BEFS Bulletin – Re-Opening Heritage Attractions
Get The Latest Built Environment News, Publications, Policy Developments, Vacancies And More.
BEFS News
The Scottish Government has published new good practice guidelines for re-opening museums, galleries and heritage attractions during the coronavirus pandemic.
Historic Environment Scotland has published policy and guidance for the reopening of its historic properties. The COVID-19 Policy and Minimum Operating Standards outline the requirements that must be met before sites will be able to reopen in line with official government guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. HES has also set out its approach to the reopening of their heritage sites across Scotland as COVID-19 restrictions are eased. More details can be found here.
The fifth and final initial workshop hosted by the COVID Historic Environment Resilience Forum (CHERF) took place last week and focused on the role of education and research in sector wide recovery. You can find out more about CHERF and read previous workshop reports here.
We have also updated our overview of COVID-19 funding advice and guidance for the heritage and built environment sector here.
Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) are looking for an experienced professional to deliver a new project Surviving to Thriving: Supporting Sustainable Heritage Businesses which will run in 2020 – 2022. This is a project run by MGS in partnership with BEFS and greenspace Scotland and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Business Support Project Manager will be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with heritage organisations and training providers across Scotland. More details can be found here.
The Prebble Trust has published 15 policy recommendations to support the sustainable renovation of our existing building stock which is timely given the talk of a Green Recovery for Scotland’s economy. Find the details here.
Consultations
COP26 expert database and survey (UK Parliament)
Call for Evidence on impact of COVID-19 on the rural economy and connectivity in Scotland
The Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee has launched a call for views on the impact of COVID-19 on Scotland’s culture and tourism sectors.
There is currently no deadline for responding.
COVID-19: Economic recovery
Opened 3 Jul 2020 and closes 31 Jul 2020.
The Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee (ECCLRC) call for views on UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill.
The call for views will close on Friday 31 July 2020.
The Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee (ECCLRC) call for views on Green Recovery.
The call for views will be open until Friday 7 August 2020.
Consultation Responses
National Planning Framework 4 Call for Ideas: Evidence now published
Publications
Impact of Covid-19 on Local Authority Archaeology Services (ALGAO 15/07/20)
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Phase 3: business and physical distancing guidance (SG 15/07/20)
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Phase 3: guidance for the safe use of places of worship (SG 14/07/20)
The Role of Land in Enabling New Housing Supply in Rural Scotland (SLC 14/07/20)
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Phase 3: staying safe and protecting others (SG 13/07/20)
Coronavirus (COVID-19): tourism and hospitality sector guidance (SG 10/07/20)
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for retail, tourism and hospitality customers (SG 10/07/20)
Guidance on Assessing the Full Economic Benefits of the Productive Reuse of Land (SLC 09/07/20)
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Phase 3: Scotland’s route map update (SG 09/07/20)
Minimum Operating Standards for Property Management and Visitor Operations (HES 07/07/20)
Archaeological Market Survey report (CIfA, HES & FAME 07/07/20)
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for museums, galleries and heritage attractions (SG 06/07/20)
Coronavirus (COVID-19): events sector guidance (SG 03/07/20)
The virus and the climate: winning consent for Net Zero (Social Market Foundation 03/07/20)
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Phase 2: Scotland’s route map – physical distancing update (SG 02/07/20)
COVID-19 Advisory Group: physical distancing advice (SG 02/07/20)
Coronavirus (COVID-19): planning – use of outdoors spaces and ‘the ‘28-day rule’ (SG 02/07/20)
Lockdown living – Housing quality across the generations (Resolution Foundation 02/07/20)
Transforming the economy after Covid–19: A clean, fair and resilient recovery (IPPR 02/07/20)
The Green Recovery Act – A report produced by Common Wealth (CW 07/20)
Short-Term Lets – Homes First Survey Results Briefing Paper No. 6 (Andy Wightman 07/20)
10th annual report of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership (SEHP 06/20)
Scottish Government News Releases
Tourism sector reopens (SG 15/07/20)
The majority of Scotland’s tourism sector can begin to restart from today (Wednesday 15 July) after lockdown restrictions were further eased.
Cultural venues start to re-open (SG 15/07/20)
Visitor attractions such as museums, galleries and heritage sites across Scotland can start to re-open to visitors from today.
Safe re-opening of places of worship (SG 14/07/20)
Guidance published following consultation with faith and belief communities.
Support for coastal communities (SG 11/07/20)
Coastal communities across Scotland will receive £9.7 million of revenue generated by the Scottish Crown Estate’s marine assets, providing vital support for responding to the impact of coronavirus.
Help for homebuyers and employment support (SG 09/07/20)
New initiatives to support homebuyers and help people into work or to re-train have been announced by Finance Secretary Kate Forbes.
Moving to Phase 3 of lockdown route map (SG 09/07/20)
Opening dates confirmed for places of worship, hairdressers, museums and galleries.
Lifeline support for Performing Arts Venues (SG 03/07/20)
A targeted £10 million fund to support Scotland’s performing arts venues has been announced by Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop.
Supporting outdoor hospitality (SG 06/07/20)
Pubs, restaurants and cafes in Scotland will have greater flexibility to make use of outside spaces. Regulations on planning are being temporarily relaxed to support the industry to safely restart as the country emerges from lockdown.
Promoting skills and employment (SG 03/07/20)
A group of industry experts have submitted an action plan to limit unemployment caused by the economic impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Lifeline support for Performing Arts Venues (SG 03/07/20)
A targeted £10 million fund to support Scotland’s performing arts venues has been announced by Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop.
News Releases
New approach needed to deliver houses for rural Scotland (SLC 14/07/20)
Scotland needs to look at new models of bringing land forward to deliver the much-needed rural housing, according to a new report published today.
Historic houses and castles face mounting repairs backlog due to Covid-19 (Herald 13/07/20)
Scotland’s historic homes and castles face a mounting backlog of repairs amid a “catastrophic” fall in income during the coronavirus lockdown, it has been warned.
Scotland’s Garden and Landscape Heritage (SGLH 13/07/20)
The latest issue of the Scotland’s Garden and Landscape Heritage (SGLH) e-news has recently been issued, containing details of our recent conservation work, and other news.
Stealing our cities: land-use analysis (SP 11/07/20)
Land-use analysis of three sites in two Scottish cities shows that private cars are taking more than their fair share of the available space.
The value of land is more than pounds and pence (SLC 09/07/20)
Guidance published this week by the Scottish Land Commission places wellbeing as a central consideration when assessing the business case for developing vacant or derelict land.
Chancellor to unveil £3 billion retrofit funding (AJ 07/07/20)
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is committing £3 billion to retrofitting schools, hospitals, and privately owned homes to make them more energy-efficient.
Introducing Heritage Digital – free digital skills training for the sector (07/07/20)
The Heritage Alliance are delighted to launch the National Lottery Heritage Funded Heritage Digital project. Until the end of July 2021, free digital skills training will be available as part of this partnership project, producing a programme based around the themes of digital communications, digital marketing strategy, digital rights and digital technology.
Culture is a part of every community (Inspiring Scotland 07/20)
Creative Communities is a new programme that aims to support and empower communities to develop cultural activities. The programme will distribute up to £600,000 to support communities to develop new initiatives involving culture and creative arts for the period October 2020-June 2021.
£1.57 billion investment to protect Britain’s world-class cultural, arts and heritage institutions (DCMS 05/07/20)
Future of Britain’s museums, galleries, theatres, independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues will be protected with emergency grants and loans. Funding will also be provided to restart construction work at cultural and heritage sites paused as a result of the pandemic.
We want to do more to eliminate racism and drive greater equality, diversity and inclusion in heritage (NLHF 23/06/20)
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is launching a wide-ranging review of its approach to diversity and inclusion.
Opinion & Comment
Why the Whiteness of Archaeology Is a Problem (Sapiens 07/07/20)
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-30652: Maurice Golden, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 10/07/2020
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide details on how arts and culture in Scotland will be supported by the £97 million of extra funding announced by the UK Government.
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-30290: Finlay Carson, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 29/06/2020
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-29857 by Fiona Hyslop on 22 June 2020, what work it is doing to help the National Trust for Scotland and what assistance was requested.
Answered by Fiona Hyslop (13/07/2020)
Question S5W-30308: Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 29/06/2020 R
To ask the Scottish Government what actions it is taking to ensure that public inquiries into planning applications that are being conducted via video during the COVID-19 crisis deliver fairness to all parties.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (08/07/2020)
Question S5W-30309: Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 29/06/2020 R
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to recommence physical public inquiries into planning applications, and how it plans to ensure that these are conducted safely.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (08/07/2020)
Events
For the latest information about BEFS Members’ events see our events calendar.
Architecture and History Tour of Dean Village
Date & time: Saturday, 25 July 2020: 11:30 – 13:30
Venue: Dean Village, Edinburgh
Join an architect-guide as you stroll through the lush valley of the Water of Leith to discover the hidden treasures of Edinburgh’s Dean Village. During this guided tour, you will find visible signs of former industrial activity, identify which Scottish castle the Well Court design is based on, learn why Georgian orphanages resemble extravagant country mansions, and why the Lord Provost paid for the Dean Bridge out of his own pocket. All tours are COVID-19 considerate and all proceeds of this event will be donated to the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings in Scotland for building conservation efforts.
5th Annual Falkland Craft Symposium Day 1: The House of Falkland and the SPAB Approach
Date & time: 18 August 2020 – 14:00 – 16:00
Venue: Online via Zoom
A window into the world of Craftsmanship as expressed through a rural Estate in Fife committed to sustainability, and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. Join Falkland Estate Trust Chair Ninian Stuart and Matthew Slocombe, Director of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings for presentations on the importance of craftsmanship and sustainability in estate management and building conservation.
5th Annual Falkland Craft Symposium Day 2: Craftsmanship and Excellent Examples of Craftsmanship at House of Falkland
Date & time: 19 August 2020: 14:00 – 16:00
Venue: Online via Zoom
Join Marietta Crichton Stuart historian, archivist, Trustee of Falkland Stewardship Trust and Darren McLean, conservation joiner and craftsman, for an inside look at the history of craftsmanship at the House of Falkland and a first-hand account of applied skills and principles to the challenges of repairing the outstanding example of 1840s joinery craftsmanship at House of Falkland.
5th Annual Falkland Craft Symposium Day 3: Historic Plasterwork
Date & time: 20 August 2020: 14:00 – 16:00
Venue: Online via Zoom
William Napier of Adams Napier and Steven Blench of Chalk Plaster Design present on Tradesmen, Architects & Artists – changing patterns of production in 19th century plasterwork, the House of Falkland being a good example.
5th Annual Falkland Craft Symposium Day 4: The Conservation of Historic Building Materials
Date & time: 21 August 2020: 14:00 – 16:00
Venue: Online via Zoom
Current PhD researcher Tim Meek presents on the Evidence-based conservation of buildings constructed of traditional building materials followed by Stone Conservation Consultant and SPAB Scotland Guardian Nic Boyes on Temple of Decision on the Falkland Estate by Alexander Roos, rescuing it from the brink of complete collapse, the value of ‘curated ruins’.
8th Annual Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival
Date & time: 24 – 28 August 2020: 11:00am
Venue: Online via Zoom
The 8th Annual Traditional Building Festival, is pleased to announce it will be delivering it’s programme online through a series of online offerings throughout the week of 24th August. Kevin Stewart, Minister for Local Government and Planning will be delivering the opening address, followed by a curated selection of traditional building topics. Lectures will be given daily at 11:00 and 14:00. A detailed full programme is forthcoming but to obtain more information, please contact Tyler C. Lott, SPAB Scotland Officer on tyler.lott@spab.org.uk.
Vacancies
Archaeology Scotland are very pleased to announce that they are offering a traineeship in partnership with Next Step Initiative through their Ethnic Minority Career in Museum and Built Environment Heritage Programme.
Closing date is Wednesday 22nd July.
Business Support Project Manager
Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) are looking for an experienced professional to deliver a new project Surviving to Thriving: Supporting Sustainable Heritage Businesses which will run in 2020 – 2022. This is a project run by MGS in partnership with BEFS and greenspace Scotland and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It is an 18-month capacity-building and leadership programme designed to support organisations from across Scotland’s heritage sector. The Business Support Project Manager will be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with heritage organisations and training providers across Scotland.
Closing date for applications is Thursday 23rd July 2020 at 09.00 am.
Invitation to Tender: World Heritage UK Business Options Appraisal
Contract: August 2020 – December 2020
Fee: up to £12,500 (including expenses, excluding VAT)
World Heritage UK (WH:UK) is seeking to appoint an experienced consultant to undertake a Business Options Appraisal as part of our NLHF-funded “Unlocking the Potential” Resilient Heritage project. Full details can be found in the Invitation to Tender document – which outlines the detailed requirements, tender process and timescales – on the World Heritage UK website.
Submission Deadline: Sunday August 2nd 2020.