Creativity and Innovation in Heritage Practice

Thursday 24th of June

2 - 5pm

Dr Gavin MacGregor (@gmacg_1), Northlight Heritage (@Northlighter) & University of Stirling

Professor Siân Jones (@Blinkymanx), University of Stirling (@StirHeritage)

About the Presenters

Dr Gavin MacGregor worked at the University of Glasgow until 2011, delivering a range of archaeological and heritage projects. Subsequently, as Director of Northlight Heritage, he has developed a range of projects and programmes for clients and communities across Scotland. He regularly designs and delivers learning and engagement projects, which variously combine research skills, hands on learning, digital heritage, art and cultural heritage in outcome-focused ways for diverse participants and audiences. He also provides consultancy services about wider community development and heritage management issues including to a range of Landscape Partnership Schemes. He is a Board Member of the Landscape Research Group and Scottish Community Heritage Alliance. Gavin also explores creative practices, variously working with sculpture, text and photography: https://heritagelandscapecreativity.wordpress.com/

Siân Jones is Professor of Heritage at the University of Stirling where she is based in the Division of History, Heritage and Politics. She is an interdisciplinary scholar with expertise in cultural heritage, as well as on the role of the past in the production of power, identity and sense of place. Her research also focuses on authenticity, significance, social values, and community heritage practices. She uses a wide range of methods and sources, ranging from archaeological, historical and ethnographic research, to focused qualitative and participatory methods. She is Director of the Centre for Environment, Heritage and Policy at University of Stirling. 

About this Session

This workshop will consider the value of creativity and innovation in heritage practice. A variety of methodologies and techniques used in arts, culture and heritage will be introduced and discussed. Insights and reflection will be supported through consideration of three case studies relating to Northlight Heritage projects: provisionally BuildNBurn, Leny Woods Community Archaeology Project, and CAVLP Heritage. Participants will reflect on the implications and opportunities for developing community engagement and delivering research impact within and beyond the PhD. The potential for using innovation in various heritage career pathways will also be briefly discussed. Participants will be asked to prepare and share a short introduction before attending the workshop. There may also be some recommended reading/reflection.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, participants will:

• Have gained a knowledge of a variety of creative/innovative methods and techniques
• Have reflected on the value and implications of their use through specific heritage projects
• Have considered their potential for developing community engagement and delivering research impact
• Have an awareness of the potential of using innovation in pursuing career pathways

Who might be interested?

This session will be of particular interest to doctoral students who are part of the Heritage Hub, but all researchers across the arts and humanities are welcome.

Event contacts: 
gavin.macgregor@northlightheritage.org; sian.jones@stir.ac.uk  

Click Here to Register (Please note that places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis) 

First published: 27 May 2021