Sense of Community, Intergenerational Interaction and Skill Development in Heritage Education: Evidence from Flamenco in Spain

Abstract

Research on intangible cultural heritage in educational contexts has largely focused on symbolic, identity-related, and curricular values, paying limited attention to the social mechanisms that sustain its transmission as living heritage. In particular, empirical evidence on how heritage education promotes learning processes and intergenerational interaction remains scarce. This study addresses this gap by analysing the role of sense of community as a mechanism linking skills development and intergenerational interaction in flamenco education in Spain. Using a sample of 301 students enrolled in music education programs in Andalusia, a structural equation model (SEM) was estimated. Results show that sense of community has a positive and statistically significant effect on both skills development and intergenerational interaction. In contrast, individual skills do not exhibit a significant direct effect on intergenerational interaction. Overall, the findings emphasize the central role of community-based experiences in the transmission and safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in educational settings.