BEFS Policy Officer Ailsa Macfarlane considers the findings of the recent The State of Heritage Funding Now research report.
This newly released research exists as part of the legacy of the partnership programme Resourcing Scotland’s Heritage (RSH) – along with the new toolkit to encourage and enable fundraising skills across the sector. Programme partners: Archaeology Scotland, Arts & Business Scotland, Built Environment Forum Scotland, greenspace scotland, and Museums Galleries Scotland formed the RSH project to help the heritage sector learn to fundraise from private sources – gaining awareness, skills and confidence, as well as providing networking opportunities. The four year RSH programme was funded by National Lottery players through the Heritage Lottery Fund Catalyst Umbrella Grant programme.
There may be much discussion around reduced funding levels – but what can be evidenced, and how can we mitigate against those reductions? The aim of this research was for a robust report providing analysis and recommendations. This was based not only on intensive desk-based literature reviews into available funding across the heritage sector in Scotland, but also stakeholder consultations, and a widely disseminated sector survey. This is my perspective on the findings – but I encourage you to draw your own conclusions.
Findings & Analysis:
There’s some stark information to absorb.
- National Lottery funding has decreased, and is likely to decrease again – the imminent Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Strategic Funding Framework will require new/enhanced ways of working too. Historic Environment Scotland (HES) continue as a major funder, with no growing pot, and increases in applications – here the competition to achieve funding increases. The dependence on these funders remains a risk for the sector.
- Local Authority collective spend on Cultural, Heritage, Museum & Gallery and Library services has reduced by 7% between 2007/8 and 2014/15. There are also known reductions across Planning & Economic Development budgets, departments where many heritage-skills professionals are based. These reductions in funds are not due to reverse any time soon.
- Direct donations to the arts and sports/recreation make up only 3% respectively – whilst potentially small, these can be a key part of fundraising from private sources.
- There is a continued dependence on Trusts and Foundations across the sector – there are now concerns arising that the levels of grant support supplied by some are outstripping the performance of the endowments that funded them. This raises questions as to whether future levels of support can be relied upon.
- Business investment in heritage, via sponsorship/partnerships is an area well developed by some, but ignored by many smaller organisations. Improving this through commercially based approaches and advocacy, which not only increases awareness of heritage generally, but highlights the wider benefits heritage can and does provide, could entice further business investment in the sector.
- Tourism has been a boon financially over the past few years for many organisations; both market circumstances and global media have provided positive drivers for those wishing to visit Scotland and its heritage. However, both factors bring with them opportunities and challenges, factors which in themselves need resourcing appropriately. They are also subject to fluctuation – so planning for both triumph and disaster may be wise.
- Non-grant finance is an area where many funders already operate (Architectural Heritage Fund), or are considering developing their offer (HLF). Research highlighted within the report shows that this is an area which many find controversial, perceive to be high-risk, or actively avoid. Here a knowledge base needs to be developed and expanded to find solutions which fit the organisation in question. Information on particular aspects is available from specialist organisations, such as Community Shares Scotland. The squeeze on other funding types may make these forms of funding more appealing for organisations in the future – increased awareness and knowledge of this area will be of great benefit to the sector.
Recommendations:
These fall into the categories of Research & Evidence and Ongoing Sector Support. And, here the news can be seen more positively:
- More research, survey gathering, data-collection in various forms are suggested. Not only do we need the information, but I suspect we need to be open to data transparency, and sharing what we know. The steps are sometimes small and tentative, but a more collegiate approach to demonstrate the good work happening across the sector seems to be possible.
- A drive to diversifying income streams is called for. I see a sector working towards better: training, partnerships, collaboration and awareness. Building a greater understanding of where the money is coming from – be it heritage, creative, social, regeneration, or commercial funding.
- The changing funding landscape has been a driver for organisations to demonstrate an understanding of a wider range of outcomes to their ongoing work. Social, community, regenerative and many other factors are beginning to be better evidenced, and better expressed, by heritage organisations. Clearly substantiating not only what we do, but what the associated benefits are – and how this relates to the funder requirements, and even the National Performance Framework will be key to future funding success.
- Many of the recommendations point towards a sector which needs to embrace a portfolio approach to financing the heritage sector – what’s referred to as the ‘golden-tripod’ – with a third of funding coming from each: private, public and enterprise sources.
This report points the way to developing how the sector may be able to improve organisational sustainability, shining a light on aspects of fundraising which could prove extremely beneficial. Further training is needed to enable the sector to gain finance from across a wider range of areas, be that fundraising or earned income – but more than training, a strategic approach which enables the capacity for that work to be done is essential.
Within these findings there is a role to be played by intermediary and development organisations. The value of knowing the wider sector-makeup, enabling connections and collaboration, providing spaces to network, and growing capacity through strategic policy development and training opportunities can help enable organisations to find the time to develop their funding for the future. We
Our activity across the sector is currently framed by the potential effects of Brexit. Income from a wider range of sources can be more flexible, ensure more stability, and provide continued life-buoys of certainty in currently choppy seas.
Read the full report: The State of Heritage Funding Now Report
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In 1926 the provision of Edinburgh’s council housing passed from the Burgh Engineer to the City Architect. Was there a difference in approach?, asks Steven Robb, Historic Environment Scotland.
Historically, Council housing was the preserve of Edinburgh’s Burgh Engineer who designed around 750 houses before WW1. However, substantial building only began following the 1919 Housing Act, when Councils were required to provide housing, initially with generous State subsidies.
An Old Town tenement ‘reconstructed’ or reconditioned with new dormers by Campbell. Such works often involved the removal of rear additions to open up light to rooms. Courtesy of Capital Collections.
Adam Horsburgh Campbell (1862-1947), Burgh Engineer since 1910, was appointed Director of Housing in 1919. As an engineer his appointment was criticised by the architectural profession, but he had previous experience d
esigning social housing in London.
Campbell immediately sprang into action, planning the subdivision of large vacant New Town houses, and the major reconditioning of Old Town tenements, at half the price of new-build. This saved several historic buildings from loss, but sadly, later subsidies prioritised demolition and new-build, and the focus moved to new housing.
Perhaps due to his engineering background, Campbell had an inventive approach to both materials and procurement. A trip to Holland in 1924 resulted in the Dutch Korrelbeton (no-fine-aggregate) concrete system being used at Lochend (1925). He also agreed for 1000 Duo-Slab concrete and brick houses with the private contractor, WM Airey of Leeds and experimented with flat-roofs, deck-access balconies and timber and steel construction.
These approaches allowed speedy construction and took advantage of subsidies and semi-skilled labour in times of post-war shortage. Concrete was also cheaper than traditional builds, with reduced corridors within homes cutting costs further. Elsewhere, Campbell designed traditional new tenements for Leith and also ‘four in a block’ housing for peripheral estates.
Campbell was due to retire in September 1926, and the Council agreed to separate the Engineer and Director of Housing posts. However, in March 1926 he was offered a two-year extension as Housing Director alone. He declined, explaining that ‘his life and leisure’ had been abandoned to public service. He had been working 16 hour days, and in June pleaded to retire early following strict medical advice. Under Campbell the Council had built more varieties of housing than any other UK city, a total of around 4500 houses (built or contracted). Despite this, an honorarium of £2000 for working above-and-beyond his contract was voted down.
Whitson Crescent, Saughton Golf Course (1931/2). Note the horizontal banding at first floor level on the crescent. Courtesy of Edinburgh Libraries
In June 1926 Ebenezer James MacRae (1881-1951), Edinburgh’s City Architect since mid-1925, absorbed the coveted Director of Housing role. Whilst Campbell’s pragmatism focussed on housing delivery by whatever means, MacRae had slightly differing goals. His religious West Highland upbringing bequeathed him a strong social conscience and charitable view of tenants. His priority was to provide the best housing possible on his straightened budgets, allowing people to prosper and better themselves. He was particularly interested in daylighting and ventilation.
MacRae immediately halted Campbell’s experimentation, returning to traditional stone and roughcast brick walls with slate roofs. This led to delays with materials and the lack of skilled workmen. He retained the separate-trades tender system and kept housing under his direct supervision, resisting direct labour, prefabrication and the involvement of the private sector. This was a popular approach with the trade unions who had opposed Campbell’s methods.
With no reconditioning subsidies MacRae’s city-centre infill housing was mostly new-build, albeit designed to a Scottish character ‘in keeping with surrounding buildings’. Here, he favoured solid 400-600mm thick coursed stone walling with recessed pointing for frontages and visible gables. Elsewhere, he used roughcast brick cavity-walled construction, apart from one housing project built in facing brick at Royston Mains Crescent (1935). Other material and design changes occurred in WW2 when timber was scarce.
MacRae’s numerous trips to Europe, most notably in 1930/1 and 1934 as part of the Highton delegation, (leading to the Report on Working Class Housing on the Continent,1935), enforced his view that European modernism was to be avoided. He disliked flat roofs, deck-access balconies and building above four storeys. He also resisted the ‘Germanic’ communalisation of services.
Four in a block housing designed by Campbell and used by MacRae at Saughton (1932). Courtesy of Edinburgh City Libraries.
Europe did, however, influence his planning layouts, including higher-density blocks set around communal courts at the Pleasance (1934), Craigmillar (1936) and Piershill (1938). Architecturally, horizontal banding, likely sourced from Vienna or Berlin, was introduced at first floor level on new developments, which often, such as at Saughton (1932), Granton (1935), Craigmillar (1936) and Warriston (1936), included a feature crescent. By the time of his retirement in 1946 MacRae had delivered around 12,000 houses as well as important studies on Edinburgh’s historic buildings, a precursor to the listing system.
So, was there a major difference between Campbell and MacRae ? Both men believed in providing tenement housing close to tenants’ workplaces. However, one senses that Campbell, despite being two decades older than MacRae, was more open to innovation in both design and procurement. MacRae insisted on traditional methods and wasn’t willing to sacrifice what he saw as important.
For further info on Campbell’s career, see:
- Concrete, Cosmopolitanism and Low-cost House Design: The Short Architectural career of AH Campbell 1923-1926 by John Frew. Architectural Heritage V (1995), p29-38.
For further information on MacRae and Edinburgh’s inter-war housing, see:
- Ebenezer MacRae and Interwar housing in Edinburgh, by Steven Robb. Book of the Old Edinburgh Club, Volume 13, (2017)
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BEFS Trustee Jocelyn Cunliffe reflects on the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland’s and Scottish Civic Trust’s joint conference ‘Destination High Street – restoring vibrancy to Scotland’s towns’.
The Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland (AHSS) and the Scottish Civic Trust (SCT) organised a joint conference on Wednesday 7 November 2018 at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
The conference was chaired by Colin McLean, Chair of SCT, who pointed out that how we shop has been changed for ever, whether we use out-of-town outlets or the internet. He reminded the conference that there had been a series of high profile reports, including ‘The Portas review: the future of our high streets’ (2011), and Scotland’s Town Centre Review (2013) to which the Government responded with a Town Centre Action Plan. Most recently the Royal Society of Public Health has published ‘Health on the High Street’.
Jennifer Novotny, the SCT civic connections project worker, presented a paper and a film (by Napier University students) made as part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, by girls on the Action for Children Heritage and Inclusion Programme. This project mentors young women from ethnic minority backgrounds. They had looked at ‘Our High Street’ and carried out a high street scavenger hunt. They were asked to identify something ‘I like about my high street’ and listed lots of variable shops that are accessible and provide everything you need, different options of food takeaways and included ‘its handy for everyone’. They suggested an open to all space to share their culture and meet other people as role models.
Simon Green examined the architectural value of the high street. His definition of architectural value, ‘a slippery fish’, was demonstrated, rather than defined. Lots of buildings are worth nothing because of a heritage deficit. Major buildings are altered or demolished because of the perceived value of the land. Historic Environment Scotland (HES) put value on places through designations, such a listing. Simon looked at the big picture. He defined the High Street as the principal street of our burghs and towns. He suggested that historically it had three elements, the kirk (church), the tolbooth (the town council) and the mercat cross (commerce). Our high streets have changed all the time, including to improve sanitation. Churches may not be the force they were but they are crucial to the burgh, as is civic pride reflected in the fine municipal buildings, law courts, libraries, schools, banks and post offices built in the past. Stores also built prestigious premises. He questioned why do we have to get rid of cars, pointing to the activity associated with people stopping for a short time in Callendar (would they be there if the town had a by-pass?). We close high streets for a run, so why not close them for other events? Civic pride needs to be re-engendered and key buildings of value need to be looked after; high streets are not only about shopping but about living, working and community life.
Susan O’Connor took as her theme the high street as the centre of community life. She compared retail spaces and civic spaces, ownership and means of access. We learned of an elaborate procession which took place in 1872 to celebrate the opening of the new Renfrew Town Hall. The men took part in the processions and the women provided the audience.
The keynote address ‘Thinking the Unthinkable…’ was given by Professor Leigh Sparks, Professor of Retail Studies at Stirling University and Chair of Scotland’s Towns Partnership. He was given the title and decided to work with it saying, ‘It is unthinkable that we are abandoning our heritage in the way we are. It is equally unthinkable that we can go back to the past’. He talked about town centres, not the high street, saying ‘It is the place, the identity of that town’. Decentralising is not just in retailing. Local authority offices and businesses that were formerly in town centres have moved to the periphery. He identified a structural revolution in retailing, but noted that online retailers are moving to physical retailing. There were ideas, such as getting local authority head offices back into towns; bring people in and retail will follow. We also have to build on towns’ stories, think of towns as places of interactions, not just transactions. He suggested that the size and shape of town centres will be smaller, there will be a re-balancing and that we have got to start managing our places better.
Euan Curtis of Glasgow City Council showed images of and discussed projects in Glasgow, at Barras, Shawlands, Govan and Parkhead, where public money has been spent through conservation regeneration schemes, townscape heritage initiatives, in association with the Commonwealth Games and City Deal. There is no ‘one size fits all’. Opportunities need to be exploited; listen to locals and be flexible; funding is a huge issue – these schemes benefited from a more positive funding situation at Glasgow City Council (GCC) than that which exists now, where there is no money to leverage funds from HES or HLF. He pointed out that Shawlands was not a poor area, but it was not rich either and the public realm scheme and efforts to get businesses to work together in relation to commercial refuse led to other shop-owners taking an interest and the formation of a Shawlands Business Improvement District.
Diarmid Lawlor’s topic was ‘Public Money: Repopulating the High Street’. He examined relationships based around care, ‘The Caring Place’; caring for the people and caring for the place. ‘The Caring Place’ is at the centre of a circle consisting of a sense of place (familiar surroundings), a sense of purpose (stuff to do), a sense of support (from people, neighbours) and a sense of worth (feeling wanted). Instead of chasing new money we should look creatively at making better use of what we have. Young people are the community of the future and he showed examples of innovative projects with family focused neighbourhoods and intergenerational complexes with space for children and for old people.
The final speaker, Leona Stewart, a Scottish Glass artist, formed Bright Light Arts, an Ayr based community interest company in 2017, to be able to apply for grants to deliver artist led crafts workshops and prop-making sessions for Ayr’s Day O’ the Deid procession through Ayr town centre at the end of Tamfest. The procession with colourful costumes, amazing props and samba drumming was wonderfully vibrant and involved children and adults across the community. Leona deserves a huge amount of praise for her work, which sadly she recognises is financially not sustainable.
In summary, the event brought together a varied and interesting set of speakers. What now? The built heritage is clearly a key part of the future. Once the High Street was handy for everyone, now it is handy for no one. Some sixty years ago things were allowed to go wrong when shops moved out of town and were followed by business parks and industrial estates. How can we show that we love our communities, places, town centres, and work on their behalf to make them vital resources and physically and socially sustainable? Central and local government and civic society all have a part to play.
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As a legacy of the partnership project Resourcing Scotland’s Heritage, a new digital toolkit for the cultural heritage sector has just been launched.
Arts & Business Scotland Head of Programmes Carl Watt (L) and Rosslyn Chapel Trust Director Ian Gardner (R) review the new digital toolkit website in front of historic Rosslyn Chapel in Midlothian.
This resource, Inspiring Fundraising Toolkit, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, is specifically designed to build up knowledge and skills in fundraising within the heritage sector. It was informed by successful delivery of fundraising training and advice to 804 individuals from more than 519 heritage organisations throughout Scotland between 2014-2018.
Resourcing Scotland’s Heritage was a four year programme led by Arts & Business Scotland with Archaeology Scotland, Built Environment Forum Scotland, greenspace scotland and Museums Galleries Scotland, which officially concluded in March 2018.
Alongside this resource we are also delighted to share the accompanying report, The State of Heritage Funding Now Report. This specially commissioned report shows a continued strong reliance by the heritage sector on grant and lottery funding with only a third of heritage organisations surveyed currently sourcing any funding from corporate support and levels of corporate support remaining broadly static within the sector over the past four years.
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Get The Latest Built Environment News, Events, Vacancies, Consultations And Publications In Our News Bulletin.
BEFS News
BEFS is pleased to invite you to Community Empowerment & Landscape, in partnership with Community Land Scotland and INHERIT, on 3rd December at the ECCI in Edinburgh. This event will look at pragmatic steps that can be taken to empower community participation. Places are limited so book now!
Just a few days left to submit your ideas on prioritisation within built heritage, and take part in a robust and open discussion on the topic.
With the publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Special Report on Global Warming, BEFS Director Euan Leitch reflects on two recent events and urges action before our past catches up with us, in this week’s blog: Slavery and Climate Change.
BEFS attended the first Why Archives Matter conference day from the Scottish Council on Archives. Here we heard about Archives being used in Health, Wellbeing and Community contexts – with very positive outcomes. BEFS is delighted to be partnering a further Why Archives Matter conference at the Engine Shed in Spring 2019. Keep an eye out for their new film on the central role of archives in Scotland.
BEFS was delighted to attend the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards 2018, and hear from the deserving finalists. Many congratulations to the winners.
Finally, do not forget to check out the array of events and training coming up this month, towards the end of the bulletin.
Consultations
HES Draft Corporate Plan 2019 onwards
Consultation closes on 2 November.
A Consultation on the City for Edinburgh Council proposal for a Transient Visitor Levy/ Tourist Tax within the city
Opened 15 Oct 2018 and closes 10 Dec 2018.
Draft Historic Environment Policy (HEP)
The closing date for feedback is midnight on Monday 3 December 2018.
Open Space Strategy Consultation (Glasgow City Council)
Comments should be received by no later than 10 December 2018.
Consultation Responses
Consultation on Building Standards Compliance and Fire Safety – responses
Tackling social isolation and loneliness: consultation analysis
Publications
Climate Change Plan Monitoring Report October 2018 – Chapter 2 Buildings (SG 31/10/18)
Planning Bill: A revised Fifth Marshalled List of Amendments and a revised Fifth Groupings of Amendments have been published for Stage 2.
Transport (Scotland) Bill: Pavement Parking and Double Parking (SPICe Breifing 30/10/18)
Scotland’s place in Europe: our way forward (SG 15/10/18)
Priorities for the Historic Environment of Wales (WG 10/18)
Reforming Heritage Maintenance Funds: campaign briefing 2018 (Historic Houses)
Response to the Brexit White Paper & MAC report (The Heritage Alliance 12/10/18)
The economic value of culture: a benefit transfer study (DCMS 04/10/18)
Scottish Government News Releases
Tay Cities Region Deal (SG 26/10/18)
Scottish Government pledges £200 million investment. Infrastructure Secretary, Michael Matheson, is challenging the UK Government to match his funding commitment for the Tay Cities Region Deal.
Mitigating the impact of Brexit (SG 11/10/18)
Councils will play an essential role in preparing for the “extremely serious consequences for communities across Scotland” of Brexit, according to the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Sharp rise in European visitors to Scotland (SG 11/10/18)
The number of overseas visitors from Europe increased sharply by 39% in the 12 months to the end of June 2018 according to official statistics released today.
News Releases
National Lottery Strategic Funding Framework 2019-2024 (HLF 10/18)
Earlier this year we asked for your views on our future vision and role, how we can support heritage and how our funding programmes might work. We ran two surveys and over 3000 people responded. Over 1500 of these responses were to our longer questionnaire, which looked in more detail at our proposals. Some of the initial results are emerging.
The Museums + Heritage Awards
The 17th annual Museums + Heritage Awards will celebrate innovative and ground-breaking initiatives from museums, galleries and heritage visitor attractions across the UK and overseas. The Awards shine a spotlight on the diversity of this sector, of museums large and small – from the nationals to one-room volunteer-run museums, from iconic buildings and monuments to the great outdoors, all of which have an equal opportunity of winning one of 14 prestigious awards.
MSPs agree to greater regulation of short-term lets in Planning Bill (SHN 26/10/18)
Landlords will be forced to acquire full planning permission to lease homes by the night on websites including Airbnb after changes to the Scottish Government’s Planning Bill were agreed by MSPs.
Using the past to inspire the future (HES 26/10/18)
Fresh from a major climate change summit in San Francisco, Historic Environment Scotland Climate Change Scientist David Harkin explores the links between cultural heritage and climate action, highlighting how we can use the past to inspire the future.
Land Value Capture measures added to Planning (Scotland) Bill (SCN 25/10/18)
Scottish Greens have welcomed changes to the Scottish Government’s planning bill which they say will help tackle Scotland’s housing crisis by making land for housebuilding more affordable, however housebuilders have called the measures “premature”.
Airbnb set to be regulated as short-term lets amendment to Planning Bill goes through (CS 24/10/18)
AN AMENDMENT to the Planning Bill which would see all short-term lets have to apply for council planning consent has passed stage two of the Bill’s passage through parliament.
IHBC, HE & ALGAO’s LA conservation stats out now – 2018 (IHBC 20/10/18)
Local Authority conservation capacity in England: A small annual increase in conservation capacity follows years of conservation cuts. But still aggregates at 35% cuts over the last 12 years.
Tax Campaigns (Historic Houses 10/18)
At Historic Houses we aim to improve the legislative, policy and regulatory framework within which owners of historic houses look after the nationally important heritage in their care. A key part of this framework is the tax system, which can have a significant impact on owners’ ability to fund the conservation of these places people love to visit.
Coming up for air at Scapa Flow (HES 15/10/18)
Following our online survey, Senior Designations Officer Andrew Fulton reflects on how public engagement is helping to shape thinking about future management of Orkney’s 20th-century wartime underwater heritage.
Opinion & Comment
Monitoring the outcomes of planning – and evaluating its impact (Nick Wright 25/10/18)
Michael Pawlyn of Exploration Architecture on averting climate breakdown (RIBA 23/10/18)
Pulling together: the least we can do in the face of climate change (Daniel Slade RTPI 17/10/18)
How to Turn a Car Town into a Cycling City (Next City 15/10/18)
Supporting Quality Places to Create a Legacy – Ann Allen, Chair of A&DS (A&DS)
The Planning (Scotland) Bill is breaking with key aims (The Planner 11/10/18)
Defending degrowth at ecomodernism’s home (Entitle Collective 2018)
Parliamentary Questions & Answers
Questions marked with a triangle (?) are initiated by the Government in order to facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament.
Question S5W-19081: Claudia Beamish, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 26/09/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what role the Land Commission and SEPA partnership taskforce on vacant and derelict land will have in advancing the introduction of compulsory sale orders.
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham (23/10/2018)
Question S5W-19082: Claudia Beamish, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 26/09/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for the introduction of the Compulsory Sale Order power.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (08/10/2018)
Question S5W-18849: Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 17/09/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with local authorities to promote the use of locally sourced stone in buildings and in streetscapes.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (27/09/2018)
Events
For the latest information about BEFS Members’ events see our events calendar.
Architecture Fringe 2019 – The Journey Starts Here
Welcome to the Architecture Fringe 2019! The journey starts here for June 2019. Our provocation for the fourth edition of the ArchiFringe is In Real Life. Got an idea for a self-directed project, exhibition, event or happening? Interested in joining in or helping out? Join us at one of Architecture Fringe’s monthly meet-ups to share your thoughts and proposals, give and receive help and advice, and connect with others. If you can’t make one of the meet-ups, feel free to drop us a line at hello@architecturefringe.com.
Masterplanning and Urban Development – Putting people first
Date: 13 November 2018
Venue: Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh, 80 High street Edinburgh, EH1 TH1
We all want to create liveable cities in which people thrive and prosper, but how to make that ideal come true? The Liveable City’s opening seminar focuses on the political process of moving from vision to action, bringing in experiences from recent years where Danish cities as well as cities around the world have undergone a remarkable transformation. Here, examples of successful project proposals to encourage economic development and investment to an area will be presented, including how to attract landmark projects and early adopters.
PSPC Property Repair Seminar: Caring for your Historic Building
Date: Tues 13 November 2018, 17:15-19:00 (light refreshments from 17:00)
Venue: Civic Chambers, 2 High Street, Perth, PH1 5PH.
Buildings constructed before 1919 are full of traditional features that make them great places to live. Such character also brings specific needs and requirements when it comes to the maintenance and repair of historic buildings. If you own or are considering a historic home, this free evening of short talks and Q&A is for you, offering key guidance at an introductory level to help you maintain the condition and value of a historic property. Come along and pick-up some pointers from industry professionals speaking on a range of useful topics:
- An introduction to practical online repair and maintenance resources for owners of historic homes;
- Essential strategies and considerations when repairing historic buildings;
- Timber window maintenance;
- Finding free technical guidance on maintaining and repairing traditional buildings;
- Involving conservation professionals in repair projects;
- Information on available grant assistance for repairing historic buildings through the Perth City Heritage Fund.
If you are interested in attending then please RSVP to: admin@pspc.co.uk | 01738 635301.
Salvage: Collections & Consequences
Date: 15 November, 9.30am – 4.30pm
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling, FK8 1QZ
Join us at the Engine Shed as speakers share their knowledge and experiences around salvage planning and training for collections, and the consequences when it goes right or wrong. Those involved with the care of archives and historic collections in public or private ownership will find this of interest. Price: £27.00 Historic Scotland member; £27.00 Concession; £30.00 Non-member Booking essential.
Insight Tour: Glasgow Cathedral
Date: 15 November, 10.00am – 12.00pm
Venue: Glasgow Cathedral, Castle St, Glasgow G4 0QZ
Glasgow Cathedral dates back as far as the 12th century. It is the most complete surviving medieval cathedral on the Scottish mainland, having survived the Protestant Reformation of 1560 almost intact. Over time, various bishops left their mark through alterations and expansion, including the addition of the rows of Gothic arches and windows with stone divisions (called slender tracery). On this Insight Tour, our District Architect will guide you through the ongoing programme of conservation works, including the replacement of stone in a pinnacle of the North transept. Booking essential | Suitable for ages 16+ | Personal Protective Equipment provided | T: 01786 234 800. Price: £18.00 Historic Scotland member; £20.00 Non-member
Heritage Trust Network Conference 2018
Date: 19-20 November 2018
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling
Join us in Scotland for our SKILLS-themed conference where we will address some of the many and varied skills needed to successfully run a heritage building preservation project today. On day one we focus on getting your organisation ready, project off the ground and fundraising, and on day two, we explore the skills needed to manage your project on site, how to work well with volunteers and communities, and making the most of your heritage asset after the building works are completed.
Insight Tour: Bothwell Castle
Date: 20 November, 10.00am – 12.00pm
Venue: Bothwell Castle, Castle Ave, Uddingston, Bothwell, Glasgow G71 8BL
Explore a castle hotly fought over during the Wars of Independence. Bothwell Castle, built on a grand scale in the late 1200s, frequently passed back and forth between English and Scottish hands. Although much of the castle has disappeared over time, it is one of the most impressive Scottish medieval strongholds standing today. One of the most striking features remaining is the grand donjon, a circular keep tower that is without parallel in Scotland. On this Insight Tour, climb the scaffolding with our District Architect for a close-up look at the masonry repairs on the Latrine Tower and to hear about the ongoing conservation works. Booking essential | Suitable for ages 16+ | Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) provided | T: 01786 234 800. Price: £18.00 Historic Scotland member; £20.00 Non-member.
Improving Energy Efficiency
Date: 22 November, 9.30am – 4.30pm
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling, FK8 1QZ
Our one-day seminar will be an in-depth look ahead at the challenges of improving energy efficiency in traditional buildings, with a strong focus on meeting current and future standards. A wide range of experts who work across Scotland’s built environment will present on various subjects. Join us to hear from speakers from the Scottish Government and the private and rural housing sector. We will explore issues around Standard Assessment Procedures (SAPs) and Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). We’ll also look at fabric interventions from our pilot refurbishment projects, as well as the experiences of building owners. Booking essential | T: 01786 234 800. Price £54.00 Historic Scotland members, £60.00 Non-members.
Moisture in Buildings: Analysis & Challenges
Date: 29 November, 9.30am – 4.30pm
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling, FK8 1QZ
This short course aims to demystify some of the heritage science techniques available to today’s professionals. Both commonly used techniques and emerging technologies will be demonstrated and explained, including thermal imaging, moisture analysis, X-ray techniques, mortar analysis and stone matching. Delegates will have the opportunity to try some of the techniques first hand, both lab-based and portable; and will learn how to employ the right technique and correctly interpret results to support decision-making and specification. Booking essential | T: 01786 234 800. Price £54.00 Historic Scotland members; £60.00 Non-members.
Training
Confronting Fire: Risks and Prevention for Heritage Buildings
Date: 2 November
Venue: The Dome, New Register House, 3 West Register Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3YT
Join us for the next instalment of our training series on November 2nd as we take a comprehensive look at the risks, management procedures and preventative measures we can employ to protect historic buildings from fire as well as approaches to restore damaged fabric once a fire has occurred.
APD – Mortars, Plasters & Renders
Date: 6 November, 5 days over 4 weeks: 27.5 taught hours
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling, FK8 1QZ
Discover the wide range of raw materials used both in the past and today to make mortars, plasters and renders for traditional Scottish structures. This module has a significant practical element, letting you gain first-hand knowledge of how different mortars, plaster and renders should be worked. You will also try out methods of mortar analysis such as acid digestion, X-ray diffraction and petrographic analysis.
Booking essential | T: 01786 234 800. Price: £645.
Introduction to Being a Board Member
Date: Tuesday, 6 November 2018, 10:30 to 16:30.
Venue: Arts & Business Scotland, 1st Floor, Rosebery House, 9 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5EZ.
Cost: £80+VAT for Arts & Business Scotland members; £120+VAT for non-members
This seminar is designed to help new board members/trustees in the charitable arts & heritage sector (and those who would like a refresher) to understand your roles and responsibilities, including the dividing line between your role and that of the professional staff, demystifying your legal and financial responsibilities, & the board and artistic issues.
APD – Documentation on the Historic Environment
Date: 7 November, 7 days over 6 weeks: 36.5 taught hours
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling, FK8 1QZ
Learn how to accurately document a site – via archival research or survey – as a vital first step towards the monitoring and evaluation of its condition. You will examine traditional and innovative site documentation techniques, and ways to archive, manipulate and share survey data. You will also learn how to use key Scottish archives and libraries for architectural research to support conservation or repair projects. Booking essential | T: 01786 234 800. Price: £480.
Crowdfunding for Arts & Heritage Organisations
Date: Friday, 9 November 2018, 09:30 to 16:30
Venue: Arts & Business Scotland, 1st Floor, Rosebery House, 9 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5EZ.
Cost: £80 + VAT for Arts & Business Scotland members; £120 + VAT for non-members
This event is aimed at organisations who are considering undertaking a crowdfund and who have a project in mind and who want to understand how to plan a crowdfund. The event will cover: The who, what and why of crowdfunding, practical group exercises, methodologies, crowdfunding stories, & developing your network and target audience.
CPD : Patterns of Use of Slate in Scotland
Date: Wednesday 14th November 2018 | 12.30-1.30pm.
Venue: 54 Bell Street, Glasgow.
Scottish slate has been used to roof Scottish buildings for over 400 years. Initially any local stone; flagstone, mica schist or indeed slate, which could be split into slabs, no matter how irregular, was used. Over time however, true geological slate, from the Highland Boundary, Ballachulish, Foudland or Slate Islands groups of quarries came to predominate. But with the improvement in transport in the 19th century, slate from elsewhere in the UK, principally North Wales, became readily available. Welsh slates are larger and more regular than Scottish and can be split thinner, making their use more economical. Today, although Welsh, Cornish and Cumbrian slate is still available, most roofing slate is imported from Spain. Recent work on Moy Castle on Mull, the Briggait and Paisley Museum and Art Gallery will be used to demonstrate these trends.
The Use of Lime Mortar in the Conservation, Repair & Maintenance of Traditional Buildings
Dates: Thursday 15th & Friday 16th November
Venue: Banff Castle
This highly popular, 2-day “hands-on” Course will address both the theory and practical use of Lime Mortar in the conservation, repair and maintenance of Traditional Buildings, Walls, and other Stone Built Structures. In addition to the importance of using the correct tools and materials, the Course will focus on mixing Lime Mortar, as well as the skills and techniques involved in its use in a wide range of applications, including pointing and harling. For more details and to book simply get in touch by phone, on 01888 511347, or by e-mail, to soundcraft@towiebarclay.co.uk.
A Guide to Tax for Arts and Heritage Organisations
Date: Friday, 16 November 2018, 09:30 to 12:30
Venue: Arts & Business Scotland, 1 Floor, Rosebery House, 9 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5EZ
Cost: £40 +VAT for Arts & Business Scotland members; £60 +VAT for non-members
This half-day seminar is a must for all financial or budget holding staff and anyone who wants to know how tax affects (and can benefit) arts and heritage organisations with charitable status in Scotland. It will specifically look at current and common issues including the tax status of grant income, box office arrangements, room hires, trading activities, memberships, fundraising and sponsorship. It will highlight the tax savings that can be available (including the creative industries tax relief) and the issues and opportunities that frequently affect arts and heritage organisations.
Webinar: Cyber Insurance – why your organisation needs it!
Date: Tuesday, 20 November 2018, 10:00 to 11:00
Venue: Remote
Cost: Free for Arts & Business Scotland members; £10 + VAT for non-members
This webinar will help demystify the cyber risks to business by talking through live scenarios and how cyber insurance can help your business triage any situation, meet legal obligations and get back up and running as quickly as possible. The session covers: the cyber risks to an organisation, an introduction to cyber insurance and claims process as well as cyber theft and the need for a commercial crime insurance policy.
Business Briefing: Social Media – What’s your message?
Date: Wednesday, 28 November, 10:00 to 12:30
Venue: RSM | 69 Wellington Street | G2 6HG Glasgow | United Kingdom
Cost: Free for Arts & Business Scotland members; £10 + VAT for non-members This session will help you think about setting simple goals for your social media strategy. You will come away from the session with a clearer idea of how content can help you bring about change, sell more, recruit volunteers, increase understanding of difficult issues, engage with influencers and beyond. You’ll get to see real-world examples of content in action on: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat & YouTube.
APD – Unfired East Conservation
Date: 29 November, 3 days over 3 weeks: 18.5 taught hours
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling, FK8 1QZ
Examine the use of unfired earth construction in Scotland’s historic built environment, a practice with ancient and obscure origins yet more relevant than ever. You will touch on repair and restoration techniques using traditional and modern tools, and follow the full life cycle of a repair project – from survey and diagnosis to on-site installation. Conservation repair principles are an important area of discussion throughout. Booking essential | T: 01786 234 800. Price: £270
Vacancies
Heritage Lottery Fund / National Heritage Memorial Fund Trustee for Scotland
The Trustee for Scotland presents an exciting and challenging opportunity for an individual with a strong commitment to, and enthusiasm for Scotland and rest of the UK’s diverse heritage, to make a lasting contribution.
Application deadline has been extended by DCMS to 7th November.
External Mentors in Geography or Urban Studies
Do you have over 2 years’ work experience in a geography or urban studies profession and have a degree? Want to help inspire and support undergraduates with their future career direction and studies? The School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society (EGIS) at Heriot-Watt University is looking for interested mentors to take part in the Urban Studies Undergraduate External Mentoring Programme. EGIS has strong and well established links with professional practice, with many of our graduates employed in senior positions in the public and private sector. The programme helps Urban Studies undergraduates at Heriot-Watt University to focus on long-term career planning, and provide a focus for linking their academic studies to the world of work. The feedback from the scheme has been extremely positive, from both mentors and mentees, making it a really valuable experience for all involved! For more information on how to participate please contact Dr Gina Netto- G.Netto@hw.ac.uk
BACK
We must act or our past will catch up with us, argues BEFS Director Euan Leitch, reflecting on two recent events in Edinburgh.
Last week in Edinburgh two of BEFS associate members held events that may at first appear unconnected. The Cockburn Association’s annual lecture was on the Role of Urban Ecology in the Future of Edinburgh while Edinburgh World Heritage held a lecture on Edinburgh and the Slave Trade: the True Cost of the New Town.
Sir Geoff Palmer OBE elaborated on the Edinburgh wealth built out of the tobacco, linen and sugar trades, the delay in the abolition of slavery caused by Henry Dundas’ intervention and the wealth Edinburgh residents gained from the financial compensation received by the owners of slaves upon its eventual abolition. The prosperity arising from the abuse of humans made for grim listening, brought home by Sir Geoff talking about visiting places in Scotland that had benefited from the abuse of his Jamaican ancestors, places such as Dairsie in Fife, where the coarse osnaburg linen was woven that was worn by plantation slaves. Sir Geoff Palmer reflected on the dual connection he shares with the former Prime Minister William Gladstone as a resident of his Midlothian constituency and Gladstone’s father likely owning Sir Geoff’s ancestors: “Be very careful what you do in the past, it might catch up with you in the future!” Sir Geoff Palmer’s talk was not to encourage the toppling of statues or demolition of buildings but to make historical connections explicit. Amending the plaque at the base of the Melville Monument to insert the fact that Henry Dundas’ actions prolonged the slave, trade by arguing for its ‘gradual’ abolition, being one example.
Professor Sandy Halliday and René Sommer Lindsay delivered a joint lecture for the Cockburn Association. Sandy gave a whistle stop tour of projects around Europe and Scandinavia that are taking an enlightened approach to sustainable development, buildings that are ‘net-zero’ in energy consumption and generation or in the case of refitted-office block, PowerHouse Kjørbo in Norway, one that exports electricity. Her lecture included examples of policies in Berlin and Malmo that ensure 30% of development sites are given over to green or blue infrastructure, and highlighted the environmental investment priorities of Germany’s state owned KfW bank. René shared details of the Klimarvarter project in Østerbro, Copenhagen, which aims to create a climate resilient neighbourhood, through the creation of green infrastructure that can handle increased rainfall and be replicated across the city.
What links these two lectures? The past catching up with us: our environmental past and present.
Sandy Halliday highlighted the WWF calculation that the UK consumes three times as much of the planet’s resources than it should do, our 200 years of industrial production and consumption are having real consequences. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C was published in early October. The report made explicit that whilst meeting that target of keeping global temperature rise to 1.5 °C is possible it would require a radical change in our approach to land and energy use. We have twelve years in which to take radical action. The 1.5 °C temperature increase itself may have a devastating impact on environments in the Middle East and Africa, affecting 100 million people. Turtles swimming in plastic reefs and bleaching corals may tug heart-strings but large scale population displacement tends to elicit different responses.
So perhaps our past isn’t imminently catching up with us in Scotland (or is it?), instead our past is catching up with more vulnerable parts of the planet. The day-to-day realities of the slave trade also tended to happen elsewhere and maybe we excuse some of our ancestors for their ignorance but we cannot plead ignorance of the fact that our environmental choices yesterday and today are going to have serious impacts on humans in the near future. We might find ourselves appalled by the callus view our predecessors had of slavery but will our descendants be any less appalled by our societal choices in the face of mounting environmental evidence?
Upon reading the headline statements of the IPCC report I had half expected there to be a collective sharp intake of breath and recognition across a range of disciplines that this was an emergency, followed by a universal call to action. On reading some press releases in response, it’s more of a collective shrug, arguing for gradual decarbonisation to lessen the economic impact.
But what of action? The IPCC report is framed by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, of which Scotland is a signatory. The Scottish Government is currently drafting planning legislation and policy – climate change can be at the heart of that. Derek McKay is drafting the Scottish Budget – climate change should be the driver in how we develop as a nation. Historic Environment Scotland are producing their Corporate Plan for 2019 onwards, climate change should be at the heart of that agenda.
Will our gradual approach to decarbonisation be viewed as equally reprehensible by our descendants?
The Edinburgh World Heritage Lecture is available on Facebook, here.
The Cockburn Association will be providing a summary of their annual lecture on their website.
The IPCC report is available on their website, here.
BACK
Get The Latest Built Environment News, Events, Vacancies, Consultations And Publications In Our News Bulletin.
BEFS News
BEFS has a number of upcoming events, including a HES Corporate Plan Consultation Workshop on Friday 26th October, 09:30-12:00, 125 Princes Street, Edinburgh. This is an opportunity to provide feedback on the corporate plan 2019-22 and is open to all.
Save the date for ‘Community Empowerment and Landscape’ on Monday 3rd December, 1500-1800, venue to be confirmed. Community Land Scotland and INHERIT have produced a report which examines the relationship between communities and the policies and practices around natural and historic environment, primarily in a rural context. The Scottish Government’s agenda to increase community ownership means that the findings have parallels for urban communities. This event will look at pragmatic steps that can be taken to ease tensions from the perspective of a community trust, a public agency, a charitable landowner and through the lens of human rights. The issues arising should provide fertile thought in advance of the HES consultation on criteria for designation. Full details will follow shortly but in the meantime, please save the date and read the report.
BEFS continues its search for our next chair until 22 October, please do share the details of the position.
And don’t miss the opportunity to contribute to the call for ideas on prioritisation – we already have interest from a variety of perspectives and would welcome yours!
Scottish Civic Trust’s recent consultation highlighted that people weren’t sure who did what in the Scottish heritage sector. To try to address this, the Scottish Civic Trust, with help from BEFS and the wider sector, has created a map listing everyone they could think of who might be of assistance to community groups. The result is now available here. Whilst certainly not exhaustive, it’s a useful guide for when you’re looking for help with a particular issue.
The fourth marshalled list of amendments and the fourth groupings of amendments for the Planning (Scotland) Bill at Stage 2 have now been published.
Consultations
Delivering improved transparency in land ownership in Scotland: Consultation on draft regulations
Closes 8 Nov 2018
Call for Feedback! Help Improve the Place Standard Tool (STP 04/10/18)
We want to hear from organisations, groups and individuals who have used the Place Standard, and we also want to hear from people who haven’t used the tool. Please complete this survey to help us build on lessons to date to inform improvements to the Place Standard.
Scotland – Sharing Stories Survey (SCT 03/10/18)
The Sharing Stories project aims to challenge stereotypes and improve understanding of minority ethnic heritage across Europe. The project is being co-led by The Scottish Civic Trust as part of European Heritage Days. We want diverse cultures to be recognised as integral parts of European culture and see Scotland’s multicultural heritage better represented in heritage programmes like Doors Open Days. We are conducting a short online survey to collect information on levers / barriers / enablers to minority ethnic participation and representation in local heritage in Scotland.
Consultation Responses
Scottish Civic Trust Community Consultation Report
Publications
Barriers to homeownership for young adults (IFS 08/10/18)
Rural Scotland Key Facts 2018 (SG 08/10/18)
Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee’ Brexit Update (SPICe)
European Union funding in Scotland – Briefing (SPICe)
European Union funding in Scotland – Infographic (SPICe)
Cultural Heritage for Inclusive Growth Report (British Council)
Scottish Government News Releases
Housing First (SG 09/10/18)
Vulnerable people with complex needs who need help to get into settled accommodation are to be supported by funding of up to £6.5 million, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced.
Rural tourism investment (SG 05/10/18)
Projects to benefit from £3 million funding. Some of Scotland’s most iconic, rural tourist sites will receive funding for new facilities to further enhance the visitor experience.
Community Choices Fund (SG 02/10/18)
Communities will benefit from a share of £1.75 million to increase the numbers of people involved in making decisions about investment in their local areas.
New environmental Chief Scientific Adviser appointed (SG 28/09/18)
A leading Edinburgh University scientist is being appointed as the Scottish Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser for Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture.
News Releases
Young Placechangers Ideas Fund opens for applications (GS 11/10/18)
From today [11 October 2018] young people and youth groups can apply to the Young Placechangers Ideas Fund for Seedcorn grants (up to £500) and larger Ideas Fund grants (up to £3000). Developed by greenspace scotland and partners Youth Scotland, with funding support from the Scottish Government and Heritage Lottery Fund, the Young Placechangers Ideas Fund will support young placechangers across Scotland to put their ideas into action and change places for the better – where they live, play, hang out or go to school.
Help us add to and update the Buildings at Risk register (SAVE BH)
Do you know of any historic buildings standing empty and decaying that should be added to the SAVE Buildings at Risk register? SAVE is starting the search for buildings at risk to appear in our 2019- 2020 Buildings at Risk Catalogue and we would like to hear from you. We are also conducting an update of the register and would welcome any news on existing entries.
Bloomberg London wins RIBA Stirling Prize for architecture (BBC 10/10/18)
Bloomberg’s London office has been named the winner of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize, in a ceremony at London’s Roundhouse. The European HQ for the financial information firm, designed by Foster + Partners, was described by the judges as “a once-in-a-generation project which has pushed the boundaries of research and innovation in architecture”.
Partners in Planning: a New Skills Hub for Planners (PAS 08/10/18)
We were delighted to take part in the recent launch event for a new skills hub for planners, Partners in Planning. Partners in Planning is an online platform to support Scotland’s planners in delivering successful places – and one, at PAS, that we think will be a great resource for our network of volunteers (planners).
Heritage Alliance Response to the Brexit White Paper & MAC report (HA 05/10/18)
The Heritage Alliance has responded to the Brexit White Paper from a heritage perspective and set out the implications of the Migration Advisory Committee’s (MAC) final report on EEA migration in the UK.
My Place Mentoring (SCT 03/10/18)
Thanks to generous funding from Historic Environment Scotland, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the William Grant Foundation, Scottish Civic Trust are pleased to be opening our mentoring programme for community groups that are in need of some help developing their skills. We’ll provide tailored one to one support for groups across a number of different areas, including fundraising, governance, project management and social media. Drop us a line at sct@scottishcivictrust.org.uk or give us a call on 0141 221 1466 and we can talk through your needs with you.
Scotland’s iconic buildings set to benefit from sought-after stonemasonry skills (CITB 02/10/18)
A new Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) partnership has been launched in Edinburgh to help meet the demand for stonemasonry skills to protect and preserve Scotland’s iconic buildings.
CIfA2019: Call for papers (CIfA 01/10/18)
Archaeology: values, benefits, and legacies -CIfA2019 Annual conference and training event on
24 ? 26 April 2019, Leeds. Hosted at the Royal Armouries Museum, our 2019 annual conference event will be packed with sessions, training and networking opportunities. Our usual three-day conference programme includes papers, seminars and activities that aim to provide a forum for delegates to discuss and explore ideas around social value, public benefit, and the creation of knowledge.
We’re hosting the sixth European Architectural History Network International Meeting (EAHN)
EAHN2020 takes place in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, UK. The venue is the University of Edinburgh, and the conference takes full advantage of the university, and the city’s numerous architectural sites. The website is already live!
Parliament visitor experience wins vote of confidence from VisitScotland (SP 28/09/18)
The five-star tourism award was achieved by the Parliament in recognition of exceptional customer service and the high-quality facilities on offer.
Call for collaborative Centre for Cultural Value now open (AHRC 13/09/18)
The Arts and Humanities Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation, has opened a call that gives Research Organisations, in collaboration with other organisations from across the cultural sector, the opportunity to apply to become the UK’s first collaborative Centre for Cultural Value. The deadline for applications is expected to be 16.00 hours on Thursday 15 November 2018.
Future Towns Design Competition (STP)
The FutureTown Design Competition is open for applications! Both individuals and organisations are invited to submit innovative ideas for positive change in their town or city neighbourhood. The competition is aimed at provoking ideas and encouraging new approaches to highlight what the country’s towns could look like now and in the future.
Applications close at 5pm on Wednesday 31 October 2018.
Parliamentary Questions
Questions marked with a triangle (?) are initiated by the Scottish Government in order to facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament.Questions in which a member has indicated a declarable interest are marked with an “R”.
Question S5W-19087: Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27/09/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out on the relationship between the Planning (Scotland) Bill, and the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018.
Question S5W-19127: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 01/10/2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many households in each local authority area have (a) applied for and (b) received support for (i) loft, (ii) cavity wall, (iii) room in roof, (iv) solid wall and (v) other forms of insulation from area-based energy-efficiency schemes in each of the last 10 years.
Question S5W-19128: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 01/10/2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many households in each local authority area have (a) applied for and (b) received support from the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS) in each of the last 10 years.
Question S5W-19129: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 01/10/2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many households in each local authority area have (a) applied for and (b) received support for (i) a new boiler or heating replacement system, (ii) solar panels, (iii) air source heat pumps and (iv) biomass energy systems in each of the last 10 years.
Events
For the latest information about BEFS Members’ events see our events calendar.
Connected Towns Part 1 – The Physical Space
Date: 24 Oct. from 1:30pm – 4:30pm.
Venue: Architecure + Design Scotland, Edinburgh.
The Physical Space: Attractive, Active, Accessible Places for All. Our session on 24 October will help you to join the dots where you are; helping connect people and place, through the creation of sustainable, multi-functional spaces; accessible to all. ‘Connected Towns – Part 2, The Digital Space’, follows on Wednesday 12 December.
Cockburn Annual Lecture – The Role of Urban Ecology in the Future of Edinburgh
Date: Thur 25 October 2018, 19:30 – 21:00.
Venue: Grassmarket Community Project, 86 Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh EH1 2QA.
How should Edinburgh grow? Recently published population projections suggest that Edinburgh will grow by 28% over the next 25 years. This signals a strong economy able to create wealth and opportunity for its citizens and able to attract the key workers it needs to run its public services and fuel new enterprise. But it is also presents powerful challenges to the city. This multi-speaker lecture will look at examples of projects in other European places with the purpose of initiating an informed civic debate on how Edinburgh approaches this challenge while addressing associated problems of climate change and place quality.
Destination High Street: restoring vibrancy to Scotland’s towns
Date: Wed 7 November 2018, 09:30 – 17:30.
Venue: The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3NY.
This conference, organised jointly by the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland (AHSS) and the Scottish Civic Trust (SCT) will explore the challenges faced by Scotland’s high streets and smaller town centres. Speakers will examine projects and schemes aimed at regenerating high streets and the conference will bring together experts on the subject tackling the issue from a range of perspectives. This is a rare chance to hear from people working at the cutting-edge of practice and policy.
Young Placechangers Residential
Date: Sat, 17 Nov 2018, 12:30 – Sun, 18 Nov 2018, 15:30.
Venue: Callander Youth Project Trust, Callander Hostel, 6 Bridgend, Callander FK17 8AH.
Is there anything you and your youth group would like to change about the place where you live, go to school or work? A space or park that could do with some improvements or changes to the way it is used? If the answer is yes, then this residential weekend is for you!
Training
APD Training & Development
Our Advanced Professional Diploma (APD) is back for its second year, with options to take individual short courses.
These courses are taught by leading experts through a mixture of lectures and field trips. Some single days may be available. Contact us for further details.
Booking is essential and places fill up fast so book now to avoid disappointment! Visit www.engineshed.scot/learning/diploma to learn more or email us at technicaleducation@hes.scot.
APD – Sustainability in the Historic Environment
Date: 29 October. Taught a day a week over 3 weeks; 15.5 taught hours
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling, FK8 1QZ
An increasingly important issue, this module examines the impact of heritage conservation on the wider environment and economy and ways to protect scarce physical resources for the future.
Price: £315. Booking essential.
Surface Repair of Stone
Date: 13 – 14 November 2018
Venue: Merryhill Training Centre, Fife KY11 3DR
This course will cover the how to carry out a successful surface stone repair with an understanding of the materials and when and where it may be appropriate. n many cases, simple surface repairs can be less intrusive and a suitable alternative to replacing masonry units with new stone. You will be amazed at the results you will be able to achieve after only two days! This course is designed to ensure successful surface repairs to flat work, angles, corners and moulded details. The decay mechanisms of stone will be discussed and we will consider the factors to that should be taken into account when deciding if a surface repair is a suitable alternative to replacement with new stone.
CE2 Masonry Consolidation Techniques for the repair of historic buildings and structures
Date: 16 November 2018
Venue: Charlestown Workshops, Fife KY11 3EN
This workshop is the follow on course from CE1 Introduction to lime based mortars and traditional materials for the repair of civil engineering structures and covers two major techniques for consolidating masonry structures, namely grouting (with a liquid mortar) and concealed crack stitching. These are techniques that may be applicable for the repair of masonry arch bridges, culverts, tunnels, lighthouses, viaducts, canals, harbours, retaining walls, piers and other masonry structures which contribute so much to the richness of our heritage. This one day workshop focusses on remedying voids in traditional masonry buildings and structures in a sympathetic manner using traditional lime and natural cement bound mortars in liquid form to enable grouting. Techniques of crack stitching (for dormant cracks) will also be addressed using a variety of methods and materials to suit the various scenarios that might occur in heritage buildings and structures. This workshop is a mix of theory and practical hands-on work.
Vacancies
Senior Project Officer: My Place Mentoring
The Scottish Civic Trust is looking for a Senior Project Officer for the My Place Mentoring programme, which will run over three years and build skills, knowledge and connections in Scotland’s community groups. Its aim is to empower disenfranchised communities in Scotland to engage with their local environment in a meaningful way that changes spaces and places for the better.
Submit your application by 26th October 2018.
Volunteering with Doors Open Day
The annual free festival of Scottish architecture and cultural heritage is looking for volunteers. Why not join our team and help with the evaluation process for 2018.
Get The Latest Built Environment News, Events, Vacancies, Consultations And Publications In Our News Bulletin.
BEFS News
Community Land Scotland and INHERIT have published their report, Community Empowerment and Landscape, which looks at the relationship between communities of place and landscape designations. The findings of the research have a bearing on natural and historic environment designations in rural and urban Scotland; some may recall that one of the authors, Chris Dalglish, spoke at a BEFS conference on HES policy in April. BEFS are planning a joint event with Community Land Scotland and INHERIT in the near future, which will look at the positive steps that can be taken towards more empowered participation.
BEFS is holding a workshop looking at the draft HES Corporate Plan on Friday 26th October, further details and booking here.
The Listed Property Owners’ Club has lodged a petition calling for the UK Government to reduce VAT to 5% on repairs and approved alterations to listed buildings. BEFS, like the Scottish Government and 60 other organisations, has previously been a signatory to the Cut the Vat campaign and we would encourage individuals to respond to the petition, which will at least force the UK Government to respond, at best result in a debate in Westminster. If the campaign achieves its aims this would mitigate the loss of the zero rate in 2012, but with only 47,000 buildings in Scotland being listed it would still leave the vast majority of building owners at a disadvantage. It would not apply to unlisted buildings in conservation areas nor most tenemental properties in need of maintenance, many of which are in financially challenged areas. A Parliamentary debate would allow these issues to be aired and the petition requires 100,00 signatories for this to take place.
The Local Government and Communities Committee continues to debate the Planning Bill at Stage 2, which is likely to continue through until early November. At the time of writing, the minutes from 26th Sept meeting are not yet available but the amendment to stop the removal of statutory supplementary guidance was not moved in response to assurances from the Minister that removal would not weaken environmental protections. He reported that analysis undertaken by officials had revealed over 300 supplementary planning guidelines attached to local development plans and that the proposed system would strengthen environmental protection. We have asked Scottish Government for sight of their analysis. The committee minutes will become available here and when stage 2 is complete we will provide a report of the fate of the amendments.
The Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee heard from specialists on the Glasgow School of Art last week and the official report makes interesting reading. Is it perhaps premature to open this discussion before the official report on the cause of the fire is available? There seems to be a degree of conjecture in the discussion but it will perhaps help better frame questions once the cause is known.
Don’t miss the opportunity to send us your ideas and methodologies for prioritisation within built heritage, and take part in a robust and open discussion on the topic. All ideas are welcome and should be submitted by Monday 5th November 2018.
You can now read the minutes of the most recent meeting of the Scottish Parliamentary Working Group on Tenement Maintenance on our website here.
Wiki Loves Monuments UK is part of the world’s largest photo contest. Dr Sara Thomas, Scotland Programme Coordinator at Wikimedia UK shares her enthusiasm for the competition on our blog. Submit your entries from Scotland by 30th September.
Take a look back at the success of the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology 2017 with this short film of highlights by VisitScotland.
Consultations
The Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee has launched a call for evidence, as part of the Committee’s on-going scrutiny of the Article 50 Negotiations, looking at the impact on Scotland’s individuals, businesses and organisations.
The deadline for written submissions is Friday 12 October 2018.
The Finance and Constitution Committee invites written evidence on the estimated financial implications of the Fuel Poverty Bill as set out in its accompanying Financial Memorandum (FM).
The call for written views will close on 2 November 2018.
Consultation on the Strategic Environmental Assessment for 15 proposed Special Protection Areas
Opened 14 Sep 2018 and closes 9 Nov 2018.
Scotland’s Forestry Strategy 2019-29
Opened 20 Sep 2018 and closes 29 Nov 2018.
Delivering improved transparency in land ownership in Scotland: Consultation on draft regulations
Closes 8 Nov 2018
Local Governance Review: Democracy Matters: Your Community. Your ideas. Your Future.
Closes 30 Nov 2018
Publications
Housing Statistics for Scotland 2018: Key Trends Summary (SG 25/09/18)
Talk of the Town – The economic links between cities and towns (Centre for Cities 24/09/18)
Living Cities: towards ecological urbanism (Scottish Wildlife Trust 22/09/18)
Community Empowerment and Landscape (Community Land Scotland & INHERIT 19/09/18)
Working in the Public Interest (WITPI) Field Report: Edinburgh (RTPI 18/09/18)
Edinburgh City Plan 2030 Development Plan scheme (Edinburgh Council)
New Powers, New Deals: Remaking British Towns after Brexit (Carnegie UK Trust)
Remaking British Towns after Brexit: Key Actions for Policy Makers and Planners (Carnegie UK Trust)
Town Centre Living: A Caring Place Case Studies (A&DS)
Historic Environment Scotland Annual Report 2017-18 (HES 13/09/18)
Properties in the Care of Scottish Ministers Annual Report 2017-18 (HES 13/09/18)
Scottish Government News Releases
Cupar Digital Improvement Pilot (SG 26/09/18)
Cupar will become a Digital Improvement District, a first for Scotland, fulfilling the Programme for Government commitment to fund a business improvement district dedicated to digital improvement. It will soon have town centre WiFi and act as a potential model for future small town designs.
More homes for Scotland (SG 25/09/18)
Affordable housing programme on target at halfway point. The Scottish Government is on track to meet its ambitious affordable housing target, new statistics show.
4% increase in housing supply in 2017-18 (SG 25/09/18)
Total new housing supply in Scotland increased by 4% in 2017-18, to 19,428 new housing units, or 745 more homes than the previous year, the fifth consecutive annual increase in total housing supply, and the highest annual figure since 2008-09.
News Releases
Saving Scotland’s Heritage From the Rising Seas (NYT 25/09/18)
Jim Dwyer, a New York Times reporter, and Josh Haner, a Times photographer, traveled to a Scottish archipelago in the North Atlantic to see how people are trying to save thousands of ancient structures.
Partners in Planning
A new information portal has been launched in Scotland, ‘Partners in Planning’, which aims to provide an online platform ‘to promote a single access point to the knowledge and skills that enables behavioural change in planning’.
Scotland’s Most Beautiful High Street- Entries Close This Sunday! (STP 24/09/18)
Scotland’s Towns Partnership has once again teamed up with Keep Scotland Beautiful and The Herald on Sunday to find Scotland’s Most Beautiful High Street. Any organisation or individual can enter their high street, and we call on local authorities, improvement districts, development trusts, community councils and any other local group to apply.
Not so pretty vacant. Scottish Land Commission and SEPA target new uses for derelict and vacant land (SLC 21/09/18)
Two of Scotland’s leading land and environment bodies have set their sights on finding ways to bring thousands of acres of derelict and vacant land back into productive use. The Scottish Land Commission and SEPA have today launched their innovative partnership and taskforce to transform Scotland’s approach to vacant and derelict land.
New £5 million fund for Highlands & Islands tourism (SRN 21/09/18)
The new Natural & Cultural Heritage Fund, led by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) will support projects that encourage visitors to experience more of the unique nature and culture of the Highlands & Islands. The fund is part of the next phase of the Scottish Government’s European Regional Development Fund programme, which runs through to 2023.
Focus Group Field Report: Edinburgh (WITPI/RTPI 18/09/18)
Our fourth focus group took us to Edinburgh to explore planning in Scotland. The focus group, which took place at the RTPI’s Edinburgh office, represented senior levels of expertise from across the public, private and NGO/charity sectors as well as including some young planners from both public and private arenas.
Shortlist announced for Great British High Street Awards 2018 (MHCLG 17/09/18)
38 high streets across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been shortlisted in this year’s Great British High Street Awards 2018.
Call for Papers – Monuments in Monuments Conference 2019 (HES)
Are you a conservation professional? We’re inviting contributions for abstracts for our conference next year on the conservation of stone monuments and objects inside traditional buildings.
Conference Call for Papers – Women & Power: Redressing the Balance (UoO)
Organised by the National Trust and University of Oxford, the ‘Women & Power: Redressing the Balance’ conference has invited submissions for papers on a number of topics. This two-day conference will explore the research and presentation of women’s lives in public history and heritage, and reflect upon responses to the suffrage centenary anniversary in 2018.
Poll reveals strong public support for greater government investment in housing (SHN 18/09/18)
Commissioned to coincide with Scottish Housing Day, the survey shows that 46% of Scots think that the government is responsible for ensuring everyone has a home to live in, compared to 29% who think it is the responsibility of either housing associations or local authorities.
Conservation a Key Soft Power Resource, Icon Tells Heritage Minister (ICON 18/09/18)
On 4 September 2018, Icon Chief Executive Alison Richmond and Policy Advisor Anni Mäntyniemi met with Heritage Minister Michael Ellis at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in Westminster.
Entries open for RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence (RTPI 17/09/18)
Nominations for the RTPI Awards for Planning Awards Excellence are now open through to 14 December 2018. For 40 years they have rewarded the brightest talent in the profession; the teams, projects and individuals that transform economies, environments and their communities all over the UK and internationally.
Behind the scenes at the new V&A Dundee (HES 15/09/18)
A behind the scenes view from our paper conservation team as rarely seen treasures from the HES Archives are put on display at the new V&A Museum in Dundee.
European Heritage Awards/ Europa Nostra Awards – Call for Entries (EN 14/09/18)
The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards are Europe’s highest honour in the heritage field. The Awards recognise the best conservation projects, the most impressive research; the most dedicated heritage professionals and volunteers; and the finest awareness raising, training and educational programmes. Deadline: 15 November 2018.
Opinion & Comment
Small cairns, big questions: community empowerment and landscape (Dr Calum Macleod 26/09/18)
1p per person: how local democracy is being ‘systematically eroded’ (The Ferret 19/09/18)
Parliamentary Questions
Questions marked with a triangle (?) are initiated by the Scottish Government in order to facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament.Questions in which a member has indicated a declarable interest are marked with an “R”.
Question S5W-18849: Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 17/09/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with local authorities to promote the use of locally sourced stone in buildings and in streetscapes.
Question S5W-19082: Claudia Beamish, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 26/09/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for the introduction of the Compulsory Sale Order power.
Question S5W-19081: Claudia Beamish, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 26/09/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what role the Land Commission and SEPA partnership taskforce on vacant and derelict land will have in advancing the introduction of compulsory sale orders.
Question S5W-19055: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 26/09/2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many public sector construction projects in each of the last five years have used locally-sourced stone, and how much this represented as a percentage of the overall cost of each project.
Parliamentary Questions & Answers
Questions marked with a triangle (?) are initiated by the Government in order to facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament.
Question S5W-18312: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what modelling work it has carried out to analyse the costs of reaching energy performance certificate (EPC) (a) B and (b) C ratings for (i) domestic and (ii) residential buildings.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (11/09/2018)
Question S5W-18313: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what work it has carried out to evaluate its campaign of awareness-raising to increase the uptake of energy efficiency measures for (a) domestic and (b) residential buildings.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (04/09/2018)
Question S5W-18329: Andy Wightman, Lothian, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 20/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many affordable homes have been built under the National Housing Trust model since May 2016.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (11/09/2018)
Events
For the latest information about BEFS Members’ events see our events calendar.
Find out more about the new Natural & Cultural Heritage Fund
Date: Tuesday 2 October 2018 – 12:00 to Wednesday 7 November 2018 – 12:00
Venue: Multiple Venues
Organiser: Scottish Natural Heritage
This Challenge Fund of £5million of ERDF money is being made available through a single competitive funding round opening in January 2019 and closing in April 2019. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) are looking to use this money to support around 10 major projects to be delivered by 2022. Projects must be seeking an ERDF grant of a minimum of £250k .The fund can support up to 70% of project costs and therefore total eligible project costs must be a minimum of £360k.
Places for Health: Creating Healthy, Vibrant and Safe Communities
Date: Thursday 25 October 2018
Venue: COSLA, Verity House, 19 Haymarket Yards, Edinburgh EH12 5BH
This event will examine how we can work across sectors – health, housing, community planning and regeneration – to design and sustain good quality places to live and work that support our health and wellbeing.
Edinburgh and the Slave Trade: The true cost of the New Town
Date: Thursday 25 October 2018
Time: 6pm – 7pm
Location: Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate, Edinburgh
We would be delighted if you could join us on Thursday 25 October for a groundbreaking new lecture to celebrate Black History Month. Human rights activist and Professor Emeritus in the School of Life Sciences at Heriot-Watt University, Sir Geoff Palmer O.B.E. will expose Edinburgh’s long and profitable relationship with slavery.
Destination High Street: restoring vibrancy to Scotland’s towns
Date: Wed. 7 November, 09.30-17.30.
Venue: The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3NY
This conference, organised jointly by the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland (AHSS) and the Scottish Civic Trust (SCT) will explore the challenges faced by Scotland’s high streets and smaller town centres. Speakers will examine projects and schemes aimed at regenerating high streets and the conference will bring together experts on the subject tackling the issue from a range of perspectives. This is a rare chance to hear from people working at the cutting-edge of practice and policy.
Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders Archaeology Conference
Date: Saturday November 17, 2018
Venue: Queen Margaret University, Musselburgh
This annual conference is organised by City of Edinburgh Council, East Lothian Council and Scottish Borders Council. It provides an important opportunity to hear and discuss first hand accounts of the archaeological fieldwork and research being undertaken in Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, and the Scottish Borders.
Education Buildings Scotland Conference 2018
Date: 21-22 November 2018.
Venue: EICC, 150 Morrison Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8EE.
Learner participation and wellbeing by design will form two key themes at the Education Buildings Scotland conference, November 21-22 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. The focus is on highlighting design as a tool to help prevent stress and a tool to empower learner’s wellbeing. Let’s share what’s possible, co-designing better wellbeing futures for all.
Training
Making & Using Traditional Mortars C1 – Contractor Level 1
Date: 24 – 25 October 2018
Venue: Merryhill Training Centre, Fife KY11 3DR
Our most popular two day introductory course – this practical workshop will provide attendees with a strong understanding of lime technology
The reasons for using traditional mortars on solid walls will also be explained, to allow you to better advise clients. The course will guide participants to be able to complete pointing work to traditional buildings to a high standard.
The content of this workshop provides the underpinning knowledge required for assessment and accreditation of SQA National Unit 1 – ‘Preparing and Using Basic Lime Mixes’.
Course Programme
Day 1 – Making Traditional Mortars
- Health and Safety issues
- Historic use of lime mortars
- Processing lime
- Best practice for mortar mixing
- Inspecting masonry
- Using the right tools
Day 2 – Using Traditional Mortars
- Preparing masonry joints
- Techniques of working
- Placing of mortar for repointing
- Joint finishing
- Curing and protection regimes
Winter Working with Lime
Dates: 26 October 2018 and 23 November 2018.
Venue: Charlestown Workshops, Fife KY11 3EN
Join us for the ultimate guide to winter working with lime! Our hints, tips and practical advice will help you extend your season working with lime mortars successfully. The reality is that contracting is a 365 days a year business and you don’t have the luxury of picking your weather windows.
Topics include:
- Background to the risk elements of winter working in inclement weather;
- Creating a sensible regime for work;
- Best site practices;
- How temperature influences the performance of mortars;
- The importance of detailing on a building;
- Using additives in mortars;
- How to achieve the successful curing of mortars;
- Options for protecting and covering work from the elements.
Traditional Masonry Repair C2 – Contractor Level 2
Dates: 30 October – 1 November 2018
Venue: Merryhill Training Centre, Fife KY11 3DR
This 3 day workshop builds on the knowledge and skills gained on ‘C1 Making and Using Traditional Mortars’. The workshop aims to enable you to complete seamless rebuilding and repair of traditional masonry to match original work. You will gain a conservation ethic and be able to develop repair strategies suitable for a variety of traditional masonry types.
The course deals with build types from ashlar to rubble walling, as well as finishes including harling and limewashing. Participants will be able to undertake sensitive surface repairs to ashlar and profiled stone to the highest standards using indenting, part indenting and mortared surface repairs
This workshop provides the underpinning knowledge and a practical rehearsal of the assessment and accreditation procedure for SQA National Unit 2 and Unit 3.
Repairing Traditional Masonry P1 – Professional Level 1
Dates: 7 – 8 November 2018
Venue: Charlestown Workshops, Fife KY11 3EN
This is our most popular 2 day workshop for building professionals and provides an introduction to the effective conservation and repair of traditional masonry structures and buildings, for the most part using traditional lime based mortars.
By the end of the course attendees will be able to recognise vernacular and historic finishes to masonry buildings and will gain an understanding of building diagnostics in order to be able to develop specifications in relation to exposure, season, substrates and the nature of masonry repairs required.
Crowdfunding for Arts & Heritage Organisations (Edinburgh)
Date & time: Friday 9 November 2018, Registration: 09:30 | Event: 09:45 – 16:30
Location: Arts & Business Scotland, Rosebery House, 9 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh, E12 5EZ
This training event will provide a ‘how-to’ guide to crowdfunding for cultural organisations. The event will include:
- The who, what and why of crowdfunding
- Crowdfunding stories
- Practical group exercises
- Methodologies
- Developing your network and target audience
This event is aimed at organisations who are considering undertaking a crowdfund and who have a project in mind and who want to understand how to plan a crowdfund.
Sash & Case Window Repairs
Dates: 10 November 2018
Venue: Merryhill Training Centre, Fife KY11 3DR
Don’t rip out your sash and case windows, did you know that in most cases you can undertake simple repairs and retain these period features?
This practical course will prove invaluable if you have a property with Sash and Case Windows. We will cover a short history of the development of windows before looking at the different components that make up a window and the issues to consider when approaching repairs. The course will allow attendees to identify and address various problems that commonly occur with sash windows. Topics covered will include window dismantling and reassembly, replacing ropes, weights, panes and putty. Various repair and improvement techniques will also be covered.
A Guide to Tax for Arts & Heritage Organisations (Edinburgh)
Date & time: Friday 16 November 2018, Registration: 09:15 | Event: 09:30 – 12:30
Location: Arts & Business Scotland, Rosebery House, 9 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh, E12 5EZ
This half-day seminar is a must for all financial or budget holding staff and anyone who wants to know how tax affects (and can benefit) arts and heritage organisations with charitable status in Scotland. The tax guide provides a practical summary and guidance on how tax affects the arts and heritage organisations. The event and guide are also a great refresher and reference for those who need reminding of basic principles and want to know how different taxes interact with each other.
Vacancies
Communications & Events Officer
Would you like the opportunity to play a leading role in developing the Scottish Civic Trust’s communications strategy? We are looking for a Communications & Events Officer.
Deadline for applications: 5pm on 3rd October 2018.
Digital Communications Officer
RSA are looking for a fantastic Digital Communications Officer to help promote the RSA’s mission of enriching society through ideas and action across our digital communications channels.
In this role you’ll manage social media and content production for the Digital Team, working with colleagues across the organisation to ensure that the RSA’s research and Fellowship outputs are promoted as effectively as possible – reaching a diverse audience of policymakers, practitioners, RSA Fellows and others interested in a range of cross-cutting issues dealt with in our work.
The closing date for receipt of applications is 10:00am on Thursday 4th October 2018.
Natural & Cultural Heritage Fund Project & Funding Officer
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has been appointed by Scottish Government as the Lead Partner for the new Natural & Cultural Heritage Fund (NCHF). This is part of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programme, which aims to increase economic activity and employment. NCHF will support major capital infrastructure tourism projects such as visitor and cultural centres, as well as digital interpretation and campaigns.
The purpose of this post is to promote the Fund, advise potential applicants to the Fund as they develop their project ideas, and then support grantees to get projects up and running.
Closing date: midnight 14 October 2018.
Heritage Lottery Fund / National Heritage Memorial Fund Trustee for Scotland
The Heritage Lottery Fund / National Heritage Memorial Fund (HLF/NHMF) Chair and up to 14 Trustees are appointed by the Prime Minister. The Board operates within laws made by Parliament and directions given by Government. Their decisions about individual applications and matters of policy are made entirely independently. The HLF/NHMF Board set the strategic and policy framework within which grants to benefit the heritage of the UK are awarded. The Board determines the Strategic Framework and annual Business Plan, which sets out the activities which enable the HLF/NHMF Funds to deliver their strategies.
The Trustee for Scotland presents an exciting and challenging opportunity for an individual with a strong commitment to, and enthusiasm for Scotland and rest of the UK’s diverse heritage, to make a lasting contribution.
The deadline for completed applications is 12:00pm (midday) 24 October
Get The Latest Built Environment News, Events, Vacancies, Consultations And Publications In Our News Bulletin.
BEFS News
People want built heritage in all its forms, to: receive the care, protection and examination needed; for heritage to be able to facilitate the greatest benefits; and for those benefits to be widely accessible and understood. But what are those benefits – academic, social, economic, cultural? And in a period of continued constraint in public funding can we have it all, for everything? BEFS invites those open to exploring strategies for the prioritisation of built heritage to put forward methodologies for robust and open discussion. Find out more.
BEFS has produced a briefing paper for the Local Government and Communities Committee to inform their discussion of Stage 2 of the Planning (Scotland) Bill. Find our more here.
BEFS recently submitted a response to the Government consultation on the Culture Strategy (open until 19th September). BEFS consulted widely with members and also worked extensively with Museums Galleries Scotland, Heritage Lottery Fund, National Trust Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland on shared concerns relating to the visibility of heritage within a strategy designed to be inclusive of all forms of culture.
The Scottish Government has published the Scottish Household Survey 2017. Key findings show that the number of adults who visited historical or archaeological places increased by 7 percentage points between 2012 and 2017 (28% to 35%) and after cinema attendance is the most popular.
Formal consultation is now open for Historic Environment Scotland’s draft policy for historic environment-related planning issues. Communities, local authorities, developers and heritage sector stakeholders are invited to comment on the draft Historic Environment Policy (HEP), a key document for decision-makers in the planning process and others managing heritage assets. Consultation on the draft HEP runs until Monday 3rd December. The survey can be accessed here.
Historic Environment Scotland has also launched the public consultation on its new draft Corporate Plan 2019-22.
Dr Sara Thomas, Scotland Programme Coordinator at Wikimedia UK. shares her enthusiasm for the photo competition Wiki Loves Monuments and encourages entries from Scotland, in our first blog.
Richard Rodger, Emeritus Professor at Edinburgh University and Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, argues that Edinburgh New Town had little to do with town planning, in our second blog this week.
Consultations
Scottish Building Regulations: Review of Energy Standards: ‘Call for Evidence’
Closes on 14 Sep 2018.
Barclay Implementation: A consultation on non-domestic rates reform
Closes on 17 Sep 2018.
A Culture Strategy for Scotland
Closes on 19 Sep 2018.
Building Standards Compliance and Fire Safety – a consultation on making Scotland’s buildings safer for people
Closes 26 Sep 2018.
Help HES write the next chapter in its story – Public consultation on draft Corporate Plan 2019-22 launched
Closes 2 November 2018.
Historic Environment Policy Consultation
Closes 3 December 2018.
Publications
Housing Beyond 2021 (SG 05/09/18)
Scotland’s People Annual Report: Results from the 2017 Scottish Household Survey (SG 04/09/18)
Age, Home and Community – The Next Phase (SG 30/08/18)
Cultural Value Scoping Project (AHRC 08/18)
Priced Out: Home ownership and public service workers (UNISON 08/18)
Scottish Government News Releases
More money for self-build homes (SG 07/09/18)
£4 million loan fund open for applications. People across Scotland who want to build their own homes will be able to apply to the self-build loan fund from today.
Delivering for today, investing for tomorrow (SG 04/09/18)
A major reform of mental health services, investment in infrastructure and legislation to underpin a Scottish National Investment Bank are at the forefront of the Scottish Government’s priorities for the year ahead.
Helping older people to live independently (SG 30/08/18)
Strategy will address isolation, loneliness and improve access to housing. Older people are being helped to understand how their housing choices will impact on their lives as they age. A refreshed joint strategy between the Scottish Government and COSLA, which champions independent living for older people within their community, has been launched.
News Releases
Creating a training programme that really does have an impact on productivity (CITB 13/09/18)
Improving productivity is of crucial importance for the survival of the construction industry and the economic well-being of the UK. It is clear that training has a role to play, but who should be trained in what and how? Whole Life Consultants Ltd and Experian are working with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) to create a trailored training programme. Have you say by completing this short survey:
Scottish Heritage Angel Awards finalists unveiled (HES 12/09/18)
The rescue of a historic picture house in Campbeltown, restoration of an early 20th century Japanese Garden at Cowden and a project to promote archaeology in Caithness are among the finalists for the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards 2018, as the shortlist was revealed today (Wednesday 12 September).
V&A Dundee is ready to open its doors (DCMS 12/09/18)
Iconic cultural institution arrives in Scotland causing great excitement. Scotland Secretary David Mundell has hailed the arrival of the V&A Dundee, which opens on Saturday ( 15 September).
We are now making our final approach… (EWH 11/09/18)
The APPROACH project is dotting its i’s and crossing its t’s after a whirlwind two years in the making.
The project has created four 3D models of the historic centres of Edinburgh, Lublin, Granada and Budapest.
The European Saints That Made Scotland (HES 07/09/18)
Discover some of the European saints who have shaped Scottish history including a bloody tale of feuding Norwegian cousins, a gruesome gift for a Pictish king and the origins of our patron saint.
Young women explore heritage with Action for Children and the Scottish Civic Trust (SCT 04/09/18)
The Scottish Civic Trust is working with Action for Children to support the Heritage and Inclusion Project, which reduces the levels of isolation felt by young women from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds by helping them discover diverse history and heritage.
Europa Nostra welcomes and contributes to the 10 European initiatives of EYCH 2018 (EN 03/09/18)
The European Commission, in collaboration with key partners, is running long-term projects around 10 themes, called the 10 European Initiatives, so as to build a lasting legacy of the European Year of Cultural Heritage (EYCH) 2018.
Scotland’s Most Beautiful High Street (STP 31/08/18)
Scotland’s Towns Partnership has once again teamed up with environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful and The Herald on Sunday to find Scotland’s Most Beautiful High Street. Any organisation or individual can enter their high street, and so we call on local authorities, business improvement districts, development trusts, community councils and any other local group to apply.
SURF Awards Application Deadline Approaching!
So if you know of or work with a great project or you think the area that you live/work in is worthy of the ‘Most Improved Place’ title them put them forward for an Award! It is a straightforward application form! This year the 5 categories are: Community Led Regeneration; Youth Employment: Overcoming Barriers; Scotland’s Most Improved Place; Housing; Creative Regeneration. The closing date for applications is 5pm on Monday 17th September.
Social landlords continue to show strong performance against the Scottish Social Housing Charter (SHR 30/08/18)
Scottish social landlords continue to show strong performance across most of the standards and outcomes of the Scottish Social Housing Charter. This is the main finding of a new report published today by the Scottish Housing Regulator.
New innovation fund for places of worship (HLF 28/09/18)
Places of Worship: Inspiring Ideas opens today. It’s a new strategic funding initiative that welcomes applications from projects looking to explore innovative ideas and test new approaches to managing, caring for, and funding historic places of worship, of all faiths and denominations.
Opinion & Comment
A Place of Pilgrimage (Alexander McCall Smith for HES 12/09/18)
RICS President: Time is now to future proof Scotland’s built environment (RICS 10/09/18)
Parliamentary Questions
Questions marked with a triangle (?) are initiated by the Scottish Government in order to facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament.Questions in which a member has indicated a declarable interest are marked with an “R”.
Question S5W-18273: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 17/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the (a) use and (b) value of properties renovated through the (i) Town Centre Housing Fund and (ii) Empty Homes Loan Fund; how many properties renovated through each fund (A) are and (B) are not classed as affordable, and what information it has on the subsequent rental and sales value of each property that received funding.
Question S5W-18606: Lewis Macdonald, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 05/09/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it gives to local authorities regarding what constitutes affordable housing.
Parliamentary Questions & Answers
Questions marked with a triangle (?) are initiated by the Government in order to facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament.
Question S5W-18098: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what the vetting process is for people declaring that they are fit and proper to register as a property factor; what the minimum requirements are for an individual to pass the fit and proper test, and how many people have been unable to register as a property factor due to failing to pass the vetting process since the register came into force in each year since 2012.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (30/08/2018)
Question S5W-18094: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it provides an approved contractor list for energy efficiency contractors.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (30/08/2018)
Question S5W-18096: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government how it will support owner-occupiers who are unable to obtain a loan for funding energy efficiency measures.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (30/08/2018)
Question S5W-18090: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government how it will implement energy efficiency measures in mixed-tenure tenements for social rent and private rented sector properties if shared approval for costs by all owners is not achieved.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (30/08/2018)
Question S5W-18095: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what quality assurance measures are in place to ensure that members of the public receive the most appropriate energy efficiency measures and that they pay the smallest possible price for the work when using public funding routes.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (30/08/2018)
Question S5W-18092: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government when it wil begin consultation on owner-occupied properties being mandated to comply with energy efficiency measures and any related financial penalties for owner-occupiers who do not comply.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (30/08/2018)
Question S5W-18097: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many Property Factor Enforcements Orders have not been complied with each year under the First Tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber); how many of these have been referred to Police Scotland and/or the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and how many of these referrals have been taken to court, broken down by the outcome.
Answered by Ash Denham (17/08/2018)
Question S5W-18091: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering penalties for private rented sector landlords that fail to comply with energy performance certificate (EPC) regulations and, if so, whether it will provide details of these.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (30/08/2018)
Question S5W-18139: Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 09/08/2018 R
To ask the Scottish Government what modelling work it has undertaken to analyse the cost of reaching an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) (a) B and (b) C rating for a domestic/residential building.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (30/08/2018)
Question S5W-18273: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 17/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the (a) use and (b) value of properties renovated through the (i) Town Centre Housing Fund and (ii) Empty Homes Loan Fund; how many properties renovated through each fund (A) are and (B) are not classed as affordable, and what information it has on the subsequent rental and sales value of each property that received funding.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (04/09/2018)
Motions
Motion S5M-13683: Gordon Lindhurst, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 30/08/2018
Celebrating the Sixth Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival
That the Parliament congratulates the Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum on delivering the sixth Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival from 14 to 17 August 2018, which was sponsored by the Construction Industry Training Board; recognises the work done by the forum in celebrating Edinburgh’s traditional buildings; notes that the festival featured demonstrations of traditional building skills, including masonry, slate roofing, lead roofing, lime mortars, plastering and painting and decorating, as well as a series of talks and tours; further notes that the event was open to members of the public to offer advice, with the aim of highlighting the importance of the appropriate building skills in the repair and maintenance of traditional buildings; believes that practical demonstrations of traditional building skills provide a platform to promote these key skills; recognises that the festival was a collaboration between the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, Architecture and Design Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, the Built Environment Forum Scotland, the Stone Federation Great Britain, Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, the British Geological Survey, Scottish Lime Centre Trust, Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh; believes that this collaborative approach plays a vital role in widening the public’s understanding of the importance of maintaining Scotland’s traditional buildings with the right knowledge and skills; understands the particular relevance of highlighting traditional buildings and the skills needed to maintain them within the city of Edinburgh, where they play such a key role as part of Edinburgh’s UNESCO World Heritage Site status, and thanks each of the organisations for their ongoing efforts to protect and maintain Scotland’s historic built environment.
Events
For the latest information about BEFS Members’ events see our events calendar.
Conserving the Assets of Our Past – RIAS Autumn Seminar
Date: Tuesday 2 October 2018
Venue: The Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, 1.00pm to 5.00pm
Cost: RIAS Conservation Accredited members and members of Practice Services: £24 inc. VAT; RIAS member: £30 inc. VAT; Non-members: £42 inc. VAT.
There is still time to book your space for the RIAS Autumn Conservation seminar. Topics will include development of the HES Asset Management Plan, HES Corporate Plan consultation, inspecting tenements and church quinquennials, practical advice on survey specification for digital documentation and the restoration of the Great Pagoda at Kew Gardens.
For a programme and booking form click here. If you would like to book a place, please complete the booking form and email it to Gemma.Sinclair@rias.org.uk.
DIGIFEST
Date: 8 – 20 October 2018
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling, FK8 1QZ
DigiFest 2018 is an exciting new two-week festival showcasing the latest in digital innovation. Join us for over 100 workshops, talks and activities. DigiFest brings together cutting edge digital technology from across the globe. From families to professionals, there’s something for everyone. Come along to explore virtual worlds and enjoy 3D experiences. For full details please see the Engine Shed website.
Booking essential for some workshops | T: 01786 234 800 | Family friendly | Least technical.
DIGIDOC
Date: 10 – 12 October 2018
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling, FK8 1QZ
At our two day international conference taking part during DigiFest, speakers from Ubisoft, Atlantic Productions, Tippett Studio and many others will share the very latest innovation in digital documentation and visualisation. The conference will showcase ground-breaking work from all over the world, and for the first time ever, you can also join us for a special DigiDoc Research and Innovation Day on Wednesday 10 October. Gain an exclusive preview of the latest research that will be influencing our futures.
Booking essential | T: 01786 234 800 | Professional | Quite technical.
Destination High Street: restoring vibrancy to Scotland’s towns
Date: Wed. 7 November, 09.30-17.30.
Venue: The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3NY
This conference, organised jointly by the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland (AHSS) and the Scottish Civic Trust (SCT) will explore the challenges faced by Scotland’s high streets and smaller town centres. Speakers will examine projects and schemes aimed at regenerating high streets and the conference will bring together experts on the subject tackling the issue from a range of perspectives. This is a rare chance to hear from people working at the cutting-edge of practice and policy.
Training
APD – Conservation Principles & Ethics
Dates: 18 September; 1 day a week for 4 weeks: 42.5 taught hours.
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling, FK8 1QZ.
Study the broad principles and ethics of heritage conservation, both today and over the past 300 years, to learn how best to tackle issues of building decay. This course is included as part of our Advanced Professional Diploma. Taught through lectures and field trips.
Price: £315. Booking essential | T: 01786 234 800.
CPD – Care of Metals in Traditional Buildings
Date: 28 September, 09.30am – 16.30pm.
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling, FK8 1QZ.
This event is designed to provide practitioners and specifiers the confidence to deal with metals on heritage sites. The focus of this course will look at ferrous and non-ferrous metals in an ancient monuments context but the technical principles are applicable to any traditional building.
Topics covered will include materials identification, condition assessment, developing a conservation and maintenance plan and executing works. The event will include both theory and practical experience.
Price: £54.00 Historic Scotland members, £54.00 Concessions, £60.00 Non-members. Booking essential | T: 01786 234 800.
Making & Using Hot Mixed Mortars
Date: 28th September.
Venue: Merryhill Training Centre, Fife KY11 3DR.
This one day workshop aims to provide an introductory guide to the preparation and use of ‘hot mixed’ lime mortars, that is, mortars prepared by slaking quicklime, sand and natural hydraulic lime binders (and possibly other additives like tallow or pozzolans) to more closely mimic the appearance and technical performance of conservation mortars and in some cases offer advantages in use and technical performance over more conventional ‘cold mortars’. More and more clients and specifiers are asking building contractors to make and use ‘hot mixed’ mortars on their repair jobs, so get ahead of the game and brush up your knowledge and skills with us.
Introduction to Indigenous Earth Building Traditions and Techniques EB1
Date: 3 – 4 October 2018
Venue: Charlestown Workshops, Fife KY11 3EN
This 2 day workshop aims to provide an introductory guide to a range of earth building techniques including materials science, conservation of earth structures and buildings and construction methods using earth based materials.
Maintaining Traditional Buildings
Date: 5 October 2018.
Venue: Charlestown Workshops, Fife KY11 3EN.
A must for anyone who owns or is responsible for a traditional building.
This course provides the perfect starting point if you are considering undertaking some simple repairs yourself or will enable you to speak your builder’s language and be confident that you are being given the correct advice. This seminar will outline the maintenance that traditional buildings require and attendees will gain an understanding of traditional building techniques and the correct materials to use when undertaking repairs. This will also be an excellent opportunity to speak to the Scottish Lime Centre Trust’s expert tutors about your project, attendees are welcome to bring along photos and mortar samples for some specific advice.
Lime Pointing
Dates: 6 October 2018 and 24 November 2018.
Venue: Merryhill Training Centre, Fife KY11 3DR.
Learn the skills to help you carry out your own mortar pointing repairs.
This popular one day workshop is aimed at those who would like to undertake repointing works as part of a renovation project or simply as general maintenance to traditional masonry structures. A practical ‘hands on’ training day, attendees will learn to undertake repointing works to with confidence. This course will give a sound understanding of traditional building technology, repair techniques and the materials to use when carrying out repointing. Attendees are encouraged to bring along images of their projects to discuss with the SLCT tutor on the day.
Webinar: HR Tips and Tricks for Success
Date & time: Wednesday 10 October 2018, 09.30 – 10.30.
Location: Webminar – remote.
As part of our Business Briefing series, learn how to do things right for your organisation, team (including volunteers) and stakeholders by taking part in this interactive HR focused webinar. In this session The HR Dept will explore ways in which you can understand the risks and pitfalls of managing people in an arts, cultural and heritage business. We will cover the full employee and volunteer lifecycle from new starts to leavers, as well as giving an overview of your legal responsibilities for HR.
Introduction to Being a Board Member
Date & time: Wednesday 10 October 2018, Registration: 10.15 | Event: 10:30 – 16:30.
Venue: A&BS, 1st Floor Rosebery House, 9 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5EZ
This seminar is for new board members/trustees in the charitable arts & heritage sector (and those who would like a refresher) to understand your roles and responsibilities, covering:
• Setting the scene – understanding charitable structures
• The dividing line between your role and that of the professional staff
• Demystifying your legal and financial responsibilities
• Effective meetings and the role of the chair
• The board and artistic issues
• The difference you can make as an advocate for the organisation
Sponsorship: Developing Creative Partnerships
Date & time: Thursday 11 October 2018, Registration: 10:15 | Event: 10:30 – 16:30.
Venue: A&BS, Rosebery House, 9 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh, E12 5EZ
This ‘how-to’ guide to sponsorship will take you through the key steps to sponsorship from attracting a business to nurturing and developing long lasting cultural and business partnerships. If you have little experience or just want a refresher on this area of fundraising, then this seminar is aimed to help you on your journey to sponsorship success. Peppered with sponsorship stories gathered from Arts & Business Scotland match funding programmes. This training is a revised version of Introduction to Sponsorship.
Business Briefing: Building a Vibrant Sales & Service Culture
Date & time: Wednesday 24 October 2018, Registration: 08.45 Event: 09.00 – 10.30
Venue: A&BS, Rosebery House, 9 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh, E12 5EZ
Vibrant sales cultures do not happen by accident. They require strategic planning, and most of all proactive and skilful management. It’s all about making ‘your best your best everywhere’ and you will only achieve this through the way you manage your fundraising function. This is for you if you are a business owner, charity, social enterprise, community interest company, sales manager or fundraiser; anybody who is charged with growing their business.
Vacancies
Membership & Marketing Officer
Stirling City Heritage Trust is a Scottish charity and company limited by guarantee funded by Historic Environment Scotland and Stirling Council. Set up in 2004, it is one of 7 City Heritage Trusts operating in Scotland. The Traditional Buildings Health Check is a unique project offering a proactive repair and maintenance service to owners of traditional properties in Stirling. This membership service is not-for-profit and is funded by Historic Environment Scotland. This is a unique opportunity to work on the first project of its kind in Scotland.
Closing Date: Monday 24th September 2018, 12 noon.
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BEFS invites those open to exploring strategies for the prioritisation within built heritage to submit their ideas.
People want built heritage in all its forms, to: receive the care, protection and examination needed; for heritage to be able to facilitate the greatest benefits; and for those benefits to be widely accessible and understood. But what are those benefits – academic, social, economic, cultural? And in a period of continued constraint in public funding can we have it all, for everything? A forthcoming report on the state of heritage funding arising from Resourcing Scotland’s Heritage project will likely reveal the limits.
Is funding best awarded to ‘whomever shouts loudest’ or to the most adept at completing funding application forms? Is this status quo of funding preferred or are there better ways to prioritise the allocation of resources? We know there are a range of barriers and challenges to achieving the above, from environmental conditions to unmanaged tourism interest – but how do we categorise those problems; are they severe, urgent, incremental?
BEFS invites those open to exploring strategies for the prioritisation of built heritage to put forward methodologies for robust and open discussion.
Whilst BEFS are keen to explore all ideas, key determinants being considered may include:
- Asset Significance
- Location
- Community Interest
- Long term sustainability
- Scope for collaboration
- Asset’s current use and future potential use
- Typology
These methodologies will be debated, explored and questioned in a workshop for contributors in December 2018. Sustainable ideas demonstrating approaches which excite further exploration will then be supported for further development and wider discussion at a public event in February 2019.
Please submit your ideas in no more than 500 words, to euan.leitch@befs.org.uk by Monday 5th November 2018.
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The background for this event is the perpetual discussion around the absence of a strategic approach to the funding of built heritage and that much good work could be seen as only ‘tinkering round the edges’. We are rapidly approaching a cliff edge due to heightened ecological risks, reducing public funds, stretched human resources, and a continually ageing building stock. Increased community ownership is being seen as one solution but without access to funding communities may well find themselves in the same position as public and private owners of heritage assets.
The desired outcome is a developed Prioritisation Methodology to help funders and heritage asset managers determine where their resources should be best applied. The Scottish Government has tasked Historic Environment Scotland with delivering a Built Heritage Investment Plan and methodologies for prioritisation will form part of that plan. This is an opportunity to engage with that agenda.
Responding to an individual crisis, which then gets resourced due to high profile attention, could seem satisfactory – but these approaches may not be delivering the best long-term solutions for the greatest breadth and depth of our heritage.
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