How can public benefit can be created?

Public benefit can be created through

  • High quality research outputs: publications, exhibitions, accessible archives or events engage people and generate interest in, and concern for, the historic environmen
  • Interpretation: how we tell stories is a key way to engage and inspire people
  • Improvements to quality of place: archaeological work can leave lasting positive impacts on the landscape or lead to changes in management practices or valuation of landscapes. This can be through enhanced understanding of a monument or building through investigation/conservation/presentation or through the better understanding of the evolution of a place.
  • Community: archaeology can be a mechanism for developing community values, through increased pride and sense of place. Heritage activities may also provide opportunities for communities to better understand their areas.
  • Health and wellbeing: therapeutic or social benefits can come from engagement in archaeological activities; for example, meeting people and being outdoors are all recognised health and wellbeing benefits
  • Skills: from teamwork to technical skills, participating in archaeological activities supports skills development and engagement with learning at all levels  
  • Economy and tourism: areas can be transformed by well delivered public benefit via exhibitions, sites turned into visitor centres etc
  • Innovation: archaeological research and interpretation can help develop new approaches to engagement and knowledge exchange; lessons learnt from the past can be used to develop and design ideas for the future.

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