Blog: Heritage for the Future
Heritage Is About the Future, Not Just the Past
by Christina Sinclair | CEO, Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust
When people hear the word “heritage”, they often think about the past.
Historic buildings. Archaeological sites. Old photographs. Stories handed down through generations.
Of course, heritage is all of those things. But for me, heritage is also fundamentally about the future.
It shapes the places we live. It influences how our towns and villages develop. It creates opportunities for learning, skills and employment. It contributes to community pride, wellbeing and belonging. Increasingly, it can also play an important role in how we respond to challenges such as climate change and economic renewal.
Across Perth and Kinross, we are fortunate to be surrounded by an extraordinary historic environment. From city streets and town centres to rural landscapes, historic buildings and archaeological discoveries, our heritage is one of our greatest shared assets.
Yet heritage only realises its full value when it is connected to people.
That means ensuring buildings remain in use and cared for. It means helping communities tell their stories. It means creating opportunities for people to learn traditional skills. It means making heritage relevant, accessible and welcoming to everyone.
As an independent charity, we at the Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust are proud of what we do.
We want to keep developing our work so it best serves our outstanding heritage, and its communities. Over the coming months, we will be finalising our new Strategic Plan for 2026–2031.
The strategy sets out how we believe heritage can contribute to thriving communities, stronger local economies, climate action, skills development and greater participation in cultural life.
And we want to hear your voices to help us complete this plan.
We know that good strategies are not written in isolation. They are shaped through conversations with the people, organisations and communities they are intended to serve.
That is why we are inviting residents, community groups, businesses, partners, volunteers, learners and anyone with an interest in the future of Perth and Kinross to share their views.
We want to hear from all of you – all voices matter. And we are particularly keen to hear from people who may not traditionally see themselves as part of the heritage sector. Heritage belongs to everyone, and our future work must reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.
I am continually inspired by the passion, creativity and commitment that exists across Perth and Kinross. Whether it is a community group restoring a local landmark, a young person discovering traditional skills, or volunteers uncovering stories that might otherwise be lost, I see every day how heritage can bring people together and create positive change.
The next five years present significant opportunities.
We have the chance to support the repair and reuse of historic buildings, strengthen communities, develop new skills, attract investment and demonstrate how heritage can contribute to a more sustainable future.
But we will achieve more if we shape that future together.
I hope you will take a few minutes to share your thoughts and help us build a strategy that reflects the ambitions and aspirations of Perth and Kinross.
Because heritage is not simply about where we have come from.
It is about where we go next.
Have your say. The public consultation for our Strategic Plan 2026-2031 is now live, and gives you the opportunity to shape our work over the next five years.
The survey should take under 10 minutes to complete and can be found here.