Evinç Doğan holds a PhD in Management and Development of Cultural Heritage from IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca (Italy). Her research interests include industrial heritage, social inclusion and memory.
Project Statement:
Smart and sustainable strategies for inclusive heritage tourism in a digital era
The research focuses on the deindustrialization process in Ruhr Region (Germany) through a set of social theories. This perspective could prove instrumental in comprehending the role of transformations and mediations in shaping people’s engagement with heritage, transcending the mere representational aspects. Community efforts aim to include underprivileged perspectives in the industrial narrative and change historical culture, countering the prevalent nostalgia for the industrial past. There are overlooked stories related to cultural aspects, amateur artists, popular culture, and high art that were supported by the coal mining industry in the region. Furthermore, the depiction of nature in representations of the post-industrial landscape has become central to new understandings of regional identity. This suggests a shift toward less-represented narratives that reconcile seemingly contradictory elements in creating post-industrial space. Thus, the research aims to explore the overlooked narratives of the key actors in the region’s history by challenging the Authorized Heritage Discourse (AHD). In summary, deviating from the established heritage narrative and embracing a more comprehensive method of representing the stories of miners, migrants and ‘others’ presents ethical implications, contributions, challenges, and opportunities closely linked to the complexities of heritage interpretation and representation. Shifting toward a more inclusive heritage discourse acknowledges the importance of participatory processes and meaning-making, offering a more nuanced and inclusive approach to heritage discourse.
