Spend half an hour thinking about this article and you could be on the way to a new piece of work for your company.
Part of the deal of having an open, democratic government requires us as citizens to witness and, on occasion, be part of an endless stream of public opinion polls, thinktanks and consultation exercises. With so many different Government departments asking for our opinion on a variety of issues it can sometimes become a bit of a chore.
But here’s a piece of consultation that might worth while taking part in.
Telling Parliament’s Story
It’s a piece of work being undertaken on behalf of Parliament by the Hansard Society. The consultation is asking us to consider how Parliament could better use the area around the Palace of Westminster and Parliament Square.
The Hansard Society has been asked to explore how the potential of the parliamentary estate and its neighbouring environs might be unlocked. They are now asking us to help them develop an inspiring vision for public engagement in the area that enhances knowledge and provides education about Parliament and democracy in a way that enriches the visitor experience.
The remit of the research is looking at everything from improved signage to digital interpretation and augmented reality, from an education/visitor centre to mobile information displays, from enhanced guided walks to the holding of ‘festival’ style democratic engagement events.
Written submissions are being invited from individuals and organisations with an interest in one or more aspects of the study. As part of their research they are consulting a wide range of experts in a diverse number of fields including leading professionals in sectors such as heritage, architecture, art, archives, museums and galleries, journalism, digital media and academia.
That’s where Museum [Insider] readers come in. Looking at the list of people they’d like to consult with, there’s plenty of scope for our subscribers to inform the project.
And taking part in the process of consultation means that your name and company profile will be going on the desks of some important and influential people.
What is the Hansard Society?
They are the UK’s leading non-partisan; political research and education charity.
They say: “We aim to strengthen parliamentary democracy and encourage greater public involvement in politics. At the heart of our work is the principle that civic society is most effective when its citizens are connected with the institutions and individuals who represent them in the democratic process. There has never been more urgency for Parliament to engage with the public.”
The consultation
The consultation paper sets out some of the key issues they wish to address, some of which are more relevant to those of us working in the heritage sector. - - - This page can be viewed by Subscribers only.
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To subscribe, contact Adrian Harte
at +44 (0)1525 211 310 or email him at adrian@heritagesolution.co.uk
Author:
Steve Slack is a writer and researcher in the heritage and museum sector.
www.steveslack.co.uk
Steve’s latest book is entitled, Museum [Insider] Looking Ahead: Handbook of Future Museum and Heritage Projects 2012 to 2017. This new, 256 page electronic book profiles over one hundred museum and heritage projects across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland…with budgets totaling £1.8 billion, scheduled to be completed in the next five years. For more information, click here.
