The role of museums in building competitiveness in local government in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship

Abstract

Under globalisation the transmission of symbols between social fields is shaped by relations of domination and subordination between different centres. Those engaged on a local level in joining in the global processes adapt to the rules set by supranational organisations and their own states.
Economic changes force local governments to compete for resources that enable their existence, while the increase in importance of the service sector and corresponding decrease in the role of industry compel local powers to seek new sources of funds supplying regional development. Mobility growth, being one of the results of globalisation, appears simultaneously with the popularity of tourism and territorial units concentrate resource acquiring strategies on that field. It is accompanied by the professionalisation of promotional, public relations and marketing activities. Local governments considering the existence of groups interested in cultural heritage are entering the territorial marketing arena to compete with other centres for the attention of these tourist. During this process the commoditisation of community, borough or voivodeship cultural achievements occurs.
Museums are one element of the discussed actions and, depending on situation, their subject or object. As resources they are treated in a complex or a selective way. In the first case they make a ready product while in the second a local government may use different museum components beginning from the architectural qualities of their buildings to their employees’ knowledge and skills. In the paper I distinguish these elements and analyse them as components of the role played by museums participating in territorial unit actions focused on competitive advantage building.