English Heritage is examining all the services we provide and asking how we can do things more dynamically and more effectively in the future. Our aim is that we should do only the things which are essential to protect and enhance the historic places and buildings of England and which others can’t, or won’t, do. Where other organisations are well-placed to take on things we currently do, we are keen to find new partnerships and new ways of working.

English Heritage has provided support for Heritage Open Days since 2001 and is committed to ensuring the programme flourishes and will continue to run the 2011 programme.  Clearly, thereafter, there is an exciting opportunity for greater public engagement and influence over the way the events are run.  We therefore propose to transfer the running of the programme to a new host organisation.  We believe this new arrangement would have many benefits and it would better reflect the spirit and emergence of the Coalition Government’s Big Society initiative.  We are prepared to offer funding to the new host organisation for the following three years, to ensure the programme is fully embedded.

We will welcome applications from national and regional organisations who can demonstrate their ability to co-ordinate a large-scale, high-profile programme.

If you are interested in applying to take on the national co-ordination of the programme, you can download the application information by clicking here. Please email: catherine.bloodworth@english-heritage.org.uk for the full Appendix.
Deadline for submissions of interest is 8th April 2011.