The project is preparing a report for Eastern ARC (Academic Research Consortium) on heritage in the region (East Anglia, Essex and Kent).
The main aim of this project is to prepare the groundwork for developing three research themes:
The Climate Crisis and Heritage at Risk. The project will identify areas of concern especially with coastal heritage and other sites that are vulnerable to rising sea levels. We will summarise some of the key issues relating to heritage that emerged from COP26, and tabulate some of the responses to the climate crisis from heritage organisations.
Cultural Property and Heritage Protection. The project will consider heritage at risk across the region including the theft of church lead from across the region.
Digital Creative Industries and Heritage. The region has strengths in this area through initiatives such as Creative Estuary, Creative UEA, and the University of Kent’s Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries located in the Chatham Historic Dockyard.
Deal Castle © David Gill
In addition, the project plans to suggest ways that heritage can contribute to the UK Government’s Levelling-Up agenda. This theme was explored in a recent event hosted by the Heritage Alliance and our team contributed a short discussion paper relating to the Thames Estuary.
The report will be collecting data on the economic contribution of heritage to the region. The project will reflect on the current state of heritage in the region by exploring three areas suggested by the Royal Society of Arts (RSA):
- The current challenges for heritage in the region.
- The actions needed to address the challenges for heritage in the region.
- The need to encourage public participation in and engagement with heritage in the region.
Team Members (drawn from the University of Kent, the University of Essex, and the University of East Anglia).
Professor David Gill
Dr Sophie Vigneron
Research Associates
Peter Matthews
Christopher Moore
Hannah Taylor
Research Assistants
Megan Kelleher
Tallulah Maait Pepperell
Dr Jon Winder (Twitter: @JonWinder_)
Reports
The project has analysed the data presented in the RSA Heritage Index (2020). All reports are available online:
Gill, D. W. J., M. Kelleher, P. Matthews, T. M. Pepperell, H. Taylor, M. Harrison, C. Moore, and J. Winder. 2022. From the Wash to the White Cliffs: The Contribution of the Heritage Sector to Society and the Economy. Eastern Academic Research Consortium(EARC) <https://kar.kent.ac.uk/96160/>.
Gill, D. W. J., C. Moore, and J. Winder. 2022. Historic Kent: The Value of the County’s Heritage Sector. Canterbury: Centre for Heritage, University of Kent.
Gill, David W.J. 2021. East Anglia. State of the Historic Environment 2021. Centre for Heritage, University of Kent.
Gill, David W.J., and Peter Matthews. 2021. Essex. State of the Historic Environment 2021. Centre for Heritage, University of Kent.
Gill, David W. J., and Peter Matthews. 2021. Kent. State of the Historic Environment 2021. Centre for Heritage, University of Kent.
Walmer Castle © David Gill