Heritage Open Days (HODs) is England’s largest and most popular grassroots heritage event. Its success lies in the passion and commitment of thousands of local volunteers and organisers who stage over 4,000 events every year. These tap into people’s innate curiosity about their local area and regularly attract over one million visitors.
But how can we sustain the event’s tremendous success in the long run? How can it be made even better? HODs is now operating under the stewardship of the new national partnership between Civic Voice, National Trust and The Heritage Alliance. How can HODs take advantage of the return to its roots, the voluntary and community sector?
English Heritage will be funding the national partnership to co-ordinate HODs until March 2015, after which the programme needs to find alternative sources of income. But the question about HODs’ long-term future goes beyond developing a new fundraising strategy. Creating a sustainable future for HODs provides us with a unique opportunity to look afresh at the programme and where it fits in a fast-moving world. We need to think about whether it needs to change and if so, how.
This invites some really “big questions” and we would welcome your ideas and responses. It is your chance to get your voice heard and help us shape the future vision and strategy for this national flagship event.
To help with your responses, the online survey provides you with some background on HODs. In addition, you may also draw inspiration from some new information on key trends that are likely to affect the event’s future.
Our online consultation has now closed. Thanks to everyone who took part. The results will help inform the options for the future.
