Dear Colleagues,

Encyclopedia of Heritage is a curated, peer‑reviewed topical collection that maps contemporary and historical knowledge across the heritage field. We welcome concise entries that introduce core concepts, survey debates, and synthesize methods in accessible language without sacrificing rigor. Contributions may address new heritage approaches (integrative, digital, decolonial), a systemic understanding of cultural heritage as a dynamic network of actors, institutions, values, flows, and feedbacks, and the historical development of heritage as concept, practice and sector. We seek articles linking heritage with sustainable development and resilience, including climate adaptation, risk, equity and wellbeing; clarifying heritage values and assessment; and offering critical reflections on power, representation and the Authorized Heritage Discourse. Entries may organize typologies (tangible/intangible; cultural/natural; urban, rural and landscape; industrial; digital), and examine democracy, participation, co‑creation and rights‑based approaches. We also invite authoritative definitions of key terms—authenticity, integrity, ensembles, setting, significance, and related terminology—cross‑referenced to complementary pages. Formats include definitions, overview essays, method notes, and short case exemplars with recommended readings. The collection aims to provide a reliable reference for scholars, practitioners and policy makers, while stimulating new, systemic perspectives on safeguarding, use and change. Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis and updated to reflect evolving scholarship and practice.

We invite concise, rigorously referenced entries for the Topical Collection “Encyclopedia of Heritage”, which maps the state of knowledge across contemporary and historical dimensions of the heritage field. We particularly welcome contributions that: present new heritage approaches (integrative, transdisciplinary, digital, post-/decolonial); articulate a systemic understanding of cultural heritage (heritage as a dynamic system of actors, institutions, values, flows, and feedbacks across scales); trace the historical development of heritage as a concept, practice, and sector; link heritage with sustainable development and resilience (SDGs, climate adaptation/mitigation, risk, equity); clarify heritage values and value assessment; offer critical reflections (e.g., Authorized Heritage Discourse, power and representation); organize heritage typologies (tangible/intangible, cultural/natural, urban/rural/landscape, industrial, digital); address democracy, participation, co‑creation, and rights‑based approaches; survey contemporary debates alongside historical perspectives; and define key terms (e.g., authenticity, integrity, ensembles, setting, significance, conservation vs. preservation, heritage communities). Entry types may include definitions, overviews, methods notes, short case exemplars, and state‑of‑the‑art syntheses. Entries should be written in a neutral, accessible style; include cross‑references and a short list of recommended readings; and follow Encyclopedia’s citation and formatting guidance.

Dr. Matthias Ripp
Prof. Dr. Christer Gustafsson
Collection Editors