Selling a political framework for the Public Value Era
Channel: Recording Archaeology
Date: 2017-04-22

In the last 20 years there has been a shift towards understanding the past primarily in terms of what the public value. This has permeated heritage thinking among academics and institutions, and arguably, Government understandings of heritage. However, heritage is nonetheless threatened by an age of austerity. This paper sets out a politically pragmatic framework for representing both the present aspirations of a publicly-minded sector and the outlook for political realities of the English system. I will aim to show how this system would help to demonstrate public support and legitimacy, maintain or build political reputation, develop effectiveness in working practices, and establish relevance with the public.

Rob Lennox, University of York