Activities of HEACS

HEACS completed and submitted reports on the four issues Patricia Ferguson, the then Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport identified for working on over the 3 years from June 2006. The issues were:

• To identify for Scottish Ministers the economic impact of the historic environment in Scotland;
• To map the infrastructure of the historic environment as it relates to the voluntary sector, professional associations and private sector organisations, and to make recommendations on actions that may need to be taken to fill gaps and optimise coverage;
• To provide advice to Scottish Ministers on how best to secure the long-term conservation of Scotland's rich and diverse ecclesiastical heritage in a time of demographic change; and
• To identify to Scottish Ministers what strategies could be developed for attracting young adults to get engaged in protecting, conserving, understanding and enjoying the historic environment.

HEACS is grateful to everyone who assisted with these reports.

On 18 May 2009, HEACS received a response from the Minister for Culture, Michael Russell MSP, to the first two reports it submitted in 2008/2009: on the Infrastructure of the Historic Environment and the Economic Impact of the Historic Environment in Scotland (see Documents).

The HEACS 2009 Conference took place on 20 May 2009 at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, on the theme Past Forward - Celebrating and Promoting Our Historic Environment.

HEACS has not met since 31 May 2009 and currently has no members.