Paper short abstract:

The focus of this paper is in the conscious cultural transformation, regarded as necessary to tackle the current, global ecological crisis. As a solution is suggested Heritage Futures, which needs to include experience of both culturalizated, cultivated and un-cultivated nature.

Paper long abstract:

Ecological crisis, in a complex connection to global interconnectedness and mobility of people and information and in connection to radical new technology, is a megatrend (Kiiski Kataja 2016) which indicates the great global change of the living environment of people everywhere on the Earth. In this paper, culture is seen as an interactive part of nature (e.g. Siivonen 2018; Willamo et al. 2017). Anticipatory communication and actions of human beings are not separate from the communication of other species or inorganic nature; rather, they are tightly intertwined (Deely 1994, 6, 24, 41 and passim; Poli 2017, 2–3, 5). The focus of this paper is in the conscious cultural transformation, regarded as necessary to tackle the ecological crisis. The aim of this paper is to develop a new conceptual model of Heritage Futures, which combines 1) transformative power of culture defined as a dynamic, interactive process, 2) anticipatory understanding, and 3) cultural heritage as a tool to engage people in an inspiring, affectual, cognitive and practical way. The new model of Heritage Futures is an intentional, anticipatory, cultural tool to co-create alternative images for sustainable futures and accordingly actions in culture and society. In order to help us to better understand the human-nature interface and to form practical solutions towards a more sustainable Globe, Heritage Futures needs to include experience of both culturalizated, cultivated and un-cultivated nature (Boudes 2011; Simmel 1988). As examples are used Human-Sea and Human-Forest relationships.