Welcome to the Feb #HeritageChat! We’re tweeting from 13.00-14.00 on the theme #Diversity in the Historic Environment Sector. This month’s #HeritageChat comes from @Heritage2020 and @Heritage_NGOs
— Heritage Chat (@HeritageChat) February 15, 2018
We’ve picked this theme to follow up the @Heritage2020 workshop held a year ago to see what’s changed or what’s important to people now. The notes from the 2017 workshop are at https://t.co/JupUcANKgo #HeritageChat
— Heritage Chat (@HeritageChat) February 15, 2018
Last year's Diversity workshop concluded that there are three key areas in which action is needed to address diversity issues: data, process and perception. This time, #HeritageChat explored the topic through 6 question prompts:A timely topic - with the Gender Rep Bill passing in Scotland for #BoardDiversity #heritagechat
— BEFS (@TheBEFS) February 15, 2018
We've compiled the answers to each question below, but you can also look back at the conversation chronologically on Twitter via #HeritageChat. The discussion first asked whether the issue of class had been overlooked in conversations about diversity in heritage.Our next #HeritageChat is tomorrow - 15 Feb at 13.00 - on #diversity in the Historic Environment Sector. Some great Qs contributed. We'll be tweeting from @HeritageChat @Heritage2020 and @Heritage_NGOs. Hope you can take part see https://t.co/Lqsmgp8XSz pic.twitter.com/7BgXeJtrmz
— Heritage Chat (@HeritageChat) February 14, 2018
Q1 in today’s #heritagechat - Is the issue of class overlooked in conversations about #diversity in heritage?
— Heritage Chat (@HeritageChat) February 15, 2018
Got the stats on age, sex, ethnicity, socio-economic group, disability status – so does it just not make it in to the conversations about #Diversity? #HeritageChat A1
— Historic Environment Forum (@HistEnvForum) February 15, 2018
#TakingPart from @DCMS provides evidence to support government policy and includes socio-economic data #HeritageChat A1 https://t.co/9mtH82hspt
— Historic Environment Forum (@HistEnvForum) February 15, 2018
#HeritageChat A1 Class background is easier to overlook as it is not always immediately apparent. Some people feel they have to change to be successful. Also how can data on class be easily collected? Are numbers who went to private school vs a comprehensive a good rule of thumb?
— Heritage Alliance (@Heritage_NGOs) February 15, 2018
The civil service have looked at this as part of their social mobility initiative and were able to reduce it to 3 questions #HeritageChat
— The Feisty Otter (@feistyotter) February 15, 2018
https://t.co/kR6HoiMvRC what type of school did you attend ? Did you receive free school meals or income support ? Did your parents go to university #diversity #HeritageChat
— The Feisty Otter (@feistyotter) February 15, 2018
A1 - Yes, often it is. But it's a tricky area to categorise, how do we choose to define 'class'? #HeritageChat
— BEFS (@TheBEFS) February 15, 2018
Class differences are the lack of cultural capital that go along with lower socio-economic status.
— The Feisty Otter (@feistyotter) February 15, 2018
#HeritageChat A1 Does this do it? (categorisation) National Statistics Socio-economic classification (NS-SEC) https://t.co/84WosRs2Dx
— Heritage Chat (@HeritageChat) February 15, 2018
#HeritageChat A1 How applicable is official medthodoly to new people entering the sector - are we to ask about their parent's jobs? Is this too invasive?
— Heritage Alliance (@Heritage_NGOs) February 15, 2018
#HeritageCounts has good facts and info that can be used as part of conversations on #diversity https://t.co/zCKqPAKtBI #HeritageChat A1
— Heritage Chat (@HeritageChat) February 15, 2018
Are there specific conversations going on at the moment where it’s absent? #HeritageChat A1
— Historic Environment Forum (@HistEnvForum) February 15, 2018
Not sure if this helps, but our workshop attendees said that buildings associated with those pushing for social change (suffrage etc) are a knowledge gap, and worker's buildings too #HeritageChat A1
— HistBEKE (@HistBEKE) February 15, 2018
#HeritageChat A1 How many organisations have policies which explicitly consider class? Are these rarer than for other characteristics protected by the Equality Act?
— Heritage Alliance (@Heritage_NGOs) February 15, 2018
The civil service have started trying to address social mobility https://t.co/kR6HoiMvRC
— The Feisty Otter (@feistyotter) February 15, 2018
Contributors then discussed barriers to a more diverse workforce, from part-time contracts to rigid recruitment processes:#heritagechat - While policies in Blair days focused on 'social inclusion' aimed at BME, the information now seems to concentrate on a broader range including class and 'heritage from below'. But the latest topic seems to be disability.
— (Multi)Cult Heritage (@MultCulHeritage) February 15, 2018
#HeritageChat Q2 How can we best enable those from working class backgrounds to participate equally in a sector dominated by part-time and casual contracts?
— Heritage Chat (@HeritageChat) February 15, 2018
The @Heritage2020 workshop in 2017 discussed systemic low pay and poor job security as major barriers to #Diversity #HeritageChat A2 https://t.co/xMfxiY3ERB
— Historic Environment Forum (@HistEnvForum) February 15, 2018
Also rigid recruitment processes that rely heavily on academic qualifications as barrier #HeritageChat A2
— Historic Environment Forum (@HistEnvForum) February 15, 2018
Could sector-wide apprenticeships in particular skills be developed/ enlarged?
— Heritage Alliance (@Heritage_NGOs) February 15, 2018
A2 The Archaeology Training Forum https://t.co/QEUbwTeGWr discusses apprenticeship development, their minutes from meetings show where the sector is heading.
— ArchaeologyUK (@archaeologyuk) February 15, 2018
Flexible working, different recruitment practices highlighted as the #process changes needed in @Heritage2020 workshop last year #HeritageChat A2
— Historic Environment Forum (@HistEnvForum) February 15, 2018
Changes to working practices requires updating policies etc which can be expensive and require limited staff time. #HeritageChat A2
— Heritage Alliance (@Heritage_NGOs) February 15, 2018
#HeritageChat A2The sector needs to be encouraged to look at its working practices to try and address insecure working. Can work be reorganised to encourage more secure tenure? Are these patterns really due to cost or easy management?
— Heritage Alliance (@Heritage_NGOs) February 15, 2018
A2 - a combination of culture change - and top-down, bottom-up encouragement of different voices being part of the organisation. Hiring practice AND Trustees who reflect all of your audience could be an encouraging step. #HeritageChat
— BEFS (@TheBEFS) February 15, 2018
#HeritageChat entry level jobs that don't require qualifications but include training/CPD to build up knowledge and skills, ie apprenticeships? A2
— HistBEKE (@HistBEKE) February 15, 2018
.@HistoricEngland is expanding its positive action traineeship scheme https://t.co/7xfPmN4V3t
— Historic Environment Forum (@HistEnvForum) February 15, 2018
#HeritageChat - work supported by the @Heritage2020 public engagement working group https://t.co/dEnr3DtKSP
— Heritage Chat (@HeritageChat) February 15, 2018
@HistoricEngland welcomes proposals exploring #Diversity historic environment workforce diversity see Research Agenda p22-24 https://t.co/wGROw9gQJM #HeritageChat
— Amanda Feather (@AmandaFeath) February 15, 2018
This is not just heritage sector but cultural sector as a whole (and society). Heritage sites rely increasingly on volunteers and internships. What ever happened to funded student summer job programmes? Some entry level paid work would help all classes.
— (Multi)Cult Heritage (@MultCulHeritage) February 15, 2018
#HeritageChat A2 Does the reliance of the heritage sector on volunteers mean that it is more difficult for those from a working class background than in other sectors?
— Heritage Alliance (@Heritage_NGOs) February 15, 2018
Natural environment has similar problems with diversity #diversity #HeritageChat
— The Feisty Otter (@feistyotter) February 15, 2018
Would think it doesn’t help #HeritageChat - are there examples from other sectors with large nos volunteers and better #diversity to look at?
— Heritage Chat (@HeritageChat) February 15, 2018
Apprenticeships were considered as a potential way to improve the situation.#HLF project funding creates great opportunities to involve a wide range of volunteers, incl those looking to build CVs or re-enter workforce after a break. Benefits clear from our research: https://t.co/glLb8RLNAy
— Jo Reilly (@JoReilly00) February 15, 2018
Do the #Apprenticeships offer possibilities here? #HeritageChat
— Heritage Chat (@HeritageChat) February 15, 2018
Missed this as unwell. But the answer is a big yes.
— ?Tamsin Tinsell? (@TamsinRussell) February 15, 2018
I would think so. It does require government re-investment in student job programmes as well.
— (Multi)Cult Heritage (@MultCulHeritage) February 15, 2018
Yes, I think that apprenticeships have a key role to play in diversifying the heritage sector workforce. Since 2010, @heritagelottery has invested over £37m in skills and work-based training via the #SkillsForTheFuture programme #HeritageChat cc @EmmaStagg https://t.co/KpvAghCkJj
— John McMahon (@JohnMcArts) February 15, 2018
This piece is a little out of date, but there are also opportunities arising from the #ApprenticeshipLevy, which we can do more as a sector to engage with #HeritageChathttps://t.co/7tzWe2jAjN
— John McMahon (@JohnMcArts) February 15, 2018
There's information on #Apprenticeships reform and how heritage is responding on our online community #HLFOC here: https://t.co/s4mlOI1JRb https://t.co/sf158WFrli
— Jo Reilly (@JoReilly00) February 15, 2018
Does the intersection between class and ethnicity in part explain the underrepresentation of BME in heritage?#HeritageChat Heritage Apprenticeships will be a great new paid entry route into the historic environment sector https://t.co/HgpSSuCHII
— Amanda Feather (@AmandaFeath) February 15, 2018
#HeritageChat Q3 Does the intersection between class and ethnicity in part explain the underrepresentation of BME in heritage?
— Heritage Chat (@HeritageChat) February 15, 2018
Or we could just say 'money'. Cultural sector as a whole attracts students able to subsidise their unpaid labour. That's on the employment side. On the 'representation' side (content), look to some interesting 'heritage' activities already happening in multicultural organisations
— (Multi)Cult Heritage (@MultCulHeritage) February 15, 2018
A3 It will be interesting to see the data produced by Universities with regards their Widening Participation schemes, which track children from primary school with their various educational interventions and what paths they then take, that data would answer this question
— ArchaeologyUK (@archaeologyuk) February 15, 2018
#HeritageChat A3 The interplay between class and ethnicity surely has a key role in explaining the underrepresentation of BME in heritage, but we should be careful to avoid considering BME people as a homogenous group with the same class backgrounds.
— Heritage Alliance (@Heritage_NGOs) February 15, 2018
#HeritageChat #diversity is enabling all to tell their #stories and what matters to them in a way that means something. Using complicated #heritage jargon like this, doesn't help! https://t.co/M9Awmvq8a3
— Bristol Heritage Forum (@BHF_Bristol) February 15, 2018
Making stories about people rather than things was a suggestion from the @Heritage2020 workshop too #HeritageChat A3
— Heritage Chat (@HeritageChat) February 15, 2018
Or just offering the space for people to do their own thing related to heritage....
— (Multi)Cult Heritage (@MultCulHeritage) February 15, 2018
#HeritageChat BME and marginalised heritage has also been flagged as a knowledge gap by those who came to our workshops - will including this in the research agenda help to create jobs/opportunities? A3
— HistBEKE (@HistBEKE) February 15, 2018
Who is doing the flagging? BME etc already have heritage....
— (Multi)Cult Heritage (@MultCulHeritage) February 15, 2018
Our attendees were a good mix of people from across the heritage sector and in a wide range of roles, from local groups to national organisations and local authority officers too. Ethnic background wasn't recorded, but not everyone was white or middle-class.
— HistBEKE (@HistBEKE) February 15, 2018
Maybe I am not sure what you meant by 'knowledge gap'...?
— (Multi)Cult Heritage (@MultCulHeritage) February 15, 2018
Apologies for taking so long to reply! Essentially, workshop attendees said they didn't feel they had enough knowledge about marginalised heritage and wanted to know more. Hope that helps.
— HistBEKE (@HistBEKE) February 16, 2018
Or is it more about who’s #heritage? Broader perceptions of heritage needed? #HeritageChat A3
— Historic Environment Forum (@HistEnvForum) February 15, 2018
Opinions were divided on the use of targets to drive improvements in diversity..@Heritage2020 workshop thought measuring participation limited by ways #heritage is defined #HeritageChat A3
— Historic Environment Forum (@HistEnvForum) February 15, 2018
#HeritageChat Q4 How can targets be used effectively to drive improvements in diversity?
— Heritage Chat (@HeritageChat) February 15, 2018
Targets are important and useful – but need to be really sure that approaches become embedded and don’t stop once targets are met #HeritageChat A4
— Historic Environment Forum (@HistEnvForum) February 15, 2018
Not so much about targets then!! #HeritageChat A4
— Heritage Chat (@HeritageChat) February 15, 2018
I just find the idea of 'targets' make me squirm. What are institutions trying to DO to people? How about a targeted number of days set aside for local free use? Or targeted budget to hire students? #HeritageChat
— (Multi)Cult Heritage (@MultCulHeritage) February 15, 2018
A4 Where are the visible targets? There are statements on encouragement to take part from sector leaders, but if you could point out where targets for the sector are, that would be helpful for this thread.
— ArchaeologyUK (@archaeologyuk) February 15, 2018
Not sure there are targets for sector - but individual organisations were certain of their value at @heritage2020 workshop last year #heritagechat A4
— Heritage Chat (@HeritageChat) February 15, 2018
#HeritageChat A4 Targets can be a useful tool for understanding, but can also oversimplify the issues. For example, should a BME woman from a very privileged background be given priority over a white man from a working-class background?
— Heritage Alliance (@Heritage_NGOs) February 15, 2018
Contributions shared ideas and resources for self-assessment:A4 .Targets could be seen as priming the pump, rather than the solution in themselves. A necessary step towards greater #equality #HeritageChat
— BEFS (@TheBEFS) February 15, 2018
#HeritageChat Q5 Would a self-assessment process to enable an organisation to evaluate its performance - and a toolkit to address areas for development be useful for the historic environment sector?
— Heritage Chat (@HeritageChat) February 15, 2018
This came out of the @Heritage2020 workshop as a way of sharing practice amongst organisations #HeritageChat https://t.co/A9pKnPsQay
— Historic Environment Forum (@HistEnvForum) February 15, 2018
Mechanisms for cascading practice between organisations could include a toolkit or peer-to-peer sessions or consultancy support #HeritageChat #collaboration A5
— Historic Environment Forum (@HistEnvForum) February 15, 2018
Convene a local meeting with five multicultural organisations and talk about the issues you share. Come up with a shared strategy to further local people's engagements with the Past. #HeritageChat #collaboration
— (Multi)Cult Heritage (@MultCulHeritage) February 15, 2018
And keep up this relationship - don't drop it. Rub elbows with all stakeholders interested in the Past. #HeritageChat https://t.co/WuavioFmW8
— (Multi)Cult Heritage (@MultCulHeritage) February 15, 2018
Most organisations know who they have not got, it is the toolkit that is the key.
— ArchaeologyUK (@archaeologyuk) February 15, 2018
What’s most important to put in it? #HeritageChat @archaeologyuk https://t.co/l6L7RD4IoS
— Heritage Chat (@HeritageChat) February 15, 2018
#HeritageChat A5 Toolkits and self-assessment seems a very sensible step forward for a sector where many small organisations have not begun to properly address #Diversity issues. A simple update to HR documents would be a good first step for many organisations.
— Heritage Alliance (@Heritage_NGOs) February 15, 2018
Investigate funding available to encourage collaboration between organisations and run a
— Historic Environment Forum (@HistEnvForum) February 15, 2018
project to support self-assessment and evaluation/comparison of performance was an idea from the @Heritage2020 workshop – who could lead though? #HeritageChat A5
There existing organisation that can help assess workplace diveristy e.g @stonewalluk. Should heritage sector employers be encouraged to apply https://t.co/8Wmn8lUGmQ #HeritageChat A5
— Heritage Alliance (@Heritage_NGOs) February 15, 2018
Why not look outside the Industry to see what they do first? The Police and the NHS both have spent time addressing this, they may have some best practise advice.
— ArchaeologyUK (@archaeologyuk) February 15, 2018
Does the #historicenvironment sector need something like #CreativeCase? https://t.co/T76nmH9mLL #HeritageChat A5
— Heritage Chat (@HeritageChat) February 15, 2018
@ace_national has done some great work in recent years around how to build workforce and programme diversity in the wider cultural/creative sector #heritagechat #CreativeCase https://t.co/yEXNKERiJU
— John McMahon (@JohnMcArts) February 15, 2018
Finally, #HeritageChat considered examples of innovative practice in improving diversity:Ha ha, snap! We both posted this at the same time.
— John McMahon (@JohnMcArts) February 15, 2018
Final question already! #HeritageChat Q6 Where are there examples of innovative practice in improving #diversity that could be shared with the historic environment sector?
— Heritage Chat (@HeritageChat) February 15, 2018
@uniofleicester has an interesting approach https://t.co/BGf8koIXgk #HeritageChat
— The Feisty Otter (@feistyotter) February 15, 2018
A6 How about Operation Nightingale? https://t.co/G2gqdayDoS for injured soliders. The work of Debbie Miles and her archaeology outreach which she got awards for @ArchAncHistLeic
— ArchaeologyUK (@archaeologyuk) February 15, 2018
@HLFLondon have funded some interesting projects such as this one https://t.co/3UXHkOvrlO #HeritageChat
— The Feisty Otter (@feistyotter) February 15, 2018
#HeritageChat A6 Could the heritage sector do more in a joined up fashion on diversity focused annual events like Black History Month or LGBT History Month UK?
— Heritage Alliance (@Heritage_NGOs) February 15, 2018
Perhaps take inspiration from @heritagelottery website. Here's our latest blog: https://t.co/LQgszskY49 https://t.co/IaCZ7B3dpK
— Jo Reilly (@JoReilly00) February 15, 2018
Think about the hidden diversity in the workforce. The workforce is not homogeneous #HeritageChat
— Historic Environment Forum (@HistEnvForum) February 15, 2018
#HeritageChat A6 Other sectors have their own movements at pride e.g Museums, Pride in Stem, etc. This is important where smaller organisations may not have the oppportunity for support/networking. Is this something heritage should do?
— Heritage Alliance (@Heritage_NGOs) February 15, 2018
@CIfA_Equality are apparently going to be at #Pride
— The Feisty Otter (@feistyotter) February 15, 2018
Lots of support for #ambassadors at @heritage2020 workshop last year. Using YouTube and similar to show diversity of sector and its possibilities #HeritageChat
— Historic Environment Forum (@HistEnvForum) February 15, 2018
@CoffinWorks has been successful in recruiting an really diverse range of volunteers. #HeritageChat https://t.co/GPCSDWMbwi
— Heritage Trust Network (@HTNmembers) February 15, 2018
How can we best share those lessons with the rest of the sector?
— Heritage Alliance (@Heritage_NGOs) February 15, 2018
Q6 - examples of collaboration can be seen with @MuseumsGalScot & @PrincesTrust for #traineeships as well as the work of @NSI_AFS & partners- shows positive power of working with those already embedded with less represented groups - #HeritageChat
— BEFS (@TheBEFS) February 15, 2018
Contributors shared a few final thoughts and links before this very productive session was wrapped up:Look at joining up with already-occurring heritage events in multicultural communities. People make their own relations with the past. See this: https://t.co/gRoBs9lUsg #HeritageChat https://t.co/Mhj135ERYn
— Susan Ashley (@sltashley) February 15, 2018
Thanks to all those taking part in #HeritageChat - interesting Qs! For those in Scotland next week, this might be of interest -https://t.co/jLyaObMhcp - discussing power of #governance as a necessary driver for organisational #diversity and #inclusivity
— BEFS (@TheBEFS) February 15, 2018
#heritagechat @heritage2020 This #SkillsfortheFuture project website (@nationaltrust) is a must-see for those interested in heritage workforce diversity: https://t.co/6UQOvFsDEn
— Jo Reilly (@JoReilly00) February 15, 2018
#HeritageChat #toolkits https://t.co/6fiBdkUhDW
— The Feisty Otter (@feistyotter) February 15, 2018
A huge thank you to everyone who’s taken part in our #Diversity #HeritageChat. We’ll be creating a summary in Storify and publishing it at https://t.co/TbCsNLYG7C
— Heritage Chat (@HeritageChat) February 15, 2018
Many thanks to everyone who participated in this month's #HeritageChat! Our next chat will take place on the 15 March (13.00-14.00) on the theme of Industrial Heritage. Do get in touch if you'd like to help run it!Thank you @Heritage_NGOs for working with us on today’s #HeritageChat on #Diversity
— Heritage Chat (@HeritageChat) February 15, 2018
Bringing together senior members of staff from public and non-government bodies to work collaboratively on strategic matters for the historic environment sector.
