Heritage should be sustainable, accessible and profitable for it to play an invigorating role in a territory. This was stated in the conclusions of the 5th Session on Sustainable Management of Heritage, promoted by the abertis foundation, which took place today in the Teatro Real in Madrid. Jordi Juan Tresserras, coordinator of the Cultural Management Programme of the University of Barcelona, has been the scientific director of this session, which has had the participation of Luis Lafuente Batanero, sub-director general of Protection of Heritage of the Ministry of Culture as well as a number of national and international experts.

Under the title “Heritage as an invigorating element of a territory”, the session has highlighted the need, with reference to sustainability, that heritage should strengthen local economy, promote participation of the community where these assets are located and favour the dialogue between cultures. With reference to accessibility, managers of heritage must facilitate the access of citizens to these assets and their cultural context. In terms of profitability, heritage resources should be self-financing and in developing countries, they can contribute to the creation of wealth and employment, especially through tourism.

Luis Lafuente Batanero also stressed, at the opening of the session, the importance of establishing sustainable strategies to manage cultural heritage so as to increase its efficiency as an invigorating element of a territory. In his words, he encouraged the  abertis foundation to continue with the organisation of these sessions and with their good work in the cultural sphere.

The session has also presented innovative experiences carried out in the Communities of Andalusia, Castilla y León and Catalonia, as well as Morocco and different Mediterranean countries, highlighting the efforts of the  abertis foundation to make this Session on Sustainable Management of Heritage an international specialised event.

The main objective of the abertis foundation is to study the repercussion of infrastructures on the territory, principally on the environment, demography and the economy. The promotion of this session, which is in its fifth edition, is part of the interest in culture of both the foundation and the companies comprising the abertis corporation. The reason for holding the event in Madrid is due to the motivation of the abertis foundation to disseminate knowledge acquired in the activities promoted by the organisation.

Another proof of the commitment of the abertis corporation with heritage is the rehabilitation of Castellet Castle, to be converted into the headquarters of the foundation. Since it was purchased in 1999, this 10th century fortress, which wan initially a castle in ruins and has now become a building that holds scientific sessions, work sessions, corporate meetings, cultural acts and guided tours in the weekends. Another project of theirs is the preservation of El Mèdol Roman quarry, a monument that is a part of an area in Tarragona declared World Heritage site by the UNESCO.