Full programme
We will be publishing the conference proceeeding on the Association for Heritage Interpretation website later in the year. In the meantime, some presentations from the conference are available as downloads from this site. We will let all delegates know when the final proceedings are available.
If a speaker’s name is underlined as a link, their presentation is available. Most are PowerPoint shows; the larger files have been converted to pdf format. We have noted files that are larger than about 2 Mb. The original authors(s) retain copyright to all material available here.
If a presentation is not available, this could be
- beacause they did not use a PowerPoint show
- because of copyright issues, or
- because the file was just too big: our web hosting package has a limit of around 5 megabytes per file!
Saturday 29 September
- Various times Pre–conference tours from Edinburgh and Glasgow
Sunday 30 September
- 1500 – 1800 Registration
- 1700 – 1930 Evening walks and visits
- 1900 – 2100 Scottish supper
Monday 1 October
- 0745 – 08.30 Interpret Europe meeting
- For all those interested in setting up an association for interpretation in Europe
- 0800 – 0900 Registration
- 0855 – 0905 Call to conference
- A dramatic start with the Pipes of Thunder
- 0905 – 0915 A conference tale
- Aonghas Phàdraig Caimbeul, Angus Peter Campbell, will set the scene for a conference about how we tell stories
- 0915 – 0920 Ceud mile fàilte: a greeting from the Cairngorms
- David Green, Chair, Cairngorms National Park Authority
- 0920 – 0930 Conference welcome
- Bill Taylor and Dr Ruth Taylor, Conference Joint Chairs, will open the proceedings
- 0930 – 1000 Keynote address
- Alastair McIntosh, writer, lecturer, campaigning academic and social activist
Alastair will draw on new research on the role of interpretation in community regeneration. He will look at how the role of the interpreter is a trust that, in a bygone age, might have been described as ‘sacred.’ - 1000 – 1030 Keynote address
- Professor Jane James, Head of Cultural Tourism, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia
Interpreters often wrestle with defining what we do, and how to know what makes good interpretation. Just what is the vital spark that makes interpretation work? - 1030 – 1100 Break
- 1100 – 1230 Parallel sessions 1
- 1A Tourism and interpretive technology
- Cameron Taylor, Seabridge Consultants; James Morrison, Proiseact nan Ealan (Gaelic Arts Agency) and Bronwen Robinson, Zolk Ltd: Macbeth the King, Lewis chessmen and urban stories. Using technology to connect visitors to our heritage
- 1B From Spark to Flame
- Patrick Lehnes, Interpret Europe: Transinterpret – a new venture in professionalism for European interpreters
- Florian Hunger, University of Freiburg and Sebastian Bellwald, Swiss Distance University of Applied Sciences: From spark to flame – developing expertise in local projects
- 1C Promoting responsible access
- John Phillips and Sarah Kay, Highland Council Ranger Service: Hamish’s Highland Holiday – a puppet show about outdoor access and responsibility
- Eleanor MacGregor, Scottish Natural Heritage: Know the Code before you go – promoting the Scottish Outdoor Access Code
- 1D Writing for children workshop
- Cathy Lewis, Froghopper: Can words alone still ignite the vital spark in children?
- 1E New thoughts on interpretive planning
- Kevin Theaker, Scottish Agricultural College: Interpretation – process or product?
- Ruth Nicholson and Suzanna Meekins, Brecon Beacons National Park: A toolkit for engaging communities in planning interpretation
- Nigel McDonald, Shropshire County Council: How vital is the spark? Kicking objectives until they squeak
- 1F Inspiring icons
- Fiona Sinclair, Dundee City Council: Authenticity and re–interpretation: museum buildings as traditional icons in the 21st century
- Laura Gutierrez (2.4 Mb pdf), Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland: Interpreting the architectural legacy of Sir Basil Spence
- Mark Mclean, National Trust for Scotland: Informing, inspiring, engaging: sparking Scotland’s re–enlightenment
- 1230 – 1330 Lunch
- 1330 – 1500 Parallel sessions 2
- 2A Design and interpretation
- Sue Latimer, Glasgow Museums and Esther Dugdale, Event Communications: It takes two – designers and the museum at Kelvingrove
- 2B Creativity (workshop)
- John Pastorelli, Ochre Learning, Australia: Energising your creative interpretive abilities
- 2C Interpreting the landscape
- Ness Kirkbride and John Gordon, Scottish Natural Heritage: Reading the landscape – exploriong Scotland’s earth stories
- Darja Kranjc and Samo Šturm, Škocjan Caves Regional Park, Slovenia: Life through time glasses – interpreting both nature and culture
- 2D Environmental interpretation
- Constantina Skanavis and Christos Giannoulis, University of the Aegean, Greece: The heart of nature centres
- Stephen Woollard, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland: From chimpanzees to climate change
- 2E Traditional voices
- Fiona Mclean, Glasgow Caledonian University: The Gaelic voice – representing the heritage of the Gàidhealtachd
- Rachel Faggetter and Pam Enting, Deakin University, Australia: Interpreting Australia – what’s hot?
- 2F Organisational culture and interpretation
- Genevieve Adkins, Perth College: Realising the potential of interpretation
- 2G Inspiration (workshop)
- Gordon MacLellan, Creeping Toad: Passionate landscapes: a workshop about inspiration
- 1500 – 1530 Break
- 1530 – 1700 Parallel sessions 3
- 3A Interpretive planning
- Tim Merriman and Lisa Brochu, National Association for Interpretation, USA: Interpretive Planning – unifying communities around heritage themes
- 3B Interpretation and regeneration
- Sarah Oswald and Carolyn Lloyd Brown, PLB: Interpretation – the vital ‘added value’ for regeneration
- Anita Synnestvedt (2.9 Mb pdf), Göteborg University, Sweden: Archaeology as a meeting point for multicultural regeneration
- 3C Interpretation and events
- Angus Farquhar (2.5 Mb pdf), NVA: Transforming landscapes; transforming experiences
- 3D Literally challenging
- Mary Hudson, National Trust for Scotland: Literally challenging – interpreting Robert Burns for the 21st Century
- Ian Edwards (2.6 Mb pdf), Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh: Biodiversity: hitting a moving target
- 3E Unexpected, unlooked for, unwanted?
- James Carter, Scotland: Accidental provocation – interpretation for people who aren’t expecting it
- Ruth Taylor, Royal Horticultural Society: Designing interpretation to persuade and change behaviour
- 3F Evaluating interpretation (workshop)
- Jenni Fuchs, National Museums of Scotland: Beyond the clipboard
- 1710 – 1830 A breath of air
- 1710 – 1800 Association for Heritage Interpretation AGM
- Members’ annual gathering to review the past year
- 1930 – 2300 Buffet supper
- 2100 The Puppet State Theatre Company
- The Man who Planted Trees
- 2200 Informal storytelling, music and song
Tuesday 2 October
- 0730 – 0845 Early morning walks
- 0900 – 0910 Call to conference
- A gentle start with Comhlan Luadh Bhaideanach – Badenoch Waulking Group
- 0910 – 0940 Keynote address
- Susan Strauss, storyteller and interpreter, Oregon, USA
Rather than speaking of ‘art in interpretation’, we must focus on understanding the truly effective essence of ‘the artistic’ – and how this essence can breath life into our interpretive creations and into our very words and movement. - 0940 – 1010 Keynote address
- Shonaig Macpherson, Chair of The National Trust for Scotland
The National Trust for Scotland cares for iconic heritage such as the Culloden battlefield, documents written by poet Robert Burns, and large areas of Highland landscape. But many of our ideas about their value have been inherited from previous generations. How do we make them relevant to people today? - 1010 – 1040 Break
- 1040 – 1200 Parallel sessions 4
- 4A Places and people
- Murray Ferguson (2.5 Mb pdf), Cairngorms National Park Authority: Uniting people, place and story
- Sam Ham, University of Idaho, USA: From interpretation to protection: is there a theoretical basis?
- 4B Effective interpretation
- Gail van der Stoep, Michigan State University, USA: Interpretation, heritage tourism and sustainability
- Catherine Cayre (2.3 Mb pdf), Cairn Interprétation, France: Lighting a flame both in visitors’ eyes and in the local community
- 4C Engaging People
- Jackie Lee, Artemis Cultural and Educational Services: Costumed interpretation
- Daina Harvey, National Museum of Australia: Museum theatre and ageing populations
- Richard Heathcote, Carrick Hill, Adelaide, Australia: Fictitious landscapes – literature in children’s interpretation
- 4D Lighting the spark
- Susan Cross, TellTale: Many interpreters aim to ‘inspire’ – but do we really know how?
- David Mitchell, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh: A wondrous spark – the legacy of Rachel Carson
- 4E Research in interpretation (workshop)
- Melanie Smith and Tomas Nilsson, University of the Highlands and Islands, with Emma Carver, English Heritage: Research in interpretation – engine driving the subject or academic indulgence?
- 4F Portable technology and interpretation (workshop)
- 1215 – 1800 Visits to major sites
- A choice between two afternoon site visits. One looks at interpretation in Britain’s newest National Park, the Cairngorms. Here the National Park Authority is working in partnership with local communities, businesses and other agencies to present the Park’s rich nature and culture. Or you can visit Culloden, the iconic site of the last pitched battle in Britain, where the National Trust for Scotland is developing exciting and challenging new interpretation.
- 1930 – late Conference dinner
- A great menu of Highland fare, followed by dancing and music from modern ceilidh band Dannsa. The band aim to celebrate the rich culture and infectious energy of Scottish dance, and will help you birl and weave the night away!
Wednesday 3 October
- 0900 – 0910 Call to conference
- A special opening of the final day with Fèis Spè Cèilidh Trailers
- 0910 – 0940 Keynote address
- Jette Sandahl, Director Experience of Te Papa Tongarewa Museum, Wellington, New Zealand
How does contemporary globalization and mass migration impact on a local and national heritage? How does heritage interpretation deal with current complex issues of ownership to land and history, heritage and cultural identity? - 0940 – 1010 Keynote address
- Dr James Hunter, University of the Highlands and Islands Centre for History
Interpretation can be a key influence on a community’s sense of self worth. This is especially important in areas like the Highlands and Islands, once dismissed as hopelessly impoverished, but rich in music, architecture, literature, archaeology. - 1010 – 1040 Break
- 1040 – 1200 Parallel sessions 5
- 5A The Profession – accreditation and federation
- A variety of interpretation professionals from around the world will debate ways forward for the profession. Should we establish accreditation schemes, is there a need for a federation at an international level, and how might these be organised? Chair: Bill Taylor
- 5B Storytelling (workshop)
- Susan Strauss, Oregon, USA: Voice and language: stealing the storyteller’s fire for broad base interpretation
- 5C Fragile Environments
- Jill Harden, National Trust for Scotland: Imagining St Kilda
- Sonia Frimmel, What’s the story?, New Zealand: A clash of culture in the wilderness
- Pete Moore, Scottish Natural Heritage: Photography and re–photography to reveal meanings and relationships
- 5D Global experiences
- Catherine Curby, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, USA: International interpretation – lessons from Georgia and Croatia
- Rainer Glawion, University of Freiburg, Germany: Interpreting Africa
- 5E Minority languages (workshop)
- Peadar Morgan, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, and Sue Mackenzie, National Trust for Scotland
- 1210 – 1300 Closing session
- Sam Ham, international interpretation guru, will sum up the conference
- 1300 Mingle and depart
- Options for lunch in Aviemore. Depart on post–conference visits.
