HERITAGE, CULTURAL CONSUMPTION, AND PUBLIC SPACE IN OURO PRETO/MG: CHANGES AND PERMANENCE

Abstract

This research investigates the use of public spaces and cultural consumption in the heritage city of Ouro Preto, Brazil, within the scope of the project "Habitar: Brazilian Historic Centers in Comparative Perspective" (CNPq. Edital Pro-Humanidades). During the Covid-19 pandemic, Ouro Preto, along with other historic cities, faced significant challenges in terms of a reduction in the number of visitors and tourist revenue in the local economy. This affected both heritage preservation policies and everyday life in the designated site. Building upon this context, we revisited empirical research and conducted a survey of recent scientific articles, official documents, and statistical data to understand to what extent the urban recomposition process in Ouro Preto is occurring in response to the new demands and challenges posed by urban policies, tourism, and housing in the post-crisis historic center. With this approach, we observe how integrative urban devices and itineraries of consumption, which respectively connect residents and visitors to the cultural heritage through ways of inhabiting historic centers and consuming cultural goods and landscapes.