01366nas a2200157   4500000000100000008004100001653003900042653002400081653006200105100001900167245012000186300001000306490000600316520087200322022001401194       2009                            d10aCommunity participation (THE\_204)10aMuseums (THE\_5282)10aUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (GB)1 aRhianedd Smith00aFinding the  First Voice  in rural England: the challenges of safeguarding intangible heritage in a national museum  a13-250 v43 aThis paper is an attempt to explore the challenges of defining intangible heritage and  community  in England. It uses as its case study the Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading: an urban museum with a rural theme. The paper examines current theoretical discourse around the concept of the  first voice and debate about the role of museums in the preservation of intangible heritage. It then examines the relevance of these concepts to the identification of  rural  intangible heritage stake holders in England. In this way, it shows the potential for concepts of intangible heritage to influence national museums. However, by applying theory and practice which is designed to support work with well-defined  originating communities  to a national museum, it also highlights the challenges of initiating community engagement in a multicultural society.  a1975-3586