Editing Cultural resource management (section)

{{Short description|Practice of managing cultural resources}}
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In the broadest sense, '''cultural resource management''' ('''CRM''') is the vocation and practice of managing [[heritage asset]]s, and other cultural resources such as [[contemporary art]]. It incorporates Cultural Heritage Management which is concerned with traditional and historic culture. It also delves into the material culture of [[archaeology]]. Cultural resource management encompasses current culture, including progressive and innovative culture, such as [[urban culture]], rather than simply preserving and presenting traditional forms of culture.

However, the broad usage of the term is relatively recent and as a result it is most often used as synonymous with [[heritage management]]. In the United States, cultural resources management is not usually diverse from the heritage context. The term is, "used mostly by archaeologists and much more occasionally by architectural historians and historical architects, to refer to managing historic places of archaeological, architectural, and historical interests and considering such places in compliance with environmental and historic preservation laws."<ref>King 1998, p. 6</ref>

Cultural resources include both physical assets such as archaeology, [[architecture]], [[painting]]s and [[sculpture]]s and also [[intangible culture]] such as [[folklore]] and interpretative arts, such as [[storytelling]] and [[drama]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Research/det/glossary_abbreviations.htm |title=1.01 definitions - Cultural sector Department for Culture Media and Sport |access-date=2007-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205104504/http://www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Research/det/glossary_abbreviations.htm |archive-date=2007-02-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  Cultural resource managers are typically in charge of [[museum]]s, [[art museum|galleries]], [[theatre]]s etc., especially those that emphasize culture specific to the local region or ethnic group.  [[Cultural tourism]] is a significant sector of the tourism industry.

At a national and international level, cultural resource management may be concerned with larger themes, such as [[language]]s in danger of extinction, [[public education]], the ethos or operation of [[multiculturalism]], and promoting access to cultural resources.  The [[Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity]] is an attempt by the [[United Nations]] to identify exemplars of intangible culture.