Heritage Works – Arts, Culture and Placemaking in a Historic City

A dynamic, one-day gathering designed to inspire, connect, and empower those shaping the future of Scottish towns and cities.

In one of the world’s most iconic historic cities, the Heritage Works event arrives in Edinburgh for a day dedicated to exploring how arts, culture, and placemaking can shape vibrant, resilient urban futures.

Bringing together local authorities, heritage bodies, cultural practitioners, arts professionals, and community stakeholders, this symposium delves into the unique potential of historic cities; places where centuries of architectural legacy meet contemporary creative ambition.

Against Edinburgh’s backdrop of medieval closes, Georgian crescents, and world-renowned arts and culture festivals and programming, the event shines a spotlight on the opportunities and challenges of cultivating thriving public realms rooted in heritage.

Through engaging talks, sector updates, legislative insights, and hands-on discussions, delegates will consider how cultural programming, public art, adaptive reuse, and community-led design can enrich historic environments while supporting economic vitality and social wellbeing.