Heritage Practice Communities in a Digitized World

A research network funded by the Research Foundation - Flanders and supplemented by Global Wales, is dedicated to exploring the concept of heritage practice communities (HPCs) across multiple disciplines. HPCs, distinct from traditional citizen science, are grassroots groups that independently shape their research agendas, impacting heritage preservation and accessibility. The SRN collaborates with experts from various fields, including archaeology, museology, and digital humanities, to examine specific HPC case studies like hobby metal detectorists and family history groups. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, the SRN aims to conceptualize HPCs' digital activities, examine heritage-related knowledge construction within HPCs, and develop methodologies for engaging ethically with grassroots heritage practices.

The network is directed by prof Suzie Thomas (Universiteit Antwerpen) and partnered by the Department of ALM, Uppsala University, KU Leuven, University of Ghent, University of Copenhagen, University of Helsinki, Aalto University, and Swansea University.