The cultural heritage may be defined as the entire corpus of material signs either artistic or symbolic handed on by the past to each culture and, therefore, to the whole of humankind. As a constituent part of the affirmation and enrichment of cultural identities, as a legacy belonging to all humankind, the cultural heritage gives each particular place its recognizable features and is the storehouse of human experience. The preservation and presentation of cultural heritage are therefore a cornerstone of any cultural policy. The situation of the cultural heritage has deteriorated during recent years as a result of industrialization, rapid urbanization, the increase in atmospheric pollution, various climatic factors and mass tourism. Many examples of the non-physical heritage are dying out because of the disruption of economic structures and rapid changes in life-styles.
The SEAMEO Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts has programmes to: cultivate the awareness and appreciation of the cultural heritage through collaboration in information dissemination and other relevant programmes of activities; promote and help enrich archaeological and cultural activities in the Southeast Asian region; further professional competence in the fields of archaeology and fine arts through regional programmes and activities, and through sharing of resources and experiences; advance mutual knowledge and understanding among the countries of South-East Asia through regional programmes in archaeology and fine arts.