Abstract:

The study analyses young people’s responses to questions on the channels for obtaining information about culture and their understanding of the concepts of culture and cultural heritage. Particular attention was paid to the question of what opportunities young people have at school to learn about culture formally through a specific curriculum and informally, through contacts with their school friends and attending cultural events organised by the school.

The study was conducted in the framework of Horizon 2020’s CHIEF project (Cultural Heritage and Identities of Europe’s Future) which was funded by the European Commission. The aim of the project is to analyse how young people learn about culture and cultural heritage in formal and informal educational institutions, as well as at cultural heritage preservation sites and in their families.

The study aims to analyse the data obtained through interviewing 60 students and teachers in formal educational settings to examine how the national guidance on cultural literacy is reflected in classroom practices, specifically, the teaching practice, pedagogical tools and learning experiences, and to understand how cultural literacy is acquired and enacted within formal educational settings. A thematic analysis of the interviews was undertaken using an iterative, inductive approach to the generation of codes and themes guided by the aims and objectives of the study. The results of the study on the understanding of culture, cultural heritage, and cultural identity among young people allow the analysis of the development of European national/ethnic/regional cultures, identifying potential gaps and determining future development prospects.

Keywords:

Cultural education, formal educational settings, culture, cultural heritage, young people.