Experts, policy-makers and the public are coming together to debate the value of heritage for the first time at a major summit today (Wednesday 25th January) which is being sponsored by DCMS, Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage and the National Trust.

The two day ‘Capturing the value of heritage’ event, comes during the Government’s consultation on the future share of Lottery funding for heritage, arts and sports, and the summit’s conclusions are expected to inform this process.

The event forms part of the heritage community’s response to the Rt. Hon. Tessa Jowell’s 2004 pamphlet ‘Better Places to Live’, which challenged heritage organisations to examine how best to ‘capture and present evidence for … value’. Key outcomes for the conference are expected to include calls for greater public involvement in decision-making, the importance of a common currency for evaluation as well as a push for continued levels of Government and Lottery support for heritage.

A number of high-profile speakers will address the summit, including Rt. Hon. Tessa Jowell MP (keynote speaker), Professor David Throsby, a world expert on cultural economics, and Randall Mason from the University of Pennsylvania. Delegates will also hear from members of the public who took part in a series of ground-breaking Citizens’ Juries on heritage projects.

Deborah Mattinson, Joint CEO of Opinion Leader Research, said: "The Citizens’ Juries we ran with the Heritage Lottery Fund forcefully demonstrated the value people see in looking after our heritage. This summit is an important opportunity for heritage experts to hear directly what the public think and how they see the protection of their heritage playing an integral role in community regeneration, learning and a healthy identity in the future.”

Dame Liz Forgan, Chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund, added: “This is a critical time for heritage. We know it is a huge asset to the UK’s economy, environment and national identity, but we need to get better at demonstrating this and a whole range of less tangible benefits from heritage funding. Only then can we expect to build the crucial partnership between Government, the Lottery and the private sector which will guarantee our heritage the vibrant future it deserves.”

As well as feeding into DCMS planning, the summit discussions will inform the Heritage Lottery Fund’s own priorities for funding post-2008, when increased competition is anticipated due to potentially lower levels of funding.

Graham Wynne, CEO of the RSPB, commented: "The RSPB is working hard within the heritage sector to conserve our birds and wildlife, helping to create a better natural environment for everyone. Whilst some of the benefits of this are clear, it's vital that everyone involved in heritage has this chance to question what the public most cares about and look into new ways we can all meaningfully measure our successes."

· The heritage summit takes place on Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th January 2006 at the Royal Geographical Society, London.