Relevant Heritage Organisations

These links are to relevant organisations and projects, many of whom work closely with the UK Committee of the Blue Shield.

National agencies

The UK Government Department for Culture, Media and Sport has overall responsibility for cultural heritage, and BS UK works closely with the International Cultural Heritage Protection Programme.

However, culture is a devolved matter in the United Kingdom.

Cadw is the Welsh Government’s historic environment service working for an accessible and well-protected historic environment for Wales

English Heritage exists to help people understand, value, care for and enjoy England’s unique heritage. We are probably best known for looking after the National Heritage Collection of historic sites and monuments and the guardianship of over 500,000 objects and 12 million photographs in our public archives.

Historic England are the public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate England's spectacular historic environment. They protect, champion and save the places that define who we are and where we've come from as a nation. They care passionately about the stories they tell, the ideas they represent and the people who live, work and play among them.

Historic Environment Scotland is the lead public body established to investigate, care for and promote Scotland's historic environment.

The Department for Communities has responsibility for cultural sites and libraries in Northern Ireland.

National branches of INTERNATIONAL HERITAGE ORGANISATIONS

UK National Commission for UNESCO: the focal point in the UK for UNESCO-related policies and activities. The Commission is an independent civil society organisation which supports UNESCO’s work in the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, and communication.

ICOM UK is the national branch of ICOM (International Council Of Museums) in the United Kingdom. It is a gateway to the global museum community and the only UK museum association with a dedicated international focus. It develops best practice standards for the world- wide museum industry and, through its global reach and events programme, contributes to the international agenda of museums in the UK. They represent museums in BS UK.

ICOMOS UK is the UK national committee of ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) dedicated to the conservation of the world’s monuments and sites. It plays a vital role in advising on aspects of World Heritage and sites for nomination across the UK. They represent sites and monuments in BSUK.

international heritage organisations

ICA (International Council on Archives) unite archival institutions and practitioners across the globe to advocate for good archival management and the physical protection of recorded heritage, to produce reputable standards and best practices, and to encourage dialogue, exchange, and transmission of this knowledge and expertise across national borders.

ICOM (The International Council of Museums) is an international organisation of museums and museum professionals which is committed to the research, conservation, continuation and communication to society of the world's natural and cultural heritage, present and future, tangible and intangible.

ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) works for the conservation and protection of cultural heritage places. It is the only global non-governmental organisation of this kind, which is dedicated to promoting the application of theory, methodology, and scientific techniques to the conservation of the architectural and archaeological heritage.

IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) is the leading international body representing the interests of library and information services and their users. It is the global voice of the library and information profession.

ICCROM is an intergovernmental organization (IGO) dedicated to the conservation of cultural heritage. It exists to serve the international community as represented by its Member States.

UNESCO is the United Nations Education, Science, and Culture Organisation. Made of up representatives of Member States and the Secretariats of the various departments, it manages many major international conventions, and advocates for the protection of cultural heritage.

NATIONAL Bodies

ARA (The Archives & Records Association) was created to ensure that archives and records were properly looked after and preserved for posterity and that all those working hard on this task received the proper training and support to do so. They represent archival matters in BSUK on behalf of the ICA.

Arts Council England are the national development agency for creativity and culture. They looking for organisations, artists, events and others to apply for funding. They also provide advice and guidance for the creative industry. They are also a competent authority for the UK according to its implementation of the 1954 Hague Convention.

The Art Loss Register is an organisation founded to raise global awareness of art theft and work to counter it.

CILIP is the leading UK library and information association. It exists to unite, support and empower information professionals in all sectors, with a mission to put library and information skills and professional values at the heart of an equal, democratic and prosperous society. They represent libraries in BSUK on behalf of IFLA.

ICON, the Institute of Conservation, raises awareness of the cultural, social and economic value of caring for heritage and champions high standards of conservation. They are an independent charity governed by a Board of Trustees, with 2,300 members, which works to raise the standards of conservation practice through Accreditation, a Code of Conduct, and Professional Standards.

The Museums Association is a membership organisation that advocates for and supports museums and everyone who works in and with them so that the value and impact of museums and their collections is realised. They are the only organisation for all museums in the four nations of the UK. They recognise the differences in context, culture, legislation, policy and practice between the nations. They are independent and not-for-profit and advocate for museums without fear or favour from governments or funding influences.

The National Trust is a conservation charity, for the preservation of places of historic interest or natural beauty in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, founded in 1895 and supported by endowment and private subscription. The National Trust for Scotland was founded in 1931. It protects and opens to the public historic houses, gardens, industrial monuments & mills and looks after forests, woods, fens, farmland, moorland, nature reserves, coastlines and old villages. Today it is the largest conservation charity in Europe.