 |
Heritage Open Days
Heritage Open Days celebrates England's architecture and culture by allowing visitors free access to interesting properties that are either not usually open, or would normally charge an entrance fee. Heritage Open Days also includes tours, events and activities that focus on local architecture and culture. In 2004 Heritage Open Days ran from 10-13 September, with places all over England taking part. Next year's event will take place from 8-11 September 2005.
Organised by volunteers - usually property owners or managers - for local people, Heritage Open Days is England's biggest and most popular voluntary cultural event, attracting some 800,000 people every year. The Civic Trust gives central co-ordination and a national voice to the event, which is made possible by funding and support from English Heritage.
Heritage Open Days provides visitors with a unique opportunity to explore and enjoy these sometimes hidden, often curious and always interesting places in English cities, towns and villages - and completely free of charge.
Civic society members, property owners, estate managers, visitors, conservation officers, company directors, parishioners, tourism managers, education officers -- people from all walks of life who care about and take pride in the environment they live in make Heritage Open Days happen. We would like to bring people and places together, encourage you and thousands of others to explore the buildings on your doorstep and to become an active member of the community.
Follies, contemporary buildings, churches, factories, tunnels, temples, offices, private homes, industrial sites, castles, windmills, town halls - guided walks, concerts, re-enactment, trails, role-plays, children's activities - the
variety of places and ways to discover them are endless.
Heritage Open Days was established in 1994 as England's contribution to European Heritage Days, in which 48 countries now participate.
The capital stages an independent event, London Open House, which takes place on a different weekend in September. Over the past four years, DCMS has participated in London Open House by offering members of the public the chance to see the rooms in which our Ministers work - these contain works of art from the Government Art Collection and Craft Council. |
|
