In a few weeks I will start in a new role. This time around, my job title will be Audience Development Manager. Oddly enough, although my past, current and future responsibilities are largely the same (interpretation), I’ve never had the same job title twice. What troubles me about this is that even within our profession … Continue reading Actually, it’s interpretation. Or: What’s in a job title?
Tag: interpretive planning
Update on our young people’s project: Is this interpretation?
Three months ago I blogged about the HLF funding I secured for a young people’s project at my site. This week, we’re completing the first activity of the project – the ‘research’ phase -, which I thought was a good time to share an update and explain why this is interpretation also. We started off … Continue reading Update on our young people’s project: Is this interpretation?
Closing the gap – A new initiative started at the Interpret Europe conference
I spent the start of this week in Pisa at the annual Interpret Europe Conference. Possibly the greatest inspiration that I took from it was the forming of a group of like-minded professionals with an interest in ‘closing the gap’. Talking to each other, we found that there is a discrepancy between how interpretation is … Continue reading Closing the gap – A new initiative started at the Interpret Europe conference
Interpreting History, Heritage – or Politics?
When I recently visited Germany on my first research study visit, my interviewees used two terms to describe interpretive foci, which I found quite intriguing: ‘Ereignisgeschichte’ (event history) and ‘Rezeptionsgeschichte’ (reception history). We don’t generally use these terms in English and in our writings. However, I wonder if they can go some way in helping … Continue reading Interpreting History, Heritage – or Politics?
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?
For Them and By Them: Involving Stakeholders and Communities in Interpretation
Last week, the Heritage Lottery Fund approved a grant for a project I’m planning that involves young people in the heritage of my site, and its interpretation. I am hugely excited about this. For one thing, the project is all about interpretation as facilitation, as I explained in a recent post [1]. The other aspect … Continue reading For Them and By Them: Involving Stakeholders and Communities in Interpretation
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
Target audiences and access in interpretation practice: Emma Waterton’s critique
I’ve recently read Emma Waterton’s excellent book Politics, Policy and the Discourses of Heritage in Britain. Waterton is not an interpreter, but much of her writing applies directly to interpretation also. As in her other writings, Waterton raises excellent and critical questions in this book. Some of these are of immediate relevance to interpreters: … Continue reading Target audiences and access in interpretation practice: Emma Waterton’s critique
Target audiences in interpretation
In a recent conversation, an interpretation colleague asked me how I addressed target audiences in my interpretive practice. They didn’t elaborate; it was quite obvious that they considered target audiences to be such an obvious part of interpretation that no further qualification of the concept was required. Something about this unquestioned assertion sat uncomfortably with … Continue reading Target audiences in interpretation
Where is heritage in heritage interpretation?
As part of my current research I have been reviewing the literature on heritage studies. My opinions, gained from working at heritage sites, had already been that heritage is immensely personal: made up of different aspects for different individuals. When I worked at Culloden Battlefield in Scotland, I also realised that heritage was contested, and … Continue reading Where is heritage in heritage interpretation?
Nicole Deufel's Blog 