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CCPS Research Seminar: Heritage Policy Under New Labour

On Wednesday the 26th November the Centre will be hosting the second of this term's research seminars. Dr. Melissa Nisbett will be talking about her recent research into the cultural policies of New Labour, with a specific focus on the shifting understanding and treatment of 'heritage'. An abstract and bio is below,

The talk will be in G50 of Millburn House at 6pm and will be followed by some light refreshments. Please e-mail Paula Watkins on p.watkins@warwick.ac.uk to reserve your place.

 

Abstract
This paper explores heritage policy under the UK Labour government (1997-2010). Having dropped the term ‘heritage’ from the name of the cultural ministry in favour of ‘culture, media and sport’ and slashed the sector’s funding, Labour were frequently accused of neglecting or even showing hostility towards heritage (for example, Christiansen, 2007; Hunt, 2007; Aslet, 2008). Widely perceived as being obsessed with the contemporary at the expense of the historical, this paper considers the party’s record on heritage and argues that it is considerably more complex than this reading suggests.

During Labour’s administration, a process of galvanisation was taking place within heritage. When the party lost the General Election in 2010, the heritage sector was flourishing. Its organisations were in a buoyant financial state and arguably more independent than ever - but how can we square Labour’s funding cuts with this and what part does cultural policy play?

Biography
Melissa Nisbett is a Lecturer in Arts and Cultural Management at King’s College London, specialising in cultural policy, arts management and cultural diplomacy. She is currently working on a book entitled Cultural Policy Under New Labour (with David Hesmondhalgh, Kate Oakley and David Lee), which will be published by Palgrave in 2015. Prior to becoming an academic, Melissa worked in arts management for ten years in a variety of roles including marketing and public relations, freelance consultancy and as a trustee.

 

Tue 11 Nov 2014, 16:27 | Tags: Research Seminars Faculty of Arts