Uncertainty for Heritage Funding Future

Leave or Remain? That’s been the big question that seems to have been on everyone’s mind the last month. Though, whatever your political opinion some may wonder, whatever the outcome, how is it going to affect my life, my family, my career. For the PM, the referendum decision has cost him his job, whilst for consumers if the pound continues to fall, living standards will be squeezed. Yet, for us, as a business specialising in heritage and conservation, it seems ambiguous as to how much attention and focus will be given to national heritage sites in the long term future. Check outs this article from Bright White Ltd (museums and heritage advisor) http://advisor.museumsandheritage.com/brexit-sends-shockwaves-museum-heritage-sector-poses-next-great-challenge/

Currently, a number of projects all over the UK are part funded by the EU, though as Britain leaves it seems uncertain as to where this heritage funding can be replaced. Cultural heritage plays a pivotal role, being the driving force for the cultural and creative sectors, enriching citizens lives, and enhancing (previously) Europe’s social capital. But, as it was announced this week, with Brexit receiving 52% of the vote (BBC, 2016) Britain is set to leave the EU and consequently projects will no longer have the right to apply for European Regional Development Funding. This potentially could have a huge effect, since in the year from 2007 to 2013, 3.2 billion euros was invested in heritage. Bernard Donogue, CEO of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions stated his disappointment this week at the Independent Museums Conference held in Edinburgh; suggesting negative consequences for the inevitable halting of EU funds on which our cultural organisations depend. Therefore, the immediate effects for the heritage sector can be summed up as a loss of access to EU funding for research, tourism and development, changes to existing policy, a loss of access to EU cultural programmes and less say over development of EU cultural heritage policy.

However, on a more positive note there is the possibility to diverge from EU in terms of wider policy on cultural heritage. Also, there will be no real change to European Heritage Days or the theoretical ability to engage in European Cultural Heritage Year 2018. Therefore, though a great deal of uncertainty we are sure that new paths will open as to how projects are funded and we have no doubt that the heritage sector will continue to thrive. Take the National Trust for instance, they are the largest membership organisation in the UK, relying on no funding but purely on its members. Membership continues to rise year on year, making vital conservation and preservation more than possible. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/join-us

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