2 C O N T E X T 1 1 6 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0 Briefing made possible by a £350,200 Heritage Lottery Fund grant awarded under its Skills for the Future programme. The NHIG Bursary Project is the first specialised course for blacksmith conservators providing heritage-specific training for advanced students of blacksmithing. For more information see www.nhig.org.uk. Culture and crisis Dennis Rodwell writes: The European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) ‘Amphictyony’ (from the Ancient Greek for a ‘league of neighbours’) is a network of cities and localities of the Mediterranean. Its objectives include the promotion of cultural identity and diversity, scientific collaboration, and the exchange of best practices. The majority of the EGTC Amphictyony members are municipalities in Greece, followed by Cyprus and Italy. The network’s headquarters are in Athens. The conference ‘Cultural Policy and Local Government’ was hosted on the Aegean island of Chios in May, supported by the British Council Greece. It highlighted ways in which local government can lead in the planning and implementation of long-term cultural policies that coordinate with political, social and economic development. The delegate list comprised mayors and senior local government officials, cultural heritage managers and academics. The conference sessions covered issues such as the management of heritage sites, financial planning for cultural tourism and citizen participation. The accompanying half-day tour highlighted the creative development of local handicrafts such as pottery, and production based on the distinctive arboriculture of the island (citrus fruits and mastic gum). This conference was oriented to reflect the acute crisis in the Greek economy. Aspasia Louvi, general director of the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation, presented the foundation’s creation of a network of thematic, living museums in local communities across mainland and island Greece. She proposed this as an important contribution to the development of regional cultural policy. The museums promote awareness and engagement with the human traditions of their locality: marble, roof-tile and brick crafts; industrial olive oil production; and Context Editor Rob Cowan Editorial Coordinator Fiona Newton 21 George Street, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 9JU Tel 01507 602567 email [email protected] Editorial Board Fiona Newton (chair) Nigel Crowe (main features) Peter de Figueiredo (book reviews) Michael Taylor (main features) Cartoons by Rob Cowan Context is distributed to all members of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation. © Institute of Historic Building Conservation 2010 ISSN 0958-2746 Publisher Published for the Institute of Historic Building Conservation by Cathedral Communications Limited, High Street, Tisbury,Wiltshire, England SP3 6HA Tel 01747 871717 Fax 01747 871718 email [email protected] www.buildingconservation.com Non-member subscriptions to Context Context is available to non-members of the IHBC at an annual subscription rate, including postage, of: United Kingdom £50.00 Elsewhere £75.00 Subscription orders, together with remittances payable to Institute of Historic Building Conservation, should be sent to the IHBC Business Office at Jubilee House, High Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire SP3 6HA. The views expressed in Context are not necessarily held by the IHBC or the publisher. Neither the publisher nor the IHBC shall be under any liability whatsoever in respect of contributed articles. We gratefully acknowledge the support of firms whose advertisements appear throughout this publication.While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this issue of Context is current and correct, neither the IHBC nor the publisher can be held responsible for any errors or omissions which may occur. Copy deadlines Context is published five times a year, in March, May, July, September and November. The deadline for submission of material for issue 118 (March 2011) is 13 January. Heritage ironwork launch The National Heritage Ironwork Group (NHIG) was launched at Hampton Court Palace in July. Its aim is to promote awareness and discussion of the need to develop good practice in the heritage ironwork sector. The Tijou Screen at Hampton Court, made in 1690 by smith Jean Tijou and acknowledged as one of the finest examples of the work of the artist blacksmith, provided the perfect backdrop for the day, which was attended by a wide range of representatives from the built heritage sector. The UK’s precious heritage of blacksmith-made architectural wrought ironwork displays a mastery of design and superb craftsmanship. Many items are listed, often at the highest grades, yet currently heritage ironwork is neglected in both education and standards. It is the one area of conservation where there are no codes of practice, and practitioners do not need to be properly trained or qualified. The NHIG argues that the future of the rich heritage of decorative ironwork depends on creating a system of training and accreditation for heritage blacksmiths. While the group is primarily concerned with heritage work, it recognises the importance of grass-roots training for new smiths who may one day specialise in heritage work. At the launch the group announced a new initiative to address the lack of craft training in the historic ironwork sector, The Tijou Screen at Hampton Court
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