Overview of Pillar IV: Community involvement and benefits

Abstract

Aspects of Agnew et al.’s (2015) Pillar IV focuses discussion in this presentation: “This pillar of rock art conservation emphasizes the need to encourage appropriate and well-managed economic, social and cultural development initiatives by and for Indigenous, local and regional communities. Genuine community involvement can result in greater awareness of rock art, increased economic opportunities and higher quality display and interpretation for visitors” (48). The vision for Pillar IV incorporates the following: • Economic, social, and cultural initiatives that use rock art heritage will be run by or in partnership with Traditional Owners or local communities and will return a fair benefit to them. • Tourism to rock art sites will be fairly negotiated, carefully planned, and undertaken in partnership with Traditional Owners and local communities. • Traditional Owners and local communities who benefit from rock art will appreciate the value of the sites in a contemporary world and in turn will become stronger protectors of their rock art heritage. • The cultural and economic value of rock art sites will be considered prior to decisions being made about economic development that may affect rock art and its custodians.