Director's Blog

ASHTAV NEWS \| ASHTAV \| News \| Events \| Director's Blog \| Help Desk \| Archive \| Links \|Contacts Director’s Blog December 2007 December is a time for networking in the heritage world, nowhere more so than the Heritage Link AGM and Heritage Day, which this year was held on the 11th of December and attended by your Director and two members of the Committee, David Peevers and Michael Coupe. Heritage Link is an umbrella organisation, of which ASHTAV is a member; their aim is, in their words: “to promote the central role of the voluntary movement in the [heritage] sector and to make their voice heard collectively and coherently”. Heritage Link provides a vital channel for central government lobbying in particular. The AGM business was followed by a speech by the Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, Margaret Hodge MP, and she was subjected to a barrage of questions! The AGM, Minister’s speech and just chatting with my colleagues at lunch made it clear that there are a few big issues to be addressed in 2008. The Heritage Link work-plan, vociferously discussed by delegates in break-out sessions, included three key areas: Economic Regeneration, Heritage Tourism and Creative Industries; The Historic Environment and Identity and Belonging, and; Diversity and Deepening Engagement. These areas were in turn based on areas of focus for central government with regards to heritage, and are a good guide to the interests of the DCMS (and, therefore, to where we should be offering guidance). All the work-plan areas are ones which ASHTAV has been concerned with in the past, and with continue to explore into the future alongside Heritage link and most other organisations charged with preserving and enhancing the beauty, vitality and sustainability of the historic environment. We would welcome the views of ASHTAV members on the Heritage Link work-plan areas; let’s all work together to put historic towns and villages on the government agenda over the next twelve months. My next blog will be next year, so I close with thanks to the ASHTAV committee for their brilliant and committed work over the last year, and best wishes for a merry Christmas and a happy new year to all our members, supporters and colleagues – here’s to success in 2008!
Flash Version The Association of Small Historic Towns and Villages of the UK

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Director’s Blog December 2007

December is a time for networking in the heritage world, nowhere more so than the Heritage Link AGM and Heritage Day, which this year was held on the 11th of December and attended by your Director and two members of the Committee, David Peevers and Michael Coupe.

Heritage Link is an umbrella organisation, of which ASHTAV is a member; their aim is, in their words: “to promote the central role of the voluntary movement in the [heritage] sector and to make their voice heard collectively and coherently”.

Heritage Link provides a vital channel for central government lobbying in particular. The AGM business was followed by a speech by the Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, Margaret Hodge MP, and she was subjected to a barrage of questions!
The AGM, Minister’s speech and just chatting with my colleagues at lunch made it clear that there are a few big issues to be addressed in 2008. The Heritage Link work-plan, vociferously discussed by delegates in break-out sessions, included three key areas: Economic Regeneration, Heritage Tourism and Creative Industries; The Historic Environment and Identity and Belonging, and; Diversity and Deepening Engagement. These areas were in turn based on areas of focus for central government with regards to heritage, and are a good guide to the interests of the DCMS (and, therefore, to where we should be offering guidance).

All the work-plan areas are ones which ASHTAV has been concerned with in the past, and with continue to explore into the future alongside Heritage link and most other organisations charged with preserving and enhancing the beauty, vitality and sustainability of the historic environment. We would welcome the views of ASHTAV members on the Heritage Link work-plan areas; let’s all work together to put historic towns and villages on the government agenda over the next twelve months.
My next blog will be next year, so I close with thanks to the ASHTAV committee for their brilliant and committed work over the last year, and best wishes for a merry Christmas and a happy new year to all our members, supporters and colleagues – here’s to success in 2008!