The Heritage Alliance held a hybrid Heritage Day 2023 programmes across 1 and 2 March, with heritage leaders, professionals and volunteers online and in-person at the historic venue, The Charterhouse, London, with the programme culminating in a reception to mark the Heritage Alliance’s 20th anniversary.
image: Heritage Alliance Press Release
… virtual conference focused on knowledge and skills….in-person conference was built around leadership…
The Heritage Alliance writes:
Lizzie Glithero-West, Chief Executive of The Heritage Alliance, opened Heritage Day 2023 with an ‘excavation’ of the 20-year journey of The Heritage Alliance since its founding as Heritage Link in 2002 to its position today as the largest coalition of heritage interests in England, now representing over 190 members. From an advocacy organisation to one which also runs substantial support programmes for the sector, the Heritage Alliance has grown through a combination of extraordinary voluntary effort, support from sponsors and funders, individual passion and collective endeavour. Lizzie ended her speech by looking ahead, emphasising the need for the heritage sector to continue collaborating for public benefit, seeing a future where ‘The Heritage Alliance will still be going strong 200 years from now.’
… Key individuals from The Heritage Alliance’s past and present celebrated and reflected on our 20-year journey from Link to Alliance. Keynote speaker and ex-Chair Loyd Grossman CBE praised the organisation’s growth from ‘strength to strength’.
The virtual conference focused on knowledge and skills. It featured a political panel looking at manifesto creation, a funders’-eye view of challenges and opportunities and skills-building sessions on risk and crime, fundraising and copyright delivered by the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, Naomi Korn Associates and Ecclesiastical Insurance.
The sold-out in-person conference was built around leadership, for the future. Attendees joined panels of heritage leaders and young trustees in conversation, and heard from Heritage Minister, Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, who said ‘The Heritage Alliance does a brilliant job of championing England’s rich and thriving heritage sector, and of celebrating the great work that organisations across the country do to engage people with our shared history .’ Later, he concluded: ‘It was great to attend Heritage Day to celebrate its 20th birthday, and I look forward to continuing working closely with it and its members.’
Rene Olivieri, Chair of the National Trust advocated that Heritage sector organisations ‘can and should exercise our collective might to do more good, to think now and long-term, and promote conservation beyond our individual boundaries.’ He hoped that Heritage Day 2023 delegates would continue to become ‘bigger, better, and more joined up.’ Ecclesiastical’s Heritage Heroes Awards is a regular feature of Heritage Day. These awards, which celebrate the significant contribution of volunteers, are now in their 13th year. David Kennedy at Coombe Conduit was our 2022 Heritage Hero, and the winners of the special category for 2022, the Heritage Storyteller Award, were China Exchange History Champions. Among other things, David developed an online tour that ensured the Coombe Conduit, an ancient waterworks, was still available online, while China Exchange History Champions have revealed Chinatown’s heritage through storytelling and walking tours and contributed to anti-racism work. Commendations were awarded to the Volunteer Wreck Custodians who look after 64 protected wreck sites and A Thames Lark for engaging young people with research through an immersive event along the Thames. David Kennedy stated that, ‘I am deeply honoured to receive this award. I’d like to say, that over the years, I’ve been supported by many other volunteers and I wish to thank them for this.’ Meanwhile, Sau Hing Au spoke on behalf of the Chinatown History Champions when she said, ‘We are delighted that our collective efforts to share Chinatown’s stories are being recognised and are grateful to everyone involved.’
The continuing sponsorship and support of Ecclesiastical Insurance, along with this year’s sponsors, The Charterhouse and YHA, made it possible for The Heritage Alliance to deliver the most dynamic Heritage Day yet.
Tony Burton OBE, Chair of Power to Change and a founder of The Heritage Alliance, tweeted, ‘Congratulations Heritage Alliance (@Heritage_NGOs) on 20 years speaking up for our historic environment & bringing the extraordinary network of people & organisations who care about it together – exceeds our wildest expectations when setting it up… #HeritageDay2023’.
