C O N T E X T 1 1 6 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0 3 understanding of the interdependence of humankind and nature. The contribution of community volunteers in strengthening the linkage between museums and lifelong learning was emphasised by Lila de Chaves, ethnologist at the Benaki Museum, Athens. There the educational programmes of seminars and handson workshops for adults cover such diverse fields as Byzantine icon painting, jewellery, sculpture and palaeography. Continuing this theme, Evangelia Sofi spoke of the educational programmes at the Folklife and Ethnological Museum of MacedoniaThrace, where the outreach extends across all age groups, encourages inter-generational involvement within families, and integration with socially weaker groups and those with special needs. In this, culture is not the property of the academic elite: it is an important vector for both individual expression and social cohesion. In an age when culture, heritage and tourism are regarded by many as synonymous, recognised principally for their contribution to national and local economies, the conference’s distinctive message was that culture has a wider role in society. As EGTC Amphictyony president Dimitrios Argianas remarked, culture is a source of hope and well-being, especially at a time of economic crisis. At the same time, it is difficult to present and implement cultural policies in political mandates of four years. Culture lasts for ever, and cultural events are not a substitute for enduring cultural policies. Making the most of PPS5 The Southport Group writes: PPS5 represents one of the most significant opportunities in decades for archaeologists, their client sector and the public to get more from archaeology. So agreed the delegates at the Institute for Archaeologists (IfA) conference in Southport in April 2010. The conference recognised that, if it is to realise the opportunity, the whole sector would have to think creatively and radically about how archaeology is practised and how the PPS may best be implemented. A group was convened to scope the potential, the aims and the means of achieving them. The group hopes to reach all parts of our multidisciplinary sector, and is committed to promoting a broad and rapid debate across England and, as far as planning policy permits, across the UK. It intends to stimulate contributions from the sector and beyond. It is proposed to issue frequent updates on the discussion, and produce a draft report for debate at the IfA conference in April 2011. This report will contain preliminary recommendations to heritage and property organisations, government and decision-makers on what is necessary to deliver the stated goals. The town and harbour of Chios, the focus of the island’s merchant shipping community. The group proposes to complete its report and wind itself up in July 2011. The group believes that archaeological practice can be achieved which demonstrably produces even greater public benefit, which is more costeffective for those that commission it and which is more rewarding for those that undertake it. The policy framework has never been more robust. The government’s vision on the potential of the historic environment, published alongside the PPS, envisions that ‘the value of the historic environment is recognised by all who have the power to shape it; that government gives it proper recognition, and that it is managed intelligently and in a way that fully realises its contribution to the economic, social and cultural life of the nation.’ The government and the historic environment sector now agree that the historic environment is a resource with huge potential for understanding identity and place, for contributing to the quality of life, for sustainable growth and for delivering a wide range of economic, social, cultural and environmental agenda. Previously the extent and quality of public benefits that government – and archaeologists – desired could not be delivered consistently because of failures in the way in which the market functioned. PPS 5 changes everything. It gives the potential consistently to help the property sector get the best out of development-led investigations; to deliver stronger research through a more collaborative approach; to focus on understanding and enhancing cultural significance; to promote public participation and support; and to build the expectation of professionally accredited quality. Enabling works are to be carried out to the Grade II listed Florence Institute in Liverpool. Built in 1889 as Britain’s first purpose-built boys’ youth club, it was commissioned by former mayor Sir Bernard Hall as a memorial to his daughter, who died at the age of 22.William Anelay is the specialist contractor.
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