Bridging: A New Blog in the International Public History Sphere

New Tool for International Discussion on Public History
More and more public history projects and programs develop every year. Partly thanks to the International Federation for Public History (IFPH), we can now study, practice, or attend public history events around the world. However, many people still don’t know what public history is or means. The IFPH thought it was time to build “bridges” between its members, practitioners, and a broader public across the world.

Bridging: A Blog to Connect Sides
Bridges carry loads, roads and bodies across them, connecting opposing sides. They defy obstacles. When choosing a title for the new IFPH blog, ideas about crossing borders and bridges, and making connections were hashed out in every possible combination. [1] Bridging is active. We thought that this word best embodies the work and varied voices of the IFPH. Our work constructs bridges between academia, practitioners, and the public, and our voices bridge a variety of languages, countries, and people working in the field.

How to Use the Blog?
Our main objective is to give a virtual space for our members to discuss and share projects, events, and reflections on public history. Although only IFPH members can write and propose posts for this blog, the idea is to create discussion through comments, links, and re-use. The variety of profiles and geographic areas of our members should reinforce the international focus of the blog. Posts can serve to present and explore specific public history topics and projects; to advertise events such as conferences, summer schools, exhibits, or community events; or to propose reviews of sites, and projects. The format of the blog will make any discussion on current topics and events fast and easy, and take place globally.

How to Submit?
Bridging accepts submissions from our members (become a member). Unlike other blogs, we accept posts in different languages including English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Polish, and Portuguese (other languages may be accepted depending on the editors). In doing so, Bridging will truly reflect the internationalization of public history. For more information about our submission policies, take a look at our Contributor Guidelines. Submissions should be sent to pubhisint@gmail.com.

What is Coming Up?
Be prepared for a variety of posts from all around the world. In the next few months we are expecting Jerome de Groot (UK) to discuss genealogy and public history, Tanya Evans (Australia) to explore family history, Maxime Patte (France) to present his work as the producer of Un Temps d’Avance (history for Radio and Youtube programs), and Anita Lucchesi (Brazil/Luxembourg) on Who is Afraid of Wikipedia?

[1] See the discussion and comments about the different titles on our Facebook page

–Thomas Cauvin is the President of the International Federation for Public History. 

–Cassandra Marsillo is Chief Editor of the Blog.