How can the Heritage Fund be more inclusive of under-represented groups?

Annexes

Annex 1: Staff interviewees

  • Isabel Hunt: Executive Director, Business Innovation and Insight
  • Una Duffy: Director of Investment
  • Liz Ellis: Policy Project Manager
  • Araba Webber: Head of Strategy
  • Kay Watson: Customer Service Manager
  • Amy Potter: Business Delivery Assistant
  • Jeremy Fenn: Senior Investment Manager
  • Ana Osborne: Investment Manager
  • Annie Mottisfont: Engagement Manager

Annex 2: EDI research steering group

  • Tom Walters: Head of Research
  • Liz Ellis: Policy Project Manager
  • Jo Arthur: User Researcher
  • Louise Sutherland: Senior Engagement Manager
  • Amelia Robinson: Insight Manager
  • Faruk Barabhuiya: Insight Manager

Annex 3: EDI Review group

  • Andrew White (Chair): Director, The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales
  • Richard Wilson: Director of HR
  • Araba Webber: Head of Strategy
  • Vanessa Harbar: Culture Change Lead
  • Louise Sutherland: Senior Engagement Manager
  • Liz Ellis: Policy Project Manager
  • Belinda Wych: Culture Change Coordinator
  • Demmy Adewole: Governance Manager

Annex 4: heritage types

  • community heritage
  • industrial, maritime and transport
  • landscapes, parks and nature
  • museums, libraries and archives
  • cultures and memories
  • places of worships
  • areas, buildings and monuments
  • intangible heritage

Annex 5: Key concepts

This research is underpinned by concepts from research in the field of heritage and builds on existing evidence from the sector.

Social value of heritage: this research focuses on the social value of heritage, whereby heritage is defined by its role for a particular community rather than by external (often imposed by white and Western experts) criteria or by its material characteristics. A number of institutions in the heritage sector are now adopting this definition (eg: Council of Europe).

Social equity and heritage: research from the critical heritage studies showed that heritage has the potential to create a sense of belonging and identity, but also to exclude minorities groups from mainstream discourse. Definitions of heritage are therefore intrinsically political, and heritage must be recognised as a source of power (Stuart Hall; Waterton and Watson; Graham; Ashworth and Tunbridge).

A significant body of evidence has shown the role of heritage in changing perceptions and narratives (Richard Sandell). In acknowledgment of this fact, there has been a growing number of organisations and academics exploring the potential of heritage to drive social equity outcomes (eg: Museum Activism, Action Heritage).

Wellbeing (individual and collective): the What Works Centre for Wellbeing defines wellbeing as: “quality of life and prosperity, positive physical and mental health, sustainable thriving communities”.

There is evidence that heritage is connected to a wide range of beneficial impacts on the mental health and wellbeing of people and communities. It is worth noting that there is still a lack of research on the impact of intangible heritage.