Heritage
Working Group
Chair: Stuart Hunt (Durham University)
Stuart Hunt is Director of University Library and Collections and University Librarian at Durham University in the UK. In his role he has leadership responsibility for the University’s libraries, museums, galleries and exhibitions, archives and special collections. Additionally, the management of the Durham Castle and Cathedral UNESCO World Heritage Site comes under his leadership. He has a track record in strategic leadership, digital transformation and building external partnerships. Stuart has previously held a number of senior leadership roles in UK university libraries and collections. He serves, or has served, on regional, national and international committees. He has published articles and given conference papers on the role of collections and collections staff within the research infrastructure; content strategy; post-pandemic planning, and; libraries, sustainability and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Vice-Chair: Markéta Křížová (Charles University)
Markéta Křížová is Professor of History and former Vice-Rector for International Relations at Charles University, and Adjunct Professor at the University of New Mexico. She is member of the steering committee of ENIUGH (European Network in Universal and Global History) and currently participates as PI in the project COLUMN (Colonial Legacies of Universities: Materialities and New Collaborations, 2025-2029, within the Horizon Europe scheme, directed at the University of Utrecht). Co-edited (with Peter Larsen) European University Legacies: Problematic Heritage and Contemporary Practice (Edinburgh University Press, 2025), a volume published thanks to the CG Funding Scheme 2023-24.
Working Group Focus
The Coimbra Group Heritage Working Group (HER WG) provides a space for everyone working with cultural heritage, including professional staff and researchers, to come together, share ideas and reflect on the role of cultural heritage in universities, and on what opportunities are provided by cultural heritage in universities. We have developed a work plan focused on fostering collaboration and addressing the issues faced by cultural heritage practitioners in universities.
Our work plan is divided into six main areas:
- Cultural heritage and the University
- Universities‘ built heritage
- Conservation
- Shared Collections
- Joint projects and grant opportunities
- Promotion, networking and outreach
We recognise that the HER WG operates in a heritage space which is very large, complex and at times confusing to navigate. We are increasingly focusing our efforts on understanding what we can contribute to the European cultural heritage space, where it makes sense for us to take a leading role and where partnership with others is more appropriate. The creation of the European University Alliances has also provided us with opportunities to collaborate with a new set of networks that have a strong interest in culture.
Priorities for 2026 – 2029
- International conferences and workshops (setting up Erasmus+ winter/summer schools on a regular basis).
- Promotion, networking and outreach (incl. a dissemination project on problematic heritage; establishment of a conservators’ network; continued inter-WG cooperation with the Global Partnerships WG; development of a dedicated declaration on heritage).
- Joint projects and grant opportunities (with a current focus on CG funding and inter-WG initiatives e.g. the Africa Charter for Transformative Research Collaborations).
- Special focus on problematic heritage (including intangible cultural heritage, risk management and sustainability).
- Publications of international seminars( proceedings (in the journal “MUSEA. Journal for museology, museum practice and audience”).
Recent highlights since September 2025
- International seminars and workshops:
- International seminar on teaching with objects: “University museums, exhibitions and collections as learning spaces and new approaches to interpretation and teaching with objects” held on 24 October 2025 at Gustavianum, Uppsala University, organised by Mikael Ahlund and Britt-Inger Johannson
- Contribution to CG High-Level Seminar “Reinventing Campus Democracy seminar” (21 November 2025) in Brussels, with a presentation of the temporary exhibition “Experiencing democracy. Your voice. Your vote. Your future…” by Bernadette Biedermann (University of Graz).
- Publication in the MUSEA Journal, Issue 4: MUSEA / Jg. 2 (2026) H. 4, including a special focus based on the HER WG international seminar held at the University of Tartu on 15 November 2022 on the built heritage of universities.
- Two meetings of the Horizon Europe funded project COLUMN (“Colonial Legacies of Universities: Materialities and New Collaborations”), led by Utrecht University (Gertjan Plets), in Prague (15-17 October 2025) and in Cape Town (22-25 February 2026).
- Planning of an open inter-WG session at CG Annual Conference 2026 in Granada, together with the Global Partnerships WG, on the Africa Charter for Transformative Research Collaborations.
- Continued work on a declaration on heritage, with initial outcomes to be shared at CG Annual Conference 2026 in Granada (June 2026).
- Submission of a proposal for a Winter School under the CG funding scheme for WGs, to take place at the Jagiellonian University of Krakow in autumn 2026.
Ongoing / Forthcoming activities 2026 – 2027
- Inter-WG cooperation with the Global Partnerships WG on the Africa Charter for Transformative Research Collaborations.
- Continued work on a declaration on heritage alongside the planning of an international seminar on risk management and sustainability at the University of Poitiers in autumn 2026.
- Planning of a Winter School to take place at the Jagiellonian University of Krakow in autumn 2026.
- Development of a practical toolkit / handbook for managing problematic collections.
Forthcoming activities 2027 – 2029
- Regular autumn meeting of the HER WG in 2027: to be jointly organised by Durham University and the University of Edinburgh.
- Future priorities to be developed by the incoming HER WG Chair and Vice-Chair, who were elected during the CG Annual Conference 2026 in Granada.
Contact person at the CG Office: Emmanuelle Gardan (gardan@coimbra-group.eu)