Heritage Heritage, Museums & Archives Strategy 2014 – 2023 www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/heritage Milton Keynes Heritage, Museums & Archives Strategy 2014-2023 Cultural Endowment Characterisation Integrate MK: City IDENTITY of Design Enabling the PLACE infrastructure that PEOPLE creates a sense Heritage of place Hub Cultural Infrastructure Capitalising on Culture Active MK Volunteering Audiences Collection Cultural Partners Tourism Regional Communities Networks of Virtual Interest COMMUNITY COMMUNICATION OPPORTUNITY Creating activities that CELEBRATION raise participation Creating experiences and sharing successes LEARNING Collections EVENTS Heritage International Inspirational Invitation Inspired Parks Trails Cultural Heritage Excellence Access for All 1 Milton Keynes Heritage, Museums & Archives Strategy 2014-2023 Contents Page 1 Introduction and Long-Term Vision 3 1.1 Cultural Vision 4 1.2 Strategic Position 5 1.3 Challenges 5 1.4 Promise 6 2 Strategic Priorities 7 2.1 Strategic Priority 1: Enhance Identity 7 Aim A: People 7 Aim B: Place 7 2.2 Strategic Priority 2: Increase Opportunities 8 Aim C: Community 8 Aim D: Learning 8 2.3 Strategic Priority 3: Actively Celebrate 8 Aim E: Events 8 Aim F: Communications 8 3 Delivery 9 3.1 Delivery Plan 2014 - 2023 9 3.2 Sector Leadership 9 3.3 Annual Review Reporting and Scrutiny 9 4 Appendices 10 4.1 HMAS Delivery Plan, 2014 - 2023 10 Credits: Images on front cover from left to right: Stacked Slate Sculpture of Alan Turing by artist Stephen Kettle, Bletchley Park; Milton Keynes Village church; Medieval Day at Bradwell Abbey; Station Square, Central Milton Keynes; Lacemaking girls at Cowper and Newton Museum, Olney; Almshouses at Great Linford. Photos produced courtesy of MK Council and its partners and not to be reproduced without permission. MK Council thanks the following partners for the use of these photos depicting their venues: Artworks-mk, Bletchley Park, Cowper and Newton Museum, Inter-Action MK, Living Archive, MK CDC, 2 MK Dons SET, MK Heritage Association, MK Museum, Parks Trust MK, Simon Meddings Associates. Milton Keynes Heritage, Museums & Archives Strategy 2014-2023 1. Introduction & Long-term Vision The Milton Keynes Heritage, Museums and Archives Strategy (HMAS) 2014 – 2023 and its accompanying documents set out the vision, plan, major programmes and projects that have been identified by stakeholder engagement and public consultation as strategically vital for the future of Milton Keynes, the needs of its growing number of ‘citizens’ and its reputation amongst ever-increasing visitors. Building on the success of the first ever strategy in 2008 – 2013, which brought i together 35 partners of all areas, the new strategy will Peace Pagoda at North continue to transform heritage activity, delivery and Willen Lake, built 1980 infrastructure to help establish `milton Keynes as a World Class City by 2023. As a designed ‘New Town’ and regional centre Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire. The with international aspirations, this strategy will recognise the MKHA mirrors the more recent South East Midlands Local distinctive blend of old and new, urban and rural and Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) development to bind the commercial and community that makes Milton Keynes truly region together in common interest and focusing on unique. economic development, transport networks and distinctive cultural identity. Milton Keynes Council (MKC) is the owner of this strategy but, as with the previous strategy, for successful delivery heritage, In April 2011, five independent museum and archive partnersiii voluntary and private sector partners are essential. It is with significant collections and public delivery, agreed to form fortunate that Milton Keynes has established heritage a consortium joint programme under the MK Collection brand. organisations that have led the sector forwards over the past Although in its early stages, this partnership already accounts forty years and in the last five years the strategy has been to for 200,000+ annual public visits to their venues and by develop leadership, capacity and expertise within those working together, a ‘critical mass’ of resource, supplemented specialist partnerships, promoting their work of international by the Council and external funding, will deliver the heritage significance in areas of collections, events and volunteering impact desired to help put ‘MK’ on the international map and activity to necessitate step-change. work with the greatest number and range of communities within the borough. Following a long tradition of partnership working across Milton Keynes by the MK Heritage Association (MKHA),ii this 2008 – 2013 saw £15 Million of funding secured to develop vehicle, supporting grassroots heritage, continues to thrive infrastructure, collections and activity, particularly around and grow with 60+ members across Milton Keynes, archives and museums venues, with implementation to continue during the new strategy. More work is needed to secure Milton Keynes’ still relatively unknown historic environment, protect unique wildlife and biodiversity, parks Case Study 1: Young Heritage Hunters The MKHA works with its members, local schools, Heritage Lottery Fund, Milton Keynes Council, Living Archive and other partners to run a Young Heritage Hunters Programme to engage children with their heritage through collections, sites visits and exploration. This provides research, analytical, spatial development and IT skills and a greater understanding of and interest in their heritage. Their work is professionally curated and exhibited in Discover Milton Keynes Showcases across Milton Keynes and they get to experience an evening launch event with VIP guests. i Milton Keynes Heritage Strategy 2008 – 13, Final Review Report, April 2013 is available online at www.milton- keynes.gov.uk/heritage. ii Young Heritage Hunters exhibition A history of the Milton Keynes Heritage Association, a current list of its members and their work via an online at the Discover Milton Keynes heritage portal is available at www.mkheritage.co.uk. Showcase, Central Library iii Bletchley Park; Cowper and Newton Museum, Olney; Living Archive; MK City Discovery Centre and MK 3 Museum. For more information see www.mkcollection.co.uk. Milton Keynes Heritage, Museums & Archives Strategy 2014-2023 The Mansion, Bletchley Park Case Study 2: Bletchley Park Now an international name and major success story, it was only five years ago that Bletchley Park still faced an uncertain future. Thanks to a project model of Council and external national funding partners (in this case English Heritage and Heritage Lottery Fund), led by specialist expertise of a third sector independent trust (Bletchley Park Trust), this historic site has been secured for the nation and helped place Milton Keynes firmly in the spotlight as a major visitor destination. This model is now being applied successfully to other major heritage projects to deliver the critical step-change to become an international city. and open spaces, better utilise transport and communication Jointly the strategies will aim to deliver the cultural vision: links and above all to retain the key design approaches, sense “By 2023 we will be recognised as being world class.” of place and local identity felt by all, whether that is within a ‘New Town’ grid square, historic town or village or modern new This strategy will deliver the Heritage Vision; “Heritage at the development that all come together to make Milton Keynes. heart of Milton Keynes and a force for social, economic and Therefore, the new strategy will be a Heritage, Museums and cultural vitality.” Archives Strategy to recognise the work in each of these separate disciplines. Although more evolutionary than revolutionary, the strategy retains its ambitions for the sector; advocating that Milton Keynes aspires to become a World Class City, working across cultural sectors, strategies, shared themes, objectives and promises, to showcase its distinctive heritage. 1.1 Cultural Vision The Heritage, Museums and Archives Strategy sits within a portfolio of strategies that have been produced to support a wider cultural and sporting offer in Milton Keynes. These strategies include the Arts and Public Art Strategy and the Sports and Active Communities Strategy and they underpin the strategic cultural statement and vision: ‘Culture in Milton Keynes is a term that means different things to different people. We believe that cultural participation is where people of all backgrounds come together with shared interests and passions. Together with the environment in which cultural activities take place, culture includes all the things that define our lives, connect our communities and represent the values we pass on to other generations’. Enigma Machine at Bletchley Park Case Study 3: Historical Medieval Wall Paintings Milton Keynes is fortunate in that it has not one but two sites with nationally important medieval wall paintings which offer a glimpse into our past. The murals at St Lawrence Church, Broughton have been secured thanks to The Churches Conservation Trust and can be seen at events such as MK Heritage Open Days each September. The wall paintings of the Virgin Mary in the 14th Century Pilgrim Chapel at Bradwell Abbey are less well-known, but thanks to a major project to restore the medieval site, will be conserved and protected for generations to come. Medieval wall painting of the Virgin Mary, Pilgrim Chapel, Bradwell Abbey 4 Milton Keynes Heritage, Museums & Archives