification, description, interpretation, promotion „ Based on the findings of that assessment, adapt existing procedures to improve citizen participation „ Implement new participatory approaches Target audience: local, regional, national Example of action „ Society of Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities (Croatia) http://citywallsdubrovnik.hr/drustvo/?lang=en Recommendation S6 Create a suitable framework to enable local authorities and communities to take action for the benefit of their heritage and its management Citizens must be able to express their expectations and be involved in managing their heritage. This is expressed through the formation of groups comprising people who attach value to specific aspects of the cultural heritage they wish to preserve and pass on to future generations, both in the context of public action and outside that context. The authorities must nevertheless take steps to enable this cultural heritage-related right to be exercised. Setting up the necessary framework may overstep the boundaries of heritage policy proper and require action in other public sectors. Relevant challenges S1 S2 S4 S5 S6 S7 Interfaces K1 K6 D1 D7 Courses of action „ Adapt existing laws and procedures in order to develop partnerships between the various levels of authority, local authorities and all relevant stakeholders „ Encourage reflection and public debate on the cultural heritage issues at stake and the directions that should be taken „ Invite citizens to take part in heritage inventories, surveys and protection work, validated by experts to ensure the appropriate level of quality „ Use every possible means to facilitate citizen participation in the process of identifying, studying, interpreting, protecting, preserving and presenting the cultural heritage „ Facilitate the collection of participatory financial resources „ Draw up charters for the involvement of heritage communities in public action „ Encourage the drafting of regional development and planning documents based on heritage as an asset, with the involvement of the population Target audience: local, regional, national Example of action „ Regional consultative conference of culture and heritage stakeholders, Pays de la Loire Region (France) www.culture.paysdelaloire.fr/politiques-culturelles/conference-regionale-consultative/