Cossons to visit Independence Hall
WHEELING – Sir Neil Cossons, former English Heritage chair and Ironbridge Gorge Museum and Greenwich National Maritime Museum director, will give the presentation “A Future for the Past: Preserving the Past as an Asset for the Future” at 7 p.m. May 9 at West Virginia Independence Hall.
He is pro-provost and chair of the Council of the Royal College of Art in London.
Cossons will discuss the philosophy and processes for historic preservation in England and other countries. He will examine what is preserved, why and how; consider new uses for historic buildings; discuss common challenges and how communities can use historic places as the framework for creating the future.
He was knighted in 1994 for his work with museums and historic preservation and has advised governments, museums and preservation organizations in several countries.
The Ironbridge Gorge Museum is a World Heritage site in Shropshire encompassing 10 museums collectively telling the story of the Industrial Revolution. English Heritage is the oversight body responsible for the management of the historic environment of England. Each year the organization opens more than 400 properties to 5.5 million visitors and cares for the National Heritage Collection of historic sites and monuments while serving as guardian of more than 500,000 objects and 12 million photographs in their public archives.
For information, call the West Virginia Humanities Council at (304) 346-8500.