Citizen Perspectives on the Development of Local Cultural Resources: The Case of the Municipality of Serres

Abstract

Nowadays, cultural development is considered to be a matter of high priority for a modern state. Local cultural assets play a major role in the design and development of a successful and sustainable national cultural development policy. The purpose of the current survey is to explore to what extend people who are residents at the Municipality of Serres realize the importance of cultural assets in the context both of national or regional economic development and which are these local cultural assets and resources. Additionally, the survey presented, attempts to gain insight into what are the factors that inhibit local cultural development and which are the main driving instructions responsible for the exploitation of these cultural assets and resources. In order to achieve its goals, the survey utilizes a sample of 121 responses to a comprehensive questionnaire, answered mainly by people who are permanent residents at the greater area of the Municipality of Serres. Analysis of the results gave strong evidence that the Municipality of Serres hosts and important number of cultural resources, which are not yet sufficiently exploited and promoted. In addition, citizens realize the important role cultural development can play in local economy and the value it can add in order to advance local economy as a whole.