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The Conflict and Legacy Interpretive Network is the result of a joint proposal from the Bloody Sunday Trust / Museum of Free Derry, National Museums NI (Ulster Museum) and Healing Through Remembering to create a network of museums and heritage organisations specifically covering, or with a defined interest in, conflict and legacy issues regarding the conflict in and about Northern Ireland, commonly referred to as ‘the Troubles’. This network had been set up to work with Community/ Statutory and Departmental agencies and organizations.

As the debate around the historical legacy of the conflict in Ireland continues, museums and heritage organisations need to consider their role and purpose. This has been a difficult area for many museums and heritage organisations, but there is an important role for such organisations to play in ensuring that the historical legacy of the conflict is responsibly and accessibly curated. Museums and heritage organisations should not just be seen as institutions that record history, but can also play an active role in determining how that history should be collected, interpreted and shared, and how it can be used to inform the debate around legacy and reconciliation.

The Mission statement of the Conflict and Legacy Interpretive Network is to create a network of heritage organisations addressing conflict and legacy issues, with the purpose of nurturing a range of views and perspectives on the recent conflict to create greater understanding and inform the debate on legacy and reconciliation.

Principles

  • Independence – to recognize and value differing interpretations.
  • Acknowledgement – to accept the unique identity of other member organisations.
  • Co-operation – to share learning, and to work together to inform the debate.
  • Innovative – to find new and engaging ways to inform the debate.

Our Aim

  • To encourage conflict and legacy programmes in museums and heritage organisations.
  • To provide support for the development of conflict and legacy programmes.
  • To encourage cooperation between museums and heritage organisations working on conflict and legacy issues.
  • To advocate for statutory support for the role of museums and heritage organisations in dealing with conflict and legacy issues.
  • To intervene when necessary in the debate around conflict and legacy.
  • To explore opportunities to engage our existing audiences and develop new audiences.