TY - JOUR TI - Valuing our heritage DO - https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3BR8VBN PY - 2016 AB - This thesis examines museum and non-museum based heritage programming throughout Pennsylvania with the purpose of evaluating how museum and other non-museum based organizations such as non-profits, and arts and historical agencies, use different program design approaches to present, promote, and utilize heritage for the purposes of public and community engagement, tourism, education, and urban redevelopment. This thesis will be achieved through the analysis of selected case studies of heritage programs designed at the local level in the small city of Lancaster, big city level in Philadelphia, and at the state level. The push towards including educational and public heritage programs in museums and other organizations responds to the shrinking funding for the arts and humanities in schools and the push by the American Alliance of Museums for museums to incorporate educational components into every museum activity. A diversity of events and programs allow museums and organizations to showcase and commemorate heritage while being able to reach different learning styles and different age groups. In the selected case studies, heritage programs touch on aspects of community engagement, creative placemaking, cultural identity and diversity, collaboration with stakeholders, heritage tourism, state education standards, and accessibility. This thesis showcases the importance of various programming approaches in the aid of celebrating, sustaining, and reinforcing our heritage. KW - Art History KW - Education--Museums--Pennsylvania KW - Pennsylvania--History LA - eng ER -