Abstract
In recent years, UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and funding bodies have been increasingly championing the merits of co-production between academic researchers and non-HEIs, including community groups. However, these undertakings are often more complex than we are led to believe and the issues encountered are frequently downplayed in published outputs. In this article we review a selection of recent projects in which digital technologies have been used in heritage-led public engagement, including two of our own related projects at Park Hill flats in Sheffield. Digital technologies are the latest means by which HEIs are seeking to engage with the public, but it is becoming clear that there are significant impediments to undertaking this successfully. These include the short-term nature of the funding, the difficulties of maintaining digital outputs over time, and managing community expectation of what can be achieved in the time, and with the funding, available, alongside variable levels of familiarity with, and interest in, digital platforms by the public. Funding schemes often prioritise new consultation activities, and co-production with communities, over making use of archival community engagement materials. We suggest that academic engagement with the public needs to be sensitive to these issues, and to recognise that valuable digital heritage projects can emerge from diverse approaches to co-production.
Highlights
UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are active in encouraging public engagement activities, with considerable funding available for academics to present their research to the public or to co-produce beneficial changes to local communities
We review a selection of case studies in which digital technologies have been used in public engagement, including two recent examples of our own work at Park Hill flats in Sheffield, UK, in which academic researchers worked with a community group (Park Hill Residents' Association) and the creative agency HumanVR, based there
We argue that what works well in public engagement activities requires critical analysis, as do the hurdles that may emerge in co-production, with respect to being able to involve different groups in the development of projects, and responding to what they may want from interactions with academic researchers
Summary
UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are active in encouraging public engagement activities, with considerable funding available for academics to present their research to the public or to co-produce beneficial changes to local communities. We review a selection of case studies in which digital technologies have been used in public engagement, including two recent examples of our own work at Park Hill flats in Sheffield, UK, in which academic researchers worked with a community group (Park Hill Residents' Association) and the creative agency HumanVR, based there. We argue that what works well in public engagement activities requires critical analysis, as do the hurdles that may emerge in co-production, with respect to being able to involve different groups in the development of projects, and responding to what they may want from interactions with academic researchers
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