The latest The Heritage Alliance (THA) debate, held on 14 July in London, was on the topic of Heritage and Government, while recordings of the debate have been made available on the THA website.
The Heritage Alliance (THA) writes:
Heritage & Government’ – the sixth in the Alliance’s series of Heritage Debates and first to be held in London – examined the changing role the state has played in supporting our heritage for public benefit.
Heritage Alliance Chairman Loyd Grossman led an outstanding panel of heritage champions. Conrad Bird, Director of the Cabinet Office’s GREAT Britain campaign illustrated the importance of heritage to the UK’s position at the top of the soft power league.
Sir Laurie Magnus, Chairman of Historic England outlined the new English Heritage model and warned that ‘the gravy train of state support has gone’. Professor Sara Selwood, Editor of Cultural Trends, examined the relationship between research and public policy making. The 150-strong audience raised issues about education, everyday heritage, VAT and developers’ perceptions of heritage, local authority capacity and the fate of Local Authority heritage assets.
