Heritage interpretation: need of dialogue between education and citizenship in Brazil

Abstract

This article addresses the dialogue between heritage interpretation and preservation, education and citizenship. Starting from a brief historical route, we seek to conceptualize heritage interpretation, its principles, foundations, objectives and agents involved, as well as to present the methodological steps of a plan for carrying out the interpretation of works, whether of pictorial, sculptural or architectural nature, recognizing the elements specific and related to each one. We seek to demonstrate, through theory and observation of the Projeto Oficina Escola de Artes e Ofícios (POEAO), how heritage interpretation and education practices are relevant to the preservation of memory and cultural heritage, stimulating community participation in a process of strengthening citizenship, following Tilden's sequential strategy (1957): interpretation-understanding- appreciation-protection.