As part of the University’s Greater Chicago Initiative, the Ironbridge Institute is forging links with the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) who have developed a highly successful inter-disciplinary Centre focusing on Cultural Heritage - Collaborative for Cultural Heritage Management and Policy (CHAMP).

The founder and Director of CHAMP, Professor Helaine Silverman visited the University and Ironbridge this week, met with staff and delivered a public lecture based on her longstanding research on Heritage and Tourism in Cuzco, Peru. Helaine also briefed staff on the work of CHAMP and opportunities for ongoing collaboration.

Professor Mike Robinson will reciprocate the visit next week at UIUC. Already the two institutes are preparing for a series of collaborative conferences under the rubric of ‘Transnational Dialogues in Cultural Heritage’ and are discussing a joint publication.