Food for thought...
This spring I took part in an exciting cultural exchange programme to Eastern
Turkey. The week-
The programme was an inspiring opportunity to work with fellow heritage sector specialists from the UK and Turkey, looking at food tourism and interpretation, seeing food production from farm to fork and exploring sustainable tourism issues, as well as visiting some incredible historical and archaeological sites in the region. We were also lucky enough to be at the brand new Mosaic Museum at Gaziantep the week it opened. And, as part of our in depth research, we obviously spent a lot of time shopping for, preparing and eating delicious Eastern Anatolia food!
Gateway to the Jurassic Coast...
Earlier this year, I worked with Bright 3D and conservation architect Aylin Orbasli to complete a major Interpretation Masterplan for Queens Drive and Orcombe Point in Exmouth, Devon. The striking red cliffs at the end of the promenade mark the start of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.
The project has been a real trip down memory lane for me, as I have family in the town and spent many happy childhood holidays on the beach here. I am therefore particularly delighted that our proposals have been given the
go-
The historic Guildhall, Derry / Londonderry
This iconic building, just outside the medieval Derry city walls, has witnessed a host of historic moments and civic occasions in the city and, most recently, was the venue for the Bloody Sunday enquiry. As part of a major redevelopment programme for Derry, the Guildhall is being renovated and will become a hub for local people and visitors as well as a venue for civic
and community events.
Alongside the Economic Appraisal for the building, David Patrick and I were invited to carry out an Interpretation Plan for the Guildhall. This plan identifies opportunities for engaging with visitors in ways that will complement the building’s many other uses. At the heart of the proposals is a temporary exhibition gallery, which will host a major Plantation Exhibition to coincide with the City of Culture celebrations in 2013.
Watching your interpretation bloom...
Thinking about interpreting your special landscape, peaceful woodland or historic garden? Then check out the article I wrote on behalf of AHI
(The Association for Heritage Interpretation) in the Spring 2011 issue of
the Heritage Conservation magazine.
It provides some clear advice on how to approach interpretive planning for outdoor sites as well as some inspiring examples of how members of AHI, like myself, have tackled the challenge. Click on the picture below to open
the article in a new window.
Growing green fingers
Talking of special landscapes, gardens seem to be a theme in several of my recent projects. I’ve been working with designer Colin Williams to develop a concept scheme for a Gardens Visitor Centre at the lovely Howick Hall here in Northumberland as well as developing a new garden exhibition and exterior interpretation for Malahide Castle & Gardens near Dublin with Bright 3D.
Click on the pictures below to find out more about these two exciting projects.
The art of interpretation
I am delighted to have been invited by arts project management team Grit & Pearl to provide interpretive input for plans for a series of new arts installations for the sunny seafront at South Shields. The aim is to introduce performance, temporary installations, digital solutions and architectural interventions alongside more traditional interpretation like graphic panels and leaflets.
Four innovative artists have been selected to work with the community to identify opportunities for short and long term activities and installations.
I ran a workshop for local residents and businesses on developing interpretive themes, with project manager Rebecca Farley, to look at the site’s best stories and to draw out the key messages that would help inspire the artists and ultimately weave the artworks and other interpretation proposals together.
On yer bike!
I’m having another great winter exploring Forestry Commission Scotland’s best mountain bike and walking trails as Rob Robinson and I carry out new Visitor Experience Plans for the Commission at Carron Valley in the Scottish Lowlands and the FCS Sunart Oakwoods on the remote Ardnamurchan Peninsula in the Highlands.
These are the latest in a series of plans we have developed with FCS. Rob and I are also currently reviewing the Glenmore Visitor Experience Plan, exploring development opportunities in line with visitor needs and expectations in response to new survey work that has been undertaken for the team at Glenmore by TNS. It’s interesting stuff!
Since 2005 I have been visiting the University of Lincoln each year to run a
lecture and workshop session with the Museum & Exhibition Design degree
Students on evaluating interpretation. These are lively sessions exploring my
back catalogue of photos of good and not-
then got the chance to put their new evaluation skills to the test at Lincoln’s
The Collection, the local history museum and art gallery near the Cathedral.
I am taking a crash course in geology to help Bright 3D develop and write new
interpretation for Knockan Crag in the far north west of Scotland! This is where
the principles of plate tectonics were established, following a bitter debate in
the 19th century about the ages of the rock layers revealed at the Crag. It’s a
fascinating site and a pleasure to be working with the design team and Scottish
Natural Heritage to upgrade the existing exterior exhibition and trails.
Click here to find out more.
Click here to find out more about our work with FCS.
Adding flavour to interpretatation -
Having had my tastebuds tickled by all things Turkish (see below), I am now fully fired up about using food and flavours more effectively for interpretation.
What’s more, I’m delighted to have been invited to speak on this subject at this year’s hugely successful AHI Conference in York in October.
My presentation explored the remarkable links between smells, emotions and memories (with real smells to sample along the way), and also questioned why we aren’t engaging more effectively with visitors in our site cafes, where they clearly spend much of their time.
I concluded by inviting delegates to taste some traditional Yorkshire Parkin, in a rather unscientific experiment to see if they could store their memories of the event via its gingery flavour and then trigger them again later! Delicious....
