One of the initial steps of the Heritage Research-project has been to create a map over current cultural heritage research in Sweden. Websites from Swedish universities and university colleges have been scanned to create an inventory of current research that critically reflects issues regarding cultural heritage. To limit the inventory, the scan has concentrated on the terms cultural heritage (kulturarv), museums (museum/museer) and uses of history (historiebruk).

This inventory has been complemented by a similar scan of research projects that have been granted funds from The Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) and The Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation (Riksbankens jubileumsfond) during the last decade (2002-2011). The search-words have been cultural heritage (kulturarv), heritage, uses of history (historiebruk), museums (museer) and education (didaktik), as well as varied forms of these words.

This is only the beginning! The heritage network is going to add more current research projects from other institutions, such as the Swedish National Heritage Board (Riksantikvarieämbetet) and major museums in Sweden.

In this network  Swedish heritage research has been divided into seven large and overlapping categories: cultural policy, museums, identity, memory politics, education, tourism and local practices.

By clicking on the links below (or in the menu above), you will find presentations of each research category as well as presentations of ongoing projects within these categories.

• Cultural policies
• Museums
• Identities
• Memory politics
• Education
• Tourism
• Local practices

A full list of projects from all categories with short descriptions (in Swedish) and project links can be found here: PDF

With the results from the mapping of current heritage research projects in Swedish universities and university colleges, a number of research clusters has been identified.  Our definition of a research cluster is an institution with three or more ongoing research projects within the heritage field.

The heritage projects identified in the inventory of Vetenskapsrådet and Riksbankens jubileumsfond has been added to the already identified clusters (mentioned above).

There are, in addition, also clusters with research projects that are related to heritage research, sometimes within adjacent research disciplines and areas, that are spread over several universities and university colleges with one or less than three projects.  These have been considered scattered research clusters.

More projects are being added to the research categories (e.g. when scanning for projects within the museum sector and Swedish National Heritage Board [Riksantikvarieämbetet]), and this affects the formation of clusters. When forming the network – more clusters are likely to appear!

On a later stage, we will be able to show how the Swedish heritage research clusters are interconnected.

Click here to see an overview on research clusters!

• What is heritage research?
• About the Heritage Research Network