The Characterization and Delineation of the Material Cultural Heritage Sector in Europe

In recent decades, the European policy on material cultural heritage (MCH) has shifted from a primary focus on preserving heritage elements to emphasizing the value that can be derived from them. This trend has led to an interest in quantifying the impact of cultural heritage on economic activity. However, determining the magnitude of this impact is not feasible without first defining the range of activities included in the MCH sector. This article reports the findings of a study to delineate the MCH sector. Combining a tight alignment with economic statistics categories and explicit endorsements from sector experts, the novelty of this delineation lies in the systematic application of the principle of exhaustiveness—recognizing all activities related to MCH regardless of their artistic, historical, or cultural content—while its practicality is ensured by mapping directly onto the categories used to compile European official statistics. Finally, characterizing the activities that constitute the MCH sector is not merely a conceptual exercise, it has direct practical implications, providing the indispensable basis for rigorous sectoral accounting consistent with national accounts standards.