Religious art in a social context. How to involve stakeholders

Abstract

Since the early 20th century, there has been a growing need to identify and measure the value of cultural heritage; the “experts” are no longer perceived as the only ones deciding on an artefact’s heritage value. Involving the local community makes it possible to grasp the potential social value of the assessed object. This article focuses on the value of stakeholders’ participation. It presents how to best involve stakeholders and possible new knowledge implied in the democratization of decision-making. The case study is based on a questionnaire completed by local church communities in Norway about the collections of paintings with the “The Passion Clock” theme, shows differences in the stakeholders’ and the experts’ defined values. This finding indicates the need for a range of voices in the decision-making process and suggests how to do so. By involving the local communities, this study provides a broader understanding of the Passion Clock’s role in democratizing decision-making and preserving the local sociocultural heritage.