Working with Custodians: Collaboration in Heritage Projects

Heritage sites are rarely defined by their physical structures alone.

They are shaped by the people who maintain, interpret, and live alongside them.

These custodians — whether families, communities, or organisations — hold knowledge that extends beyond formal history.
They understand how a place is used, remembered, and valued.

For filmmakers, this presents both an opportunity and a responsibility.

Collaboration is not simply a practical necessity. It is central to how a project is shaped.

Working with custodians means listening carefully, and recognising that expertise exists in different forms. Academic research, local knowledge, and lived experience all contribute to a fuller understanding of a site.

The role of the filmmaker is not to override these perspectives, but to bring them into alignment.
This often involves negotiation.

What should be included? What should remain open to interpretation? How should the tone reflect the character of the place?

These are not purely creative decisions.

They are shared.

When collaboration is approached with respect, the result is work that feels grounded and authentic.
Not imposed, but developed in context.

And ultimately, more meaningful to the people it represents.