The new strategy from the Heritage Lottery Fund is called ‘Valuing our Heritage: Investing in our Future’. It outlines the HLF’s plans to invest £1bn in UK heritage over the next 5 years. Among the changes are a simplified application process, a support and mentoring service and extra help for inexperienced applicants. It should help to provide a quicker turnaround for funding assessments. They will also be encouraging green practices to help minimize environmental impact. Other changes will include a new youth participation strategy called ‘Champions of the Future’ to try engage more young people.
Work has begun on a £3.6m revamp of one of Coventry’s city centres most historic areas. Ironmonger Row and the Burges will be redeveloped into a public square, with cafés and restaurants. The Burges is one of few remaining parts of the city to survive World War Two bombing and redevelopment. The area will become completely pedestrainised.
Historic Scotland is celebrating record breaking numbers of people visiting its attractions. Figures for 2007 - 2008 show 62,000 more tourists visited Historic Scotland sites compared to the previous year, a 2% increase. Skara Brae, in Orkney, saw a 9% increase in numbers and Kisimul Castle in the Western Isles recorded a 33% increase.
A modern arts centre is to open in Aberdeen in 2010, costing £13 million. The new centre received £4 million in capital funding from the Scottish Arts Council and will be the first of its kind in Northern Scotland. The development is a partnership between Aberdeen City Council and Peacock Visual Arts, and they hope to attract 200,000 visitors a year. The centre will exhibit contemporary arts, host exhibitions by world-class artists and run community outreach and education projects. Facilities will include galleries, printmaking, television/dance studios, workshops and space for film screenings and talks. The building will primarily be built underground and heated using geo-thermal and solar energy.