How Cultural Heritage can Contribute to Community Development and Wellbeing

Abstract

The chapter examines how cultural heritage has helped to create resilient rural communities in Scotland - Portsoy and the Isle of Lewis. A particular focus is the digitisation of this heritage. There is no one model of how cultural heritage can be used just as there is no one form of digital communications and different communities approach their heritage in different ways. We analyse important factors such as local ownership and control of heritage and its repercussions for the wellbeing of the communities. Given the isolation of rural communities, digital communications are particularly important for linking communities with the outside world and community members with each other. We illustrate how cultural heritage provides a sense of identity as well as economic benefits through tourism. In particular, the chapter examines the challenges of community-based research into wellbeing and how best to theorise quality of life in different community settings.