Shared Heritage

Published: 8th February 2010

The full report "Embedding Shared Heritage" (2009) from the Heritage Diversity Taskforce has some useful thoughts about diversifying and democratising archives including developing a variety of different models of custody and shared ownership with communities and their archive collections.

The Mayor's Commission on African and Asian Heritage (MCAAH) launched its report, Delivering Shared Heritage, in 2005 to critical acclaim. It was a bold document, which challenged the history of exclusive organisational mores and cultural practice in the heritage sector, whilst providing practical recommendations that signposted the benefits of more meaningful and equitable engagement between the mainstream sector and culturally diverse heritage organisations.

The report called for a vital ‘shake up' of the status quo. Thus it was impossible to ignore the necessity for commitment from the leadership of the heritage sector to act upon the change-options proposed for the diversification of heritage.

The establishment of the Heritage Diversity Task Force (HDTF), which was one of the key recommendations from Delivering Shared  Heritage, addressed this strategic need for joint action from the sector leadership. The Task Force process has emerged as a success because of the advocacy and commitment from this distinguished group of sector leaders, whose openness and dedication has enabled a more fluid and progressive dialogue around cultural diversity and heritage, than has ever taken place before. In addition, the sheer breadth of knowledge and experience that has informed the recommendations presented by the HDTF sub-committees illustrates how inclusiveness, mutual respect and cultural collaboration are necessary for innovation and the formulation of wider perspectives.

Embedding Shared History is the Heritage Diversity Task Force's Final Report.