The responsibility for conserving, protecting and safeguarding heritage, whether tangible or intangible, lies primarily with:

• Specialised international organisations which have created a series of conventions and recommendations.
• The national states and public authorities on whose territory the cultural goods are located are obliged by law to protect, safeguard and preserve the heritage whether it is of national, regional or local importance.
• The community — it directly inherits the heritage of past generations, it also contributes to its perpetuation, it actively participates in the improvement of this heritage by adding its own experience, by introducing modern elements into the traditional composition and structure, resulting in a heritage as valuable as the inherited one because it also integrates their vision, philosophy and work. The community creates the "bridges" between the modern and the traditional and plays an important role in the formation of the contemporary/modern heritage. We focus on the role of community-based art in safeguarding intangible heritage.

Watch the attached videos to see HEART participants discussing the role of people in safeguarding heritage.