Heritage Alliance Explained

Formation:	2002
Purpose:	heritage advocacy group
Leader Title:	Chair
Leader Name:	Carole Souter
Website:	https://www.theheritagealliance.org.uk/

Heritage Alliance is a cultural heritage charity and the largest alliance of heritage organisations in the UK.

History

Heritage Link was founded in October 2002 and went by this name until February 2010 when it became known as the Heritage Alliance.^[1]

Membership and management

More than 90 non-governmental heritage bodies^[2] and over 200 organisations are represented by the Heritage Alliance.^{[3] [4]}

The organisation has 12 Trustees. From 2003 to 2016 the CEO was Kate Pugh.^[5] From July 2024, it was chaired by Carole Souter, who succeeded acting chair Dr Ingrid Samuel.^{[6] [7]}

Work

The Heritage Alliance is an advocacy, advice and networking organisation. It is not a grant-awarding organisation.

In 2024, the Heritage Alliance published 'Heritage on the Brink', a report based on 18 months of data that detailed the impact of the cost of living crisis on the heritage sector. This report was part of a larger Heritage Manifesto, first published in 2023.^{[8] [9]}

In 2023, the Heritage Alliance submitted evidence to the UK government Urban Green Spaces Inquiry.^[10] In 2019, it launched a report on Heritage and the Creative Industries.^[11] In 2010, it submitted evidence to a government enquiry on the funding of the arts and heritage.^[12]

Awards

Heritage Alliance awards the Heritage Alliance Heroes Award to recognise notable volunteer contributions.

Finances

In the year ending 31 March 2023, the organisation had an income of £712,964 and expenditure of £638,088.

Notes and References

1. Web site: THE HERITAGE ALLIANCE overview . 2024-07-22 . Gov.uk . en.
2. Web site: Heritage Alliance . 2024-07-22 . Heritage Help.
3. Web site: About the Heritage Alliance . 22 July 2024 . The Heritage Alliance.
4. Web site: THE HERITAGE ALLIANCE - Charity 1094793 . 2024-07-22 . Charity Commission for England and Wales . en-GB.
5. Web site: 8 July 2016 . The Heritage Alliance announces new Chief Executive . 21 July 2020 . Heritage Update.
6. Web site: New Chair for Heritage Alliance . 2024-07-22 . Arts Professional . en.
7. Web site: Hardaker . Alistair . 2024-05-03 . Carole Souter CBE appointed CEO at Heritage Alliance . 2024-07-22 . Museums + Heritage . en-US.
8. Web site: Hardaker . Alistair . 2024-05-15 . Heritage sector under ‘existential threat’ warns Heritage Alliance report . 2024-07-22 . Museums + Heritage . en-US.
9. Web site: 24 July 2023 . Heritage Alliance shares manifesto for policy change . 2024-07-22 . Arts Professional . en.
10. Web site: October 2023 . Urban Green Spaces Inquiry: Response to Call For Evidence . UK Parliament.
11. Web site: The Heritage Alliance launches report on Heritage and the Creative Industries . 2024-07-22 . Torch: the Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities . en.
12. Book: Funding of the arts and heritage: third report of session 2010-11, Vol. 2: Evidence . 2011-03-30 . Her Majesty's Stationery Office . 978-0-215-55891-6 . 30 March 2011 . en.