Heritage within landscapes as a catalyst for socio-economic development: locating social impacts for rural communities outside of museum walls

This paper aims at disentangling the role of rural heritage and specifically rural landscapes and vernacular heritage assets for supporting social wellbeing in rural areas in Europe. In this sense, the paper presents findings on how heritage can assist communities respond to key challenges through engaging in processes of valorization and interpretation but also management of heritage assets not only of national but also of local significance. The paper bases its conclusions on a case study from Orkney islands, Scotland, UK-firstly the profile of few rural communities in Orkney is drawn and links between communities and different heritage assets in the projects studied are presented. Insights from participants’ perceptions around community needs and way of life allow for an understanding of aspects of rural community’s wellbeing. Following, the findings from the analysis of 42 interviews realized with heritage professionals and local people who took part in the completed Scapa Flow Landscape Scheme (2009-2012), are presented, aiming at understanding perceived social impacts, stemming from local community participation in tangible and intangible heritage related activities around Orkney’s rural landscape that extend “museum walls” to explore the meaning the participants attribute ad the difference that these experiences made for their lives. Finally conclusion are drawn around the new potential that landscape heritage presents for heritage management at European level in order to fully harness the social benefits for rural communities.