Sao Paulo: Participation and Social Inclusion on Cultural Heritage

Based on the elitist social representation in the restoration of historical monuments, the cultural heritage policy in Sao Paulo is scarcely linked to the preservation of urban settings and to social inclusion practices. Scarcity of resources and lack of public interest, added to a scenario of social inequality, have not favored the allocation of resources towards preservation. Considering this framework of limitations, it is possible to argue that the priority of policies related to cultural assets should lie on the protection of low-income urban settlements, associated to social housing, and within a community-based perspective. This text aims to introduce potential instruments within the perspective of a social urban policy, as well as practices related to financing and inclusion which can be replicated in different places and circumstances. They represent the result of a critical analysis of the evolution of cultural heritage preservation practices in Brazil and in Sao Paulo, as well as the debate on patrimonial charters, especially the "Recommendations of Sao Paulo," recently approved by Icomos (International Council of Monuments and Sites). They are also based on the experience accumulated by the Fabrica de Restauro (Restoration Factory) in the lower part of Bixiga, a neighborhood located in the central region of Sao Paulo.