Challenge
Historic England is considering how to engage with Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) and its potential to broaden their reach and engagement with a more diverse audience.
How can Historic England incorporate ICH into its work, in a more formal and structured manner, to allow Historic England to connect with wider communities in a more meaningful way?
Which elements of ICH, as defined by UNESCO, and to what extent, are they relevant to the objectives of Historic England?
Solution
The WSP Cultural Heritage & Archaeology Team advised Historic England on how it can engage most appropriately and effectively in the development of thinking and activity related to ICH. This advice included how Historic England might:
- give greater consideration and weight to ICH when delivering its strategic activities and programmes
- engage in ICH work as a strategic activity, rather than an ad-hoc approach to adding value to programmes and projects
Results
The WSP team prepared an advisory report that entailed an analysis of past ICH-related work by Historic England and the reasons for engaging with this in a more structured and proactive way and providing a commentary on the case for greater engagement on ICH issues. This entailed targeted interviews across the organisation. The report includes recommendations on the following:
- ICH's key areas that Historic England could engage with
- ICH areas of practical relevance to the work and objectives of Historic England
- Assessment of the extent to which ICH is already addressed by Historic England's current activities
- Implications for more active engagement with ICH
- Risks associated with engaging with ICH more actively
- Skills required for Historic England's strategic engagement with ICH
