SRN members Henriette Roued, Pieterjan Deckers and Suzie Thomas have published an article in the International Journal of Heritage Studies, exploring the concept of Heritage Practice Communities and suggesting how to take this idea forward in research and practice. The article is titled 'Heritage Practice Communities: What are they and why are we talking about them?'

Strongly stemming from the opportunities afforded by this Scientific Research Network to come together and focus on the Network's theme of 'Heritage Practice Communities in a Digitized World', the article is available to read in a number of ways for those that do not have a subscription to the journal, explained at the bottom of this news item.

The article's abstract reads:

In this article we introduce the concept of Heritage Practice Communities (HPCs), a term intended to assist researchers and others with better understanding how people engage with heritage beyond the formal institutional frameworks in Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums (GLAM) and other heritage-focused institutions. Public participation is often shaped by top-down models that primarily serve the institutions; even academic research has previously often aimed at providing training or instruction, or otherwise modifying, correcting or harnessing the ways in which the public uses, accesses and works with heritage. HPCs, however, independently produce and share heritage knowledge, starting from a range of motivations. The goals and interests of HPCs may at times align with or be influenced by those of heritage institutions, while at other times their interests and ways of generating knowledge may differ from and even be at odds with them. We call for a shift away from institutional perspectives on heritage practice and communities. We propose a ‘heritage galaxy’ metaphor, where HPCs, institutions, and other actors form dynamic, ever-shifting constellations, capturing the fluidity of these relationships. This view supports more respectful, non-interventionist engagement strategies that recognise HPCs’ autonomy and intrinsic value, not just their usefulness to institutions.​

Getting access:

Should you not have access through an institutional library subscription, via the doi link above, we have a few other ways you can access it.

First: We have received some links from the publisher for 50 free copies of the article each. If you don’t have access via an institution’s subscription, you are very welcome to use this limited link to download a copy of the article. Below are the 3 links you can use. If one doesn't work anymore then please try the next, as it means the 50 copies on that link have been used. If none work, then please let me know.

Link 1: 

https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/DRPSQM5ZWTANEIRKKI9W/full?target=10.1080/13527258.2025.2591620

Link 2: 

https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/SC5WWNVZD5S9JJZAGCXG/full?target=10.1080/13527258.2025.2591620 

Link 3: 

https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/KZFM5ZZPWDBDN2FW3NG7/full?target=10.1080/13527258.2025.2591620 

Second: You can at any time get the Accepted Manuscript version of the article, which the publisher allows us to make available, via this link: https://roued.com/papers/HeritagePracticeCommunities-AcceptedManuscript-2025.pdf 

Happy reading!