THE ROLE OF LOCAL AUTHORITY IN THE FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATIVE-LEGAL PROTECTION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE

Abstract

The preservation of cultural heritage is a primary area of activity for local authorities, as territorial communities (hromadas) are responsible for financing, administering, and legally protecting historical and cultural sites.This article explores the main aspects of funding cultural heritage preservation at the local community level, identifying funding sources, budget planning mechanisms, and the challenges municipalities face in implementing protective measures. The article goes on to consider in particular budgetary financing, grant support, public-private partnerships, and patronage as mechanisms for attracting funds for the restoration and conservation of historical sites. The article furthermore examines the administrative and legal mechanisms for protecting cultural heritage, including legal regulations, control procedures, sanction mechanisms, and organisational measures. An analysis of the current Ukrainian legislation in the field of cultural heritage protection allows for the identification of its strengths and weaknesses and the outlining of ways to improve legal regulation at the local level. Special attention is given to the issues of ineffective monitoring of cultural heritage sites, weak institutional capacity of local authorities, and the lack of adequate control over compliance with preservation regimes. The study demonstrates that effective management in the context of cultural heritage protection necessitates a comprehensive approach, encompassing financial support, explicit legal regulation, active collaboration between local authorities, the public, and businesses, in addition to the implementation of international heritage protection standards. The measures proposed in the article are designed to enhance the effectiveness of local authorities in cultural heritage preservation, including augmented funding, enhanced monitoring and control systems, and the engagement of community initiatives and international resources. The findings of this study can be used to develop cultural heritage preservation strategies at the local community level and improve legislation in the field of historical and cultural site protection. The conclusions confirm the need for an integrated approach that combines economic, legal, and administrative measures to establish an effective system for protecting cultural heritage in the context of decentralisation and growing contemporary challenges.