The Eastern Arc Conference 2024
The East and Southeast of England are rich in both built, cultural and natural heritage. Their long histories of trade and transport, religion and warfare, migration, pilgrimage and pleasure have meant that the regions have a significant number of heritage assets.
Many of these benefit local communities economically, but also give a sense of identity and pride to them. As such they can play an important part in individual wellbeing and social cohesion.
This one day conference will explore this to identify ways that universities, regional and national organisations, and local communities can work together for the benefit of all and to safeguard future prosperity.
The conference is open to all, within the EARC region and beyond, but places are limited. It is free to attend and dedicated transport will be available from the EARC centres of Brighton, Canterbury and Colchester.
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The programme is below. Full details (including abstracts) are available here.
Time Session 09:30-10:00 Registration 10:00-10:05 Lecture Theatre
Opening remarks Phil Ward, Director of Eastern Arc
10:05-10:15 Lecture Theatre
Welcome Professor David Maguire, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of East Anglia
10:15-11:15 Lecture Theatre
Opening keynote: The English Seaside as World Heritage: you’re having a laugh? Dr Allan Brodie (Bournemouth University), co-founder of the Seaside Heritage Network
11:15-11:45 Coffee 11:45-13:00 Morning Breakout Sessions Breakout session 1 Lecture Theatre
Rethinking heritage in coastal destinations Dr Ed Roberts (University of Kent), Rob Sharp and Vittorio Ricchetti (Southend Museums), Prof Thomas Smith, Prof Malcolm McLaughlin and Dr Jeremy Noel-Tod (University of East Anglia)
Breakout session 2 Seminar Room 1
The future of the past: using immersive tech and AI to harness heritage Prof Jim Ang and Prof Catherine Richardson (University of Kent), Ben Blyth (University of Calgary), Sarah Wolfterstan (UCL), and Dr Callan Davies (University of Southampton)
Breakout session 3 Seminar Room 2
Innovative heritage: how to work with businesses to support your project Sarah Wren (Kent County Council) and Dan Chilcott (Create South East Programme)
Breakout session 4 Seminar Room 3
Collect histories, build archives, produce social change Dr Arianna Mazzieri and Dr Alix Green (University of Essex), and Louise Willsher (Community360)
Breakout session 5 Seminar Room 4
Historic books as heritage assets: challenges, community, and creativity in the Eastern region Dr Thomas Roebuck and Dr Sophie Butler (University of East Anglia), Darren Leader (independent), Rachel Ridealgh (Norfolk Library and Information Service) and Fiona Hall (National Trust)
13:00-14:00 Lunch 14:00-15:15 Afternoon Breakout Sessions Breakout session 6 Lecture Theatre
Heritage and wellbeing Rosalind Hewett (Norfolk Museums Service), Colin Howey (MensCraft), Holly Sandiford (Norfolk Museums Service), Esther Watts (National Centre for Creative Health/NHS Sussex), Prof Jonathan Webster (NICHE)
Breakout session 7 Seminar Room 1
Surveying the sacred Lesley Hardy (Church of England)
Breakout session 8 Seminar Room 2
Creating an imagined world: climate change and cultural heritage Dr Lorna Richardson (University of East Anglia) and Claire Boardman (University of York)
Breakout session 9 Seminar Room 3
Regional Arts and Archives (formerly ‘Sussex retold: sounds, sites, stories’) Prof Margaretta Jolly and Dr Hope Wolf (University of Sussex), and Dr Jeremy Noel-Tod (UEA)
Breakout session 10 Seminar Room 4
Policing the past: next steps in preventing heritage crime Mark Harrison (Historic England and Centre for Heritage, University of Kent)
15:15-15:30 Coffee 15:30-16:30 Lecture Theatre
Harnessing heritage: how to make the case to funders Rachel MacFarlane (National Lottery Heritage Fund), Emilia Sando (Arts and Humanities Research Council), John Simpson Wedge (Arts Council England)
16:30-18:00 Wine reception and networking event -
The conference will be hosted in the award-winning Enterprise Centre at the University of East Anglia, Norwich.Registration will be in the Enterprise Centre Foyer, and the sessions will take place in:
- The Lecture Theatre
- Seminar Rooms 1-4
Getting there
Details for the Enterprise Centre are as follows:
- Address: University of East Anglia Research Park, University Dr, Norwich NR4 7TJ
- Location on the UEA campus map (search for The Enterprise Centre TEC)
- Location on Google maps
- Location via what3words: /hugs.likely.length
Travel to the venue
- Travelling collectively: A coach will be available free of charge for those travelling from Brighton (University of Sussex), Canterbury (University of Kent) and Colchester (University of Essex). However, places will be limited. For those who have requested this on the registration form, we will be in touch with further details closer to the date of the conference.
- Travelling independently: Full details of how to get to the campus are available on the University’s dedicated travel site, here.
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Our annual conference is an opportunity for discussion and discovery between colleagues at the four Eastern Arc universities, and with a range of external stakeholders, including businesses, local authorities, charities, other universities and a host of other organisations.As such it is open and free to take part. However, places are limited, and are given on a first come, first served basis.
To register, please fill in this simple form that should taken no more than 60 seconds to complete.
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If you want to take part in our ongoing conversation around ‘harnessing heritage’, you can join our Heritage and Culture Network.The Eastern Arc Heritage and Culture Network (HCN) has been established to act as a catalyst for joint work between academics, research and external stakeholders, including local authorities, museums, archives, galleries and other organisations.
It’s a growing network of over 40 organisations, and new members are encouraged to join. To find out more, go to our dedicated webpage. If you would like to join, contact us with your details.