Architecture and Interpretation: A Case for the Marriage Councillor?

I spent last week in Germany on my first site visit for my PhD research [1]. Many interesting aspects emerged, but the one I’d like to focus on today is – architecture. The architecture of the museum at Kalkriese is nothing short of imposing. As the commercial director explained, the building was intended to be … Continue reading Architecture and Interpretation: A Case for the Marriage Councillor? →

Resistance is futile, or: Interpretation and Managing Change

I attended a course today on coaching people through change. There were several suggestions and tools, which I found particularly useful, and which gave me some food for thought for interpretation also: 1. What makes a good coach? There are a few principles for a good coach, and it struck me that many of … Continue reading Resistance is futile, or: Interpretation and Managing Change →

Interpretation is… a facilitated process

I have just recently submitted an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a project primarily (but not exclusively) aimed at young people at my current site. Last week, HLF asked me to clarify how creating a young people’s area in our historic park was intended to help young people to understand the heritage of … Continue reading Interpretation is… a facilitated process →

And this is what I mean by heritage, and interpretation (at my current site)

Last week, I had one of those exciting conversations with a colleague, which reminded me of why I’m doing what I’m doing. This particular colleague doesn’t have a background in heritage, and I was trying to explain to them what I wanted our interpretation to achieve at our site. In fact, so removed is their … Continue reading And this is what I mean by heritage, and interpretation (at my current site) →

What makes interpretation effective?

Let me start with a disclaimer: I’m not actually going to tell you what makes interpretation effective. Rather, I would like to propose that we rethink some of the measures we use for determining ‘effectiveness’. Take for example an article by Henker and Brown that was published in the Journal for Interpretation Research earlier this … Continue reading What makes interpretation effective? →

What is the future of interpretation?

Someone recently asked me what the future of interpretation was in my opinion. This seemed an appropriate question to ponder as the calendar year draws to a close. So here are my thoughts on the future of interpretation (and also: the interpretation of the future): 1) The interpretation of the (immediate) future will be resource-aware … Continue reading What is the future of interpretation? →

I Know Where I’m Going: The conference, and a few thoughts of my own

I spent today and yesterday at the ‘I Know Where I’m Going’ Conference in Edinburgh. The conference was about remote access, with a focus on World Heritage Sites (it was part-organised by UK UNESCO). That may sound like the conference was all about technology, and we did indeed hear a great deal about the many … Continue reading I Know Where I’m Going: The conference, and a few thoughts of my own →

The challenge of objects

I don’t know about you, but I usually prefer heritage sites to museums for a visit. Partially this may be a result of poor interpretation encountered once too often at museums. Labels listing cataloguing information do very little for me and, I expect, many other visitors. Such ‘interpretation’ fails to make that elusive connection, and … Continue reading The challenge of objects →

Do we interpret heritage because we’re disconnected from it?

During my readings I have come across this interesting quote by West and McKellar [1]: ‘By definition, interpretation as a heritage practice is a western discourse that has become necessary because official heritage has become disconnected from everyday understandings.’ It is a statement worth thinking about in greater depth. Most interpreters would readily agree that … Continue reading Do we interpret heritage because we’re disconnected from it? →

When I recently visited National Trust properties…

I love National Trust properties. I’d forgotten how much until I recently visited Polesden Lacey. So I promptly signed myself up to become a member (again) and I’ve proceeded to visit a National Trust property every weekend since. Of course, I’m also reading a lot of academic literature and case studies about heritage, its management … Continue reading When I recently visited National Trust properties… →