IN-PERSON London Heritages. Section A

Abstract

El Estallido Social was a wave of popular demonstrations and riots that erupted in mid-October 2019 across major Chilean cities. Consequently, all public buildings and institutions in Valparaíso closed to prevent damage from rioters. Among those were institutional venues by the seaport, and some sites within the Historic Quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage site celebrated for its nineteenth-century buildings. Once the residences of the city’s elite — many of whom represented colonial powers —, they stand as testament to Valparaíso’s prominent role as a merchant port. The CoopMar team, coincidentally arriving on the first day of protests, had planned for a week of institutional and academic engagements in Valparaíso. CoopMar explores the complex interplay between the sea and society, delving into the shared memory of Ibero-American port city communities. It prioritizes knowledge dissemination across universities, museums, foundations, businesses, public institutions, and society at large, thereby fostering genuine interaction and empowerment within these communities. What better setting to directly witness people’s ties to their colonial heritage and grasp its complex implications? This presentation highlights the disconnect between Valparaíso’s inhabitants and the memories summoned by the World Heritage site, underscoring the shortcomings of the city’s council and governmental policies regarding public spaces. Yet, it also reveals the locals’ pride in their neighbourhoods and the city’s urban art, which transforms it into an open-air museum. In an interesting parallel with the widespread protests, it’s as if the locals revolted against institutionalized and classified heritage, opting instead to cherish their own.