C O N T E X T 1 7 3 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 43 DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION This led to the CHIP programme (Conservation and Heritage in Practice), a partnership with SPAB. Chapter 1 was held in June 2022 in BCU over two days. It focused on a redundant former canal-keeper’s cottage nearby. Students from different design courses and levels undertook a set of exercises in conjunction with the current SPAB scholars. Hand drawing plans and compiling condition surveys were used to look at the historic fabric, bringing a level of enquiry, on a brick-by-brick scale, to the building. A walking tour and consideration of context generated ideas for reuse. Students who were invited stood out during tuition on conservation, outside of the normal conservation courses, or were recommended by their tutors, with talent and engagement being key factors.Most came fromBAME backgrounds, or had other minority identifiers, reflecting both the nature of our student body and the positive inclusivity measure we were aiming for. The professional mentorship framework, without the stress of assignments or exams, helps create the space to explore ideas. It enables participants to reach a comfort zone in dialogue, which one needs to thrive in a work situation, and which in the recent working/ studying-from-home climate is more elusive. Some of the highlights identified by students were the on-site visit; experience with a real building/historic fabric; working with the SPAB scholars and hearing their back stories; working with professionals; learning about conservation; and gaining confidence to talk about conservation to employers. While celebrating the success of this chapter, I suspect that the CHIPies were probably the best-resourced students. They were capable of forging careers in conservation themselves, if they wished, without our intervention, able to attend an unpaid session – with family support, income, the value placed on education, freedom to choose, childcare, accessibility and so on. They had overcome the barriers they may have had. We in the industry need more people to fill all the wonderful roles there are, and have to attract these people to us. The next chapters planned will take us around Birmingham with architect Alexa Woodward, head of design at Cordia Blackswan, and to Walsall with conservation officer Devinder Matharu. Sites we can visit, chat about, climb the scaffold on, are the key. That brings me back to the question in my title. I once thought it was a stupid question, exhibiting all kinds of prejudices, but now I am not so sure. Participants on the CHIP programme investigating the former canalkeeper’s cottage. From left to right: Jacob Long (SPAB scholar), Khondokar Md Moshiur Rahman Shoikot, Catharine Bull (SPAB), Libby Watts (SPAB), Katriona Byrne, Tyler Cook, Flavia Danila, Kirren Channa, Muhammad Javaid, Serena Gildea (SPAB scholar), Sinead Scullion (SPAB scholar) (Photo: Amal Badr) Katriona Byrne, a conservation officer by profession, is course director of the MA and postgrad programmes in conservation of the historic environment at Birmingham City University.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjgyMjA=