De volta para os braços da rainha dos céus: migração, memória e festa em Caicó/RN

The present work has as an objective to seize up some particular meanings of the Feast of Sant Ana (The saint which represents the city of Caicó/RN), a central event of the calendar festive-religious of that city, looking for to perceive on how it combines with the symbolic poles sacred: profane through the social bonds that are present there performed and expressed through the social networking and of local belongings. Such bond ties reveal themselves through a very especial manner, through the migration of returning to the feast, when collectively are produced and updated knowledge and codes that reinforce the representation of the local belonging, nominated as being caicoense . We seek on perceiving how the many events of this feast (from a perspective of a religious order as well as laic) acting on a conclusive way to an identity of the re-meaning of that city, especially in its relation with the migrant natives: the sons and daughters that return to the arms of Sant Ana

Percepção ambiental do patrimônio cultural: estudo de caso na Cidade Alta e Ribeira em Natal-RN

Contemporary studies have shown that the evolution of the heritage concepts is accompanied by an affirmation of the importance of social participation in recognizing heritage values and in managing cultural assets. We used the Brazilian context to emphasize the challenges for democratizing this process. This problematic is discussed based on the cases of Cidade Altaand Ribeira, neighborhoods that date from the formation of Natal-RNand have cultural assets recognized by levels of government. The study builds elements to answer the research question: what meanings and representations does the culturalheritage in the case study have for its users? The research method analyzes the representations and the meanings of the neighborhoods, firstly is based on historiographical studies, memories records of the city and on the process of heritage management. Secondly, it isbased on the field research, it is structured in environmental perception studies (areas of Environmental Psychology, Architecture and Urbanism) and has been applied with users with different bonds with the studied environment (residents, workers and visitors). The data were obtained with the multi-method which included direct observation, questionnaire survey and mentalmaps (that replicate Kevin Lynch). The analysis of result verified the research hypothesis, emphasizing aspects of the relationship between users and cultural heritage relevant to strengthening collective memory, local identity, contributing to heritage management. Among the results, the socio-environmental image obtained which emphasized a "cultural axis" linkingboth studied neighborhoods and confirms the influences of elements rein the memories records of the city and in the area s management. Identified aspects to strengthen the relationship between the users and cultural assets, such as the presence of placeswith affective ties to certain groups, as well as the need to fight off negative images (of degradation and insecurity) associated to the site and also expand the participation of the population, including residents, in policies and cultural activities. After all, recognition of value and the involvement of societycultural assets have the potential of contribute to integrate city development with heritage conservation