Centre for Culture and Heritage Holds Inaugural Symposium

The Centre for Culture and Heritage held its inaugural symposium Growing our Suffolk Cultural Strategy: Connecting People with Place at The Hold, in partnership with Suffolk Archives.

Held on 11 September 2024, the day brought together over 90 academics and professionals from the culture and heritage and creative industries sector, with the aim of strengthening collaborative links and connections across the county.  

The Centre for Culture and Heritage is committed to leveraging its resources and research to benefit the region and the Cultural Symposium reflected this commitment to create a platform for future dialogues and collaborations.  

Following the Symposium, the Centre for Culture and Heritage is planning to roll out a programme to support both large and small organisations by offering bid-writing workshops, hosting creative cafes, and identifying career pathways.  

Professor Brian McCook, Director of the Centre for Culture and Heritage at the University of Suffolk said: “Our inaugural symposium explored opportunities to share knowledge and encourage discussion.

"We have close partnerships and collaborations across the heritage sector through our students, PhD researchers, and academics and this symposium marks the beginning of a series of events designed to foster collaboration between organisations, community stakeholders, and researchers.” 

During the event, panel discussions centred on questions around cultural strategies, collaboration and how to generate creativity, impact, and innovation across the region.

Participants were encouraged to bring their own perspectives to the discussions, and many spoke of recent announcements about funding cuts to the arts.

Several organisation representatives – many of which were small and volunteer-led – highlighted the challenges of accessing the right skills to identify funding sources, and the need to understand and develop bid-writing opportunities.  

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jenny Higham opened the day with a keynote speech that touched on her own interest in art and culture.

The morning panel, chaired by the Director of the Centre for Culture and Heritage, Professor Brian McCook, welcomed Judith Berry from the Suffolk Archives, Jayne Austin from Suffolk Museums and Norfolk and Suffolk Culture Board and Cultural Development Lead Janet Perry representing the East Suffolk and Babergh and Mid Suffolk Cultural Strategies.

The talks included an overview of regional strategic partnerships and heritage and visitor strategies alongside discussion on the importance of collaboration in bringing cultural strategies to life.  

The afternoon panel chaired by co-event organiser Dr Amanda Hodgkinson, saw discussion focus on funding, event organisation, collaboration, and public engagement.

Ben Osborne and Marcus Harris Noble talked about music and its cultural and economic impact on people and place.

Associate Professor Mike Sauter raised the importance of cultural anniversaries and the ways in which we can connect communities through heritage and history.

Iona Hodgson discussed the highly successful (and colourful!) Wild Walls project and Kath Cockshaw spoke about the teamwork and co-operation that led to the funding success of the Ipswich town Thomas Wolsey 550 project. 

The Symposium was closed by Professor Emma Bond, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange, who highlighted the role of the university as a community-driven institution and the importance of the university’s research impact in the region.  

For more information about the University of Suffolk and the Centre for Culture and Heritage, please visit: www.uos.ac.uk