2025 Conference/8-10 October/Cardiff
TICKETS SOLD OUT!
Join us this October in Cardiff as we celebrate AHI50!
We've packed a full and exciting programme of talks, workshops and networking for our AHI50 year - including a site visit to Amgueddfa Cymru, St Fagans National Museum of History. We will also be announcing the winners of the 2025 Engaging People Awards. As always, it will be a great opportunity to catch up with colleagues old and new.
Our venue this year is the Holiday Inn Cardiff City Centre close to Cardiff Castle.
Everyone involved in any aspect of interpreting cultural, historical or natural heritage are welcome.
Conference supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and ATS Heritage
When
12pm Wednesday 8 October - 1pm Friday 10 October 2025
Cost
£530 full residential rate (AHI members) £290 non-residential rate (AHI members)
Keynote speakers
Dr Karis Jade Petty
Assistant Professor of Anthropology, University of Sussex
Wednesday 8 October
Into the Garden: Inclusive Heritage for Sight Impaired Visitors
Welcoming sight impaired visitors to outdoor spaces poses specific opportunities and challenges. Sharing lessons learnt in over a decade’s experience, we explore these and demonstrate the benefits to all.
Gaynor Legall
Chair of The Heritage & Cultural Exchange
Wednesday 8 October
Whose Wales? Reclaiming the Past, Rewriting the Future
A journey through the heart of Wales’ most iconic multicultural and multi-ethnic community, Tiger Bay, and opening a broader conversation about how heritage interpretation can help shape a more inclusive and just national narrative.
Victoria Rogers
Head of Museums and Collections – Culture Division Welsh Government
Friday 10 October
Working together to tell the story of a nation
Wales has a unique approach to museum support. Responsibility for sector development sits within Welsh Government, and the impact of legislation and strategies such as the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act, Anti Racist Wales Action Plan and the Priorities for Culture sets Wales apart from the rest of the UK.
This session reflects on these differences and using case studies from the sector itself shows how museums, their displays, collections and exhibitions, are helping deliver a national goal of "a Wales of vibrant culture."
Full conference programme
Check out the full listings for the conference - all the talks, workshops and everything else we've packed in !
Evening events
AHI conferences are well known for evening networking and entertainment, and this being our AHI50 year we've got lots going on for you to enjoy
Museums Association Meet Up
After dinner on Wednesday evening we'll be heading to the Museum of Cardiff to join the Museums Association conference closing party. A great opportunity to network and make links with fellow heritage professionals.
Wednesday 8 October
Museum of Cardiff
7.10-8.50pm
AHI50 Disco
Straight after our AHI/MA Meet Up we'll be returning to the hotel for boogie and banter in the private bar, terrace and garden as we celebrate AHI’s 50th Birthday, with DJ and hits from 1975-2025!
Wednesday 8 October
Callaghan’s Bar, Hotel
9-11.30pm
Engaging People Awards 2025 Dinner
Thursday evening is the Engaging People Awards 2025 Reception and Dinner We'll be announcing main category winners, followed by 2-course dinner and announcement of personal category winners and overall winner between courses.
Thursday 9 October
Hotel
Starts 6pm
Site visit
Amgueddfa Cymru/St Fagans National Museum of History
Explore the stories of the people of Wales. Standing in the grounds of St Fagans Castle and gardens, there are over 50 historic buildings from all over Wales which have been re-built including a Victorian school, a medieval church and a Workmen’s Institute.
Visit Llys Llywelyn, a medieval prince’s hall, see the Victorian school or pick up some Welsh food from 1920s Gwalia Stores. Visit the animals on Llwyn-yr-eos Farm or call in to see the craftspeople at work in the smithy, the clogmaker’s workshop and the corn and woollen mills.
The site visit take place on Thursday 9 October. All transport and entry costs are included in the ticket price.
Conference prices
£530
£290
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