12 C O N T E X T 1 0 8 : M A R C H 2 0 0 9 Conference report: Agencies Coordinating Group Place, space and conservation This conference, exploring the impact of heritage-led regeneration on crime reduction, health and social, and community cohesion, was held in the splendid setting of Gorton Monastery Manchester over two days in November. It was the largest joint event organised by the Agencies Coordinating Group, which brings together five of the UK’s leading heritage organisations: Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF), Civic Trust, Prince’s Regeneration Trust, UK Association of Preservation Trusts (APT) and IHBC. The group has been working to ensure better coordination of activities, to involve members in each others’ work and to help build capacity in the sector. Our work with the group typifies the IHBC’s continuing approach to working in partnership with others. The conference opened on a sad note: tributes were paid to Hilary, Lady Weir, conservation stalwart and firm supporter of all the group member bodies. The tributes were led by APT chairman Colin Johns and Ros Kerslake of the Prince’s Regeneration Trust, who read words from the Prince of Wales. These were reminders of a life that shaped others’ with her energetic work in conservation and enthusiasm for the challenges of building preservation. The opening day focused on the widest social context of the group’s main business, conservation-led and community-based regeneration. Sue Clifford kicked off energetically with a thoughtful and committed talk. She urged us to seek out peculiarity and patina, and see how local distinctiveness was made by ‘the accumulation of story upon history upon natural history’. Five weeks into her new role as chair of Heritage Lottery Fund Jenny Abramski had been on a whirlwind tour of HLF projects around the UK. She had already visited Blaenavon, the Thames Gateway, Ancoats, Kelvingrove, Harwood House and York Minster. She realised, ‘in my short time… that the contribution of Lottery funding for heritage isn’t as well understood by the public as it should be. Heritage seems, at times, to be arguably still in the shadow of the arts on both public and government agendas.’ Abramski’s presentation showed the impact of HLF-funded work nationwide. She painted a picture of the HLF’s special role in this regeneration picture being not restricted to that of funder. ‘Our role as well is to provide the reminder, at a strategic level, about the history of people and communities, about the places and existing people in an area that can be easily overlooked in the pressure, intensity and sheer complexity of the heavyduty tasks in regeneration of housing, jobs, transport,’ Abramski said. She concluded that the HLF wanted to work closely with partners to celebrate the achievements of Lottery funding ‘because everyone from Lottery players to government should recognise the value of spending Lottery money on our heritage, and the special contribution it continues to make to strong, vibrant communities throughout the UK.’ Chris Oldershaw, chief executive of the Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Company, asked ‘Can heritage power urban regeneration?’ Drawing on examples from his previous life in Grainger Town and the work currently under way in Gloucester, he was able to illustrate a positive response to the question. A double-handed appearance from Ian Lush of the Architectural Heritage Fund and researcher Ela Palmer presented the research commissioned through the Agencies Coordinating Group to examine the current evidence base for the social impacts of heritage-led regeneration. The conclusions clearly indicate that heritage-led regeneration can have an influence on social issues such as crime, health, education and social capital. The full conclusions of this work are on page 12 of this issue of Context. Sue Clifford Chris Oldershaw Ian Lush
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjgyMjA=