‘Heritage Now: Relevance and Community’ will draw from and develop key themes explored during the 2022 international conference of the same name. Each event will be an opportunity to bring together voices from around the world, to share experiences and to collectively discuss pressing topics related to heritage preservation.

These digital events examine how the experiences of recent years have encouraged cultural organisations across the world to adapt and transform in the face of global challenges and new opportunities; looking to build a future that is more sustainable, equitable and ecological.

Interactivity is key to these webinars – using video clips from the recent conference, the speakers and audience will make provocations, discussions and invite responses throughout. Full recordings of the conference are available in our 'Online Content' section, so you can take a deeper dive into the webinar series content before or after the live sessions.

Sign up for sessions below:

1. COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP
Thursday 2 February (1400 - 1500 GMT)

We examine who ‘owns’ heritage? Exploring ideas around ownership and influence, we discuss how communities and heritage organisations navigate these concepts, in collaboration or in opposition. Bringing together a multidisciplinary group of professionals working with heritage, we ask; who makes the decisions? How do we prioritise? What are the impacts of such actions? Register here.

2. [RE] INTERPRETING RELEVANCE
Thursday 16 February (1400 - 1500 GMT)

We investigate what happens when heritage sites and stories no longer hold relevance within communities. Drawing together speakers who have worked to adapt and evolve heritage spaces and their narratives, we discuss topics such as truth and trust, meaningful co-production and how we can tell multi-dimensional stories to open up engagement opportunities. Register here.

3. YOUTH-LED STRATEGIES FOR CLIMATE ACTION
Thursday 2 March (1400 - 1500 GMT)

We bring together an international panel of professionals working on youth-led strategies for tackling the climate crisis through heritage. Understanding that the health of people, wildlife and the environment are all deeply intertwined, this conversation will focus on nature-based solutions and community-led climate efforts, exploring the potential of the heritage sector to respond to the devastating impacts of the climate crisis. Register here.

4. MAKING PLACES
Thursday 16 March (1400 - 1500 GMT)

In the aftermath of any crisis, the rethinking, reshaping & reconstruction of our built environment requires the careful balancing of many rival interests and priorities. We explore how decisions made within these processes can impact a sense of place for the communities who live there. We will compare what can be lost when culture and identity are forgone in favour of redevelopment interests, versus the opportunity heritage presents to build places that reflect and serve the communities that live within them. Register here.

5. PEOPLE, PURPOSE, PLACE
Wednesday 29^th March (1400 – 1500 BST)

We reflect on the central themes of People, Purpose and Place within heritage preservation; exploring how the heritage sector currently works with these entwined areas of focus today. We take stock of the key findings of the series so far, discussing how heritage and its relevance evolves in constant dialogue with communities; asking how can we go forwards with an understanding of these values and give purpose to our actions? Register here.