Heritage as a living force for change

Thanks to 2025 Academy on Cultural and Natural Sites as Drivers of Sustainability and Global Citizenship, Fondazione Santagata, the Phoenicians' Route and GAL Sulcis recently brought together a diverse, European group of cultural practitioners in Sardinia. The focus was clear: heritage is not just about the past. It is a living force that can shape a more sustainable, inclusive future.

This year’s Academy expanded its scope. It moved beyond UNESCO-designated sites to include all cultural and natural heritage. This shift reflects a growing understanding that every community holds valuable knowledge and traditions. These can help us face global challenges like climate change, social fragmentation and economic inequality.

The Academy explored four main themes. Each one offered a different lens on how heritage can support sustainability and community well-being.

The first theme looked at coastal heritage. Coastal areas are rich in both biodiversity and cultural memory. In places like Carloforte in southwest Sardinia, fishing traditions are deeply tied to identity. Unfortunately, these areas are under threat. Rising sea levels, pollution, and overdevelopment put both nature and culture at risk. The Academy encouraged participants to think about how local communities can lead in protecting these spaces. Solutions must be rooted in local knowledge and values.

The second theme focused on cultural landscapes. These are places where people and nature have shaped each other over time. The vast, sandy vineyards of Sulcis are one example. They show how agriculture, tradition and ecology can work together, in spite of the fragility of the landscapes. The Academy asked how we can support them through policies, education and community action.

The third theme explored identity and intangible heritage. Songs, crafts and rituals are not just traditions. They are tools for connection and creativity. They help people feel they belong. They can also inspire new ideas. The Academy highlighted the role of young people and marginalized groups in keeping these traditions alive and relevant.

The fourth theme was cultural entrepreneurship. This is about using culture to build fair, sustainable economies. It means creating jobs that respect local identity. It means tourism that gives back to communities. It means products and services that tell a story. The Academy shared examples of how this is already happening in Sardinia and beyond.

One powerful case study came from Malta. Dr Karsten Xuereb, a member of the scientific committee of the Phoenicians’ Route, recognised by the Council of Europe for its excellence, discussed the campaign Manoel Island: Post Għalina in the context of community-led sustainability and heritage recognition. This national initiative asks a bold question: what should the future of Manoel Island be? Is luxury development the only possibility, or could it serve as a public park? The campaign imagines the island as a green, open space in one of Malta’s most urban area by bringing together residents, visitors, historians and planners. Through workshops and scenario building exercises, it invites everyone to shape the island’s future. It is a model of how heritage can spark civic action and inclusive planning.

The spirit of the Academy’s approach was similarly hands-on and collaborative. Participants shared stories, visited sites and worked in groups. They learned from each other. They built proposals. They left with new ideas and new energy. In a world facing deep uncertainty, the Academy showed that heritage is not a luxury. It is a resource, providing a compass for a way forward.