About us
The Vital Spark is a joint venture between the Association for Heritage Interpretation and Interpret Scotland. Bill Taylor of Highlands and Islands Enterprise chairs the conference steering group on behalf of Interpret Scotland.
The Association for Heritage Interpretation
The Association for Heritage Interpretation (AHI) is an international membership organisation working to encourage and promote excellence in interpretation. It is the only UK-wide forum for people actively involved or simply interested in the interpretation of our natural and cultural heritage. AHI believes that interpretation enriches our lives through engaging emotions, enhancing experiences and deepening understanding of people, places, events and objects from past and present.
AHI sets out to raise the profile of interpretation as a profession; provide a focus for the development of ideas, techniques and good practice; encourage networking through meetings, activities and events; and recognise best practice through its Interpret Britain and Ireland Awards. It began in 1975 as the Society for the Interpretation of Britain’s Heritage. The Vital Spark is AHI’s annual conference in 2007.
Interpret Scotland
Interpret Scotland is an informal grouping of national and regional agencies, and voluntary organisations, involved in interpretation across Scotland. For many years now it has taken the lead in disseminating information and opinion about the practice of interpretation in Scotland and in supporting high standards of professionalism among those who are involved, or who seek to become involved, in managing, teaching and implementing interpretation. One of Interpret Scotland’s primary aims is to share resources in delivering training and sharing good practice. It publishes a highly-regarded and widely-distributed magazine, Interpret Scotland.
Interpret Scotland members represent a wide range of organisations in which interpretation plays many different roles. The Vital Spark is the second international event that it has helped to promote.