Heritage, Conservation and Communities ─ Engagement, Participation and Capacity Building

Public participation and local community involvement have taken centre stage in heritage practice in recent decades. In contrast with this established position in wider heritage work, public engagement with conservation practice is less well developed. The focus here is on conservation as the practical care of material cultural heritage with all its associated significance for local people. How can we be more successful in building capacity for local ownership and leadership of heritage conservation projects, as well as improving participative involvement in decisions and in practice?

This book presents current research and practice in community-led conservation. It illustrates that outcomes of locally-led, active participation show demonstrable social, educational and personal benefits for participants. Bringing together UK and international case studies, the book combines analysis of theoretical and applied approaches, exploring the lived experiences of conservation projects in and with different communities. Responding to the need for deeper understanding of the outcomes of heritage conservation, it examines the engagement of local people and communities beyond the expert and specialist domain.

Highlighting the advances in this important and innovative aspect of contemporary heritage practice, this book will be a key resource for practitioners in heritage studies, conservation and heritage management. It will also be very relevant for the practising professional, student or university researcher in an emerging field that overarches professional and academic practice

Gill Chitty is Director of the Conservation Studies programme and Centre for Conservation Studies in the Department of Archaeology, University of York. She was Head of Conservation at the Council for British Archaeology from 2005–12 and her professional experience in heritage conservation and public archaeology has been in local government, English Heritage and as a consultant. Her doctoral research explored the influence of John Ruskin’s work in shaping British conservation practice and her research interests continue around the political economy of heritage.