{"id":46021,"date":"2026-03-17T16:12:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T16:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=46021"},"modified":"2026-03-17T14:10:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T14:10:35","slug":"ihbc-welcomes-heritage-day-2026-on-heritageconnects-reflections-and-resources","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=46021","title":{"rendered":"IHBC welcomes Heritage Day 2026, on #HeritageConnects – Reflections and Resources"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

image: Claudia Kenyatta (left) and Emma Squire (right). \u00a9 Historic England<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The IHBC has welcomed 2026\u2019s Heritage Day, themed on #HeritageConnects, with \u2018resources and reflections\u2019 now out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Heritage Alliance writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 4 March 2026, Heritage Day brought together organisations, policymakers, practitioners, academics and volunteers from across the sector at the iconic One Great George Street to celebrate the theme #HeritageConnects. Through a dynamic programme of talks, panel discussions, awards and networking, the event explored the powerful role heritage plays in bringing people and communities together. From promoting wellbeing and strengthening connections with nature, to fostering a sense of belonging and encouraging knowledge sharing across borders, the day showcased the many ways heritage serves as a vital connector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ministerial Address<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were delighted to welcome Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross, who delivered the day\u2019s annual ministerial address. She celebrated the indispensable role of volunteers in sustaining heritage across the UK, emphasised the value of apprenticeships in passing on traditional skills, and outlined the government\u2019s ongoing support for the sector \u2013 including the recent announcement of \u00a31.5?bn in new capital funding for heritage and culture. Encouraging organisations and communities alike, she called on attendees to contribute to the UK\u2019s evolving Living Heritage Inventory, highlighting how collective action can preserve and showcase the nation\u2019s rich and diverse heritage for future generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keynote Address<\/u><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were also delighted to welcome Claudia Kenyatta and Emma Squire for their first joint keynote as Co-CEOs of Historic England. Their talk celebrated heritage as a vital source of learning, enjoyment, and connection, and highlighted its far-reaching impacts \u2013 showing how heritage can spark creativity, boost local economies, revitalise high streets, support wellbeing, and offer solutions to pressing challenges such as the housing crisis, skills shortage, and climate change. Looking ahead, they outlined how Historic England\u2019s new Strategic Plan will focus on bringing heritage into national discussions about growth and place, and on collaborating across the sector to maximise its positive impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Local to Global Report Launch<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A key highlight of the day was the launch of our new report, From Local to Global: Heritage in a Changing World<\/em>, produced in collaboration with Europa Nostra UK and supported by World Monuments Fund Britain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drawing on over 30 case studies from organisations worldwide, the report explores how the UK\u2019s heritage sector strengthens international collaboration \u2013 showcasing successful initiatives in climate resilience, peacebuilding, and community cohesion, and highlighting opportunities for further impact through increased investment and support. It also underscores the sector\u2019s role in strengthening the UK\u2019s influence on the global stage, in anticipation of the government\u2019s forthcoming Soft Power Strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emma Collins (lead report author), Magnus von Wistinghausen (Executive Director, WMF Britain), and Rob Woodside (Chair, Europa Nostra UK) shared insights on the findings, highlighting actionable lessons, innovative approaches, and the transformative potential of heritage in global collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See the full update here. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

See more on the Living Heritage Inventory<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explore the \u2018From Local to Global Report\u2019 here<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

image: Claudia Kenyatta (left) and Emma Squire (right). \u00a9 Historic England The IHBC has welcomed 2026\u2019s Heritage Day, themed on #HeritageConnects, with \u2018resources and reflections\u2019 now out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[29,305,191],"class_list":["post-46021","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ihbc-newsblog","tag-heritage","tag-networking","tag-wellbeing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46021","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=46021"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46021\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46032,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46021\/revisions\/46032"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=46021"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=46021"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=46021"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}