A step towards a strategic partnership for the good of cultural heritage
The cooperation is a pilot project involving the Swedish National Heritage Board and Uppsala University. Here, Vice-Chancellor Anders Hagfeldt shakes hands with the National Heritage Board’s Director-General, Susanne Thedéen. Photo: Daniel Olsson, Uppsala University.
Uppsala University and the Swedish National Heritage Board have signed a letter of intent on cooperation in the area of cultural heritage research. Visby will be the node for this close cooperation between in cultural heritage research and practice.
On 24 June in Almedalen, history was made in dual sense when two distinguished institutions signed a letter of intent on cooperation. Uppsala University and the Swedish National Heritage Board have taken a first step towards a strategic partnership on cultural heritage research.
Cultural heritage as a tangible benefit to society
The purpose of the cooperation is to strengthen interaction between academic research and the front line of cultural heritage work. The cooperation will strengthen Sweden’s position in national and international cultural heritage research, and assist in the sustainable and strategic supply of skills in the cultural heritage sector.
“Through closer cooperation between us as academics and the Swedish National Heritage Board, new findings from the research can be translated more rapidly into tangible benefits for society, and the education we provide at the University will be better anchored in practice,” says Anders Hagfeldt, Vice-Chancellor at Uppsala University.
A pilot project for the future
The cooperation is a pilot project involving the Swedish National Heritage Board and Uppsala University. Together, the two organisations will test, develop and document what forms long-term and structured collaboration between academia and the Heritage Board could take in cultural heritage research.
“The idea is that this pilot project will strengthen cultural heritage research and serve as a learning platform, where findings and experience both contribute in the long term to developing cultural heritage and cultural environment work in practice. But additionally, that the methods can be used in the further development of collaborations with additional academic environments in Sweden,” says Susanne Thedéen, Director General of the National Heritage Board.
Staff exchanges and shared resources
In practice, the cooperation will enable temporary staff exchanges between Uppsala University and the Swedish National Heritage Board. The two organisations will cooperate broadly on monitoring developments, applications for research funding, idea development and the dissemination of new findings and research.
The two organisations will also share resources with each other, such as databases and other digital research infrastructures, libraries and archives, subject specialists and the functions at the Heritage Laboratory in Visby.
Visby as a node for cultural heritage research
This letter of intent also demonstrates that the Swedish National Heritage Board and Uppsala University share a long-term ambition to develop Visby as a strong national and international node for cultural heritage research, education and innovation.
“Visby offers unique opportunities to bring together world heritage, a government agency presence, an academic environment and international networks. The vision is thus that Visby will serve as a vibrant hub, integrating research, education and practice in the area of cultural heritage,” says Susanne Thedéen.
A number of departments within Uppsala University will participate in the cooperation.
“Uppsala University has a strong tradition of research and education in cultural studies. I see this cooperation as important for the Gotland campus, but also for the University as a whole. We also have a new focus area that has been given the name cultural heritage. This cooperation will mean a lot for that initiative,” says Anders Hagfeldt.
Petra Lindberg
Swedish National Heritage Board
- The Swedish National Heritage Board is Sweden’s national government agency for cultural heritage and cultural environments, with operations in both Visby and Stockholm. Its responsibilities include primarily cultural landscapes, cultural environments, cultural objects and museums.
- Based on the objectives of the national policy for culture and the national objectives for work with cultural environments, the agency’s mission is to be a driving force and a support within its area of activities. It also works to increase knowledge based on research and cooperation with higher education institutions, as well as to promote the growth of knowledge and methodology development.
- The Library and Archives Department in the agency will be responsible for coordinating the cooperation with Uppsala University.