Heritage Day 2022 Bringing the Heritage Sector Together

Heritage Heroes Awards 2021

For over a decade, Ecclesiastical’s Heritage Heroes Awards have celebrated the incredible contribution of volunteers in the heritage sector. More than a simple thank you, these awards are a great opportunity to demonstrate how communities can take ownership of the historic environment around them and make a real difference.

Each year at Heritage Day we announce the winners of these Awards, sponsored by specialist insurer Ecclesiastical [Alliance Corporate Partner], the UK’s leading insurer of Grade I listed buildings.

Volunteers are vital for the protection of England’s heritage. From caring for rural heritage sites to devising new ways of working remotely, volunteers’ skills, passion, and commitment have proved to be more crucial than ever over the past few years.

The two award categories for 2022 are:

• Heritage Hero Award
• Digital Heritage Hero Award

The winners will be announced at Heritage Day on 9 March. Further details about the awards and information about past winners can be found here.

We'll be sharing details of the finalists in the week leading up to Heritage Day on social media, so be sure to follow the hashtag #HeritageHeroes2021.

Breakout Sessions

Virtual breakout sessions will be taking place at Heritage Day 2022 on 9 March and are open to all attendees. These breakout sessions will offer attendees opportunities to learn, network and share ideas around topics that are important to the heritage sector in 2022.

Round one: (10:50-11:15, 9 March)

• Meet & Greet with Delphine - Head of Development & Membership, The Heritage Alliance
• Visitor Sentiment Research with ALVA - Bernard Donoghue
• Enhancing Resilience in the Heritage Sector - Mike Heyworth and Tess Gale
• Removing Barriers to Trustee Diversity in the Heritage Sector - Penny Wilson

Round two: (12:05-12:30, 9 March)

1. Demystifying Culture & Heritage Capital - Adala Lesson
2. Advocacy with Polly - Head of Policy and Communications, The Heritage Alliance
3. Signs of Success – what our collateral can tell us about who we are and who we include - Anita Kerwin-Nye
4. What have we learned from the DASH Survey 2021? - Head of Development & Membership, The Heritage Alliance

Please scroll down for more information on each session. Attendees will be able to join these sessions on the day, via Zoom.

Breakout Sessions - Round 1 (10:50-11:15, 9 March)

- Meet & Greet with Delphine -

Host: Delphine Jasmin-Belisle (Head of Development & Membership, The Heritage Alliance)

This is is an informal, low-tech session for anyone interested in connecting and reflecting on their organisation’s journey throughout the pandemic and discussing their plans for Spring and Summer.

- Visitor Sentiment Research with ALVA -

Host: Bernard Donoghue (Director, ALVA - The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions)

ALVA has been commissioning visitor sentiment research throughout the last two years, and sharing it widely, free of charge, to assist the sector understand the confidence of the visitor attraction-going public and be guided about COVID-safe measures, the speed of the recovery of the domestic market. ALVA's CEO, Bernard Donoghue, will be sharing the latest research undertaken across the UK during February half -term, and identifying trends and insights.

- Enhancing Resilience in the Heritage Sector -

Hosts: Mike Heyworth and Tess Gale (Head of Sector Resilience and Skills, English Heritage)

This breakout session will introduce the newly created Heritage Resilience Plan, put together by the Historic Environment Forum in collaboration with Historic England. The aims of the Plan will be discussed and there will be an opportunity to discuss the priority actions, which will be taken forward collaboratively over the next two years.

- Removing Barriers to Trustee Diversity in the Heritage Sector -

Host: Penny Wilson (CEO, Getting on Board)

Join this practical workshop to explore how we can boost trustee diversity in heritage organisations. Come away with practical hints and tips, as well as plenty food for thought. All welcome, whatever stage of the journey you might be on.

Breakout Sessions - Round 2 (12:05-12:30, 9 March)

- Demystifying Culture & Heritage Capital -

Host: Adala Leeson (Head of Socio-Economic Analysis & Evaluation at Historic England)

Historic England has been working closely with DCMS to develop a Culture Heritage Capital approach considering how to better value the impact of heritage interventions. This informal session will bring members up to date with the progress made to date and the overall objectives, challenges and opportunities of the Culture and Heritage Capital approach.

- Advocacy with Polly -

Host: Polly Martin (Head of Policy and Communications, The Heritage Alliance)

This is an informal session for anyone interested in meeting other delegates to discuss advocacy strategy. Polly will be on hand to guide conversations and answer any questions.

- What Have we Learned from the DASH Survey 2021? -

Host: Delphine Jasmin-Belisle (Head of Development & Membership, The Heritage Alliance)

Learn more about the key findings that emerged from the DASH Survey 2021, which gathered the voices of 4,514 heritage staff, volunteers, freelancers and trustees and reflect with colleagues around the sector on the next steps for digital in Heritage.

- Signs of Success: what our collateral can tell us about who we are and who we include -

Host: Anita Kerwin-Nye (Executive Director, YHA)

Hear from Anita Kerwin-Nye, Executive Director of YHA, on her 3-year labour of love exploring heritage resources. How can leaflets, books, posters and the other wonderful things we give away and sell support inclusion, impact and income generation?

Member Insight Panels

On each day of Heritage Day 2022 (9 and 10 March), we will be holding panel discussions on key topics of interest to the sector, in line with our work and concerns for this year.

9 March (11:15-11:45) - Virtual

Topic: Skills and workforce: what are the current challenges the heritage workforce faces, and what could serve as meaningful interventions and solutions?

This discussion will be chaired by Polly Martin, Head of Policy & Communications at The Heritage Alliance, in conversation with:

• Tess Gale - Head of Sector Resilience and Skills at Historic England
• Prof. Chris Gerrard - Chair of University Archaeology UK and Professor of Archaeology at Durham University
• Clare Watson - Chair of the National Federation of Builders Heritage group and Director of Bernhar Waston painter decorators
• Helen Stevenson - Member at DOT Project (Consortium Partners of Heritage Digital Academy)

10 March (15:10-15:50) - In person

Topic: What’s the long game for heritage? What’s on the horizon and how do we harness opportunities?

This discussion will be chaired by Dr Tola Dabiri, Director of Museum X CIC and Brick by Brick Communities CIC, in conversation with:

• Araba Webber - Head of strategy, National Lottery Heritage Fund
• Henry Cleary - Deputy Chair of the Maritime Heritage Trust and Trustee Lead for the Boiler & Engineering Skills Training Trust
• Kate Mavor CBE - Chief Executive, English Heritage
• Faith Kitchen - Customer Segment Director, Ecclesiastical
• Alice Purkiss - National Trust Partnership Lead, University of Oxford

Sponsorship & Advertising Opportunities

This year, there are numerous ways for organisations to share their brand and message at Heritage Day 2022.

For further information on our packages and rates for the options below (advertising slots, stall bookings and sponsorship opportunities), please email our Development & Membership Manager Delphine on development@theheritagealliance.org.uk.

Share Your Brand Through Advertising Slots

Advertising slots for Heritage Day 2022 are now open. Organisations can share their logo, message, or services with hundreds of leaders from across the heritage sector this March. Our rates include a dedicated space for your banner advert on our Virtual Programme (this site) as well as within our attendee pack - and there is a special discounted rate available to members of The Heritage Alliance.

Stall Bookings

Stalls are available to book for organisations to share their message at our in-person event on 10 March (1pm-5pm) at the historic Christ Church Spitalfields in London. This part of the event will feature keynote speeches from the Heritage Alliance Chair Pam Alexander OBE, the Heritage Minister Dr Nigel Huddleston and the Chair of the National Lottery Heritage Fund Dr Simon Thurley CBE and will conclude with an evening networking reception.

Become a Sponsor

A tailored opportunity for your organisation to feature at the forefront of Heritage Day 2022 and play a key role in one of the heritage sector’s biggest events. Your branding would be shared on the slide deck throughout the event alongside other opportunities to showcase your organisation’s key messages to the breadth of the heritage sector.

Image credits: (in order of appearance) English Heritage [Alliance member], English Heritage [Alliance member], National Churches Trust [Alliance member], Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich [Alliance member], YHA [Alliance member], Landmark Trust [Alliance member], Waterloo Uncovered [Alliance member], Bedern Hall [Alliance member], YHA [Alliance member], Downside Abbey [Alliance member], Waterloo Uncovered [Alliance member], English Heritage [Alliance member].