The Past, Present & Future: Why Heritage Matters to Greater Essex Now

Full video transcript below. As part of the Counting Culture campaign, we’re bringing together perspectives from across Essex’s cultural sector to explore the value of creativity in our communities. In this post, Polly Redman, Chair of Museums Essex and Museums Manager for Braintree District Museum Trust, reflects on the vital role museums play in connecting people with place, history and each other. Drawing on her experience across the sector, Polly highlights why museums are not only custodians of the past, but active, evolving spaces that contribute to community wellbeing, learning and local identity.

The Museum's Essex Advocacy Report makes one thing clear: museums and heritage sites are not optional. They're essential to our cultural life and shared future.

Across Essex, museums do far more than preserve the past; they strengthen communities, support learning, improve well-being, and connect people to local identity and history. They are part of the social infrastructure that helps people feel rooted, informed, and connected.

Yet, despite this huge impact, the sector is often overlooked. Many museums are run by small teams and volunteers, delivering enormous value across education, community cohesion, well-being, and the economy—with so much passion but without consistent recognition or funding. Museums are taken for granted and seen as "nice to have" instead of essential community spaces.

In other words, the museum sector is punching way above its weight and expected to keep doing so without much external support. What would make the biggest difference in our sector is a shift in thinking. Museums and heritage should not be symbolic or an afterthought; we should be recognised as a part of the core fabric of Greater Essex, alongside the housing, transport, and education. Few sectors like ours cut across so many priorities so effectively, so we need to be treated as being vital. Museums and heritage strengthen communities, support skills, local economies, and so much more; we are essential in shaping the future for our county.

If this resonates, now’s the moment to speak up.
Made in Essex is creating a Prospectus to put the creative sector’s priorities in front of Greater Essex’s new political leaders this July.

‍So — what matters most?
How can museums and heritage organisations continue to serve communities, widen access and strengthen their impact across Essex?

‍No idea is too big or too small.
Whether you have 1 idea or 10, tell us what you want to see happen.

There’s no right way to respond.
Send bullet points. Record a quick selfie video. Snap a photo of a scribbled note. Write a song. Write a poem. However you want to do it, add your voice here: madeinessex.org.uk/take-part

‍Counting Culture is open until 24 May.
Have your say. If you work in Greater Essex’s creative sector, this is your chance to help shape a future where culture is recognised and supported as a vital part of our communities and economy.

‍With thanks to Polly Redman, Chair of Museums Essex and Museums Manager for Braintree District Museum Trust for sharing her insight.