The centralisation of major collecting institutions in urban areas has meant that, despite increasing public engagement, the conservation industry remains inaccessible to the majority of Australians. The ability to access services is determined by both spatial and aspatial factors. This paper focuses on geographic barriers as one factor determining the accessibility of conservation services in Australia. Using statistical analysis of the spatial distribution of 1323 local heritage conservation projects that have been funded by the National Library of Australia's Community Heritage Grants Program from 1994 to 2017 this study measures the spatial equality of conservation in Australia. Funded projects were categorised according to the 2011 Australian Statistical Geographic Standard (ASGS) Remoteness Structure to quantify them by degree of remoteness. Spatial distribution analysis indicates that the majority of projects are located in major cities, with proportionately fewer projects funded in regional, remote and very remote areas. An 'access relative to need' approach is proposed to counter the current centralisation of the Australian conservation industry, however the principles and methodology are globally relevant in accessing any geographically-determined inequity within the conservation sector.

No abstract

No abstract

Social inequity presents a risk to cultural heritage, but conservation has a strong contribution to make to social equity and justice goals. With a focus on case studies in Australia where access to conservation, and thus to rights to heritage, is disrupted by social inequities, this paper argues that conservation, as a normative discipline premised on the idea of a future in which heritage is accessible and open to interpretation, use and enjoyment, must, like social equity and justice movements, work to create more equitable socio-political futures.

No abstract