Masterclass ‘A closer look at heritage. A discussion on two of the seven core themes of the National Research Agenda 2026-2030: Multivocality and Heritage in Conflict’

In 2025 the National Consultation Panel Heritage Research (Nationale Onderzoeksraad Erfgoed, NOE) published Heritage Research in Rapid Development. National Research Agenda 2026-2030. The publication presents the first national research agenda for heritage, which answers the question: What are the most importantand urgent themes on which heritage research in both the European and Caribbean Netherlands should focus in the coming years (2026-2030)?

The agenda identifies seven core themes to accelerate heritage research. This course focuses on two of these seven core themes. The first one is ‘Multivocality’: heritage as a mirror of society and the second ‘Heritage in Conflict: Dealing with contested heritage’.

Both themes are addressed in the recent publication Disturbing Tensions. Thoughts and Conversations about Commemorations of the Shoah and Commemorations of Slavery. This research will be used as a point of departure to have a closer look at multivocality and contested heritage. Disturbing Tensions refers to the friction that exists between those involved in commemorating the Shoah and slavery in the Netherlands. The irreparable histories of the Shoah and slavery and their reverberations are often discussed side by side, both in academic research and in public debates.

The National Research Agenda describes the challenge “not to work directly toward “resolving” conflicts, but to work together to better understand the origins of the conflict. Only when people learn how different versions of the past can coexist can dialogue and mutual respect develop.” In that same vein, Disturbing Tensions explores the historical origins and contemporary triggers of tensions in commemorative practice and presents recommendations to enable heritage professionals to address these tensions and to approach commemorative practices with greater empathy.

Key topics, in today’s lecture will be: Multivocality, multidirectional memory and comparison, irreparable pasts and the performativity of commemorative practices. The concepts positionality and professionalism will be part of the discussion on the (lack of) entitlement of heritage professionals to approach these heritage practices.

Set-up of the workshop

In this combined masterclass and workshop the aim is to create an educational setting where participants consider tension as part of heritage practices. During the workshop participants are invited to consider tension that are part of their own research, that is as something that is being researched and as something that is part of conducting the research. In preparation of the workshop, participants will choose a case in which multivocality and/or contested heritage features have caused tension. During the workshop they will, by adding two additional paragraphs, critically address their choice hereby drawing on information acquired during the morning part of the program and place their case study as an example of one of the discussed core themes of National Research Agenda 2026-2030. Thus, showing that they understand the politics at stake in heritage practices. These two additional paragraphs have to be submitted at the end of the day. After the individual research is presented in and analysed in groups, each group will design and plenary present a set of characteristics of tension in heritage practices in public space and recommendations how to address those. A critical plenary discussion on the presented sets will conclude the day.

Aims of the workshop

At the end of the workshop students will be able to:

• critically address notions of multivocality, multidirectionality, and comparison in regards to heritage
  practices
• present and discuss tension in empirical case-studies within the heritage field
• recognize roles of heritage professionals in heritage practices.
• identify notions of citizenship that are part of (tensions in) heritage practices

(Preliminary) Programme

Assignments and ECTS

Please note that in order to be accepted to the workshop and to obtain 2 EC three of the five assignments are
expected to be submitted 1 week in advance. This ensures that participants will get the most out of the
masterclass and will be fully prepared to participate in the workshop.

To submit ultimately 1 week in advance

Use the link https://forms.uu.nl/universiteitutrecht/MasterClass-Closer-Look-at-Heritage to submit the 3 items mentioned below.

1. Three formulated questions based on reading the assigned literature.

• Two questions should be directed to one specific article
• One question should be formulated in a comparative matter between multiple articles

2. A first essay

• In this essay, consisting of 750 words (notes and bibliography not included), you discuss the reasons
  given for addressing the Holocaust and its reverberations in the assigned literature. In addition, discuss
  the positionality of the authors.

3. A second essay

• In this essay, consisting of 750 words (not included notes and bibliography) on a specific case-study for
  the workshop. You will describe a case-study in which multivocality and/or contested heritage features
  have caused tension. Preferably this will address a case-study from your own research. If you haven’t
  encountered such case-study you could discuss a case-study addressed in literature that is connected to
  your own research. This paragraph should address the stakeholders and their roles, the context (time
  and place), and a definition of tension in regards to this specific case. For this essay you are asked to
  refer to literature from your own research.

To do on the day of the lecture and workshop

1. Taking active part during discussion lecture and workshop.

2. Writing two additional paragraphs to the case-study essay.

• In the first paragraph critically address the choice of discussed case-study hereby drawing on
  information acquired during the morning part of the program and place the case study as an example of
  one of the discussed core themes of National Research Agenda 2026-2030
• In the second paragraph discuss your experiences and / or expectations regarding your position as
  heritage professional.