PRACTICALITIES: ISSUES TO CONSIDER ON SITE
STEVE FARRAR INTERPRETATION MANAGER WEDNESDAY, 6 DECEMBER
“A little plaque gives you some details but I implore you to do some research also. If youre not into it, its just going to be a bunch of rocks !” TripAdvisor, JEH87, Corrimony Cairn
“Our aim is to make it possible, and increasingly easy, for anyone to engage with and enjoy Scotland's Properties in Care both now and in the future.” HES interpretation principles and standards
INTERPRETATION MEDIA • Guide book • Audio guide • Live interpretation • Exhibition • Virtual reality
THE INTERPRETATION PANEL “As I approached the first tablet which described the site, a sense of awe fell over me. I was standing where Roman Centurions had stood two millennia ago. The feeling one gets in such a place is hard to put into words .” TripAdvisor, Kermit403, Rough Castle
THE INTERPRETATION PANEL IN BRIEF • Value for money • Accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year • Lots of content • Easy to maintain • Relies on text and images • Static • Cannot directly answer specific questions
BUT FIRST COMES THE PLANNING
INTERPRETATION PLANNING • What is the point of this? • Who is it for? • Who is paying for this? • What messages should we be sharing? • What are the constraints? • Why is this place special? • How do we actually deliver this?
TELLING TALES CONTENT DEVELOPMENT • Evidential • Historical • Architectural • Aesthetics and landscape • Natural heritage • Contemporary
ON LOCATION
ON LOCATION • Access and routes • Health and safety • Views and visibility • Angles and fixings
THE STORIES “Some scholars believe it is possible that these sculptures were once coloured, although no evidence has survived. Pictish artists may have used mineral pigments like yellow ochre, red lead and green verdigris similar to the bold use of colour in contemporary metalwork and illuminated manuscripts.” Aberlemno Pictish Stones panel text
VISITOR MANAGEMENT
YOUR TEXT • Keep it short – 250 words for an A1 panel • Break it up into paragraphs with sub headings • Keep it short – 250 words for an A1 panel • Lively and engaging style • Keep it short – 250 words for an A1 panel • Avoid all jargon, assume no prior knowledge • KEEP IT SHORT – 250 WORDS FOR AN A1 PANEL
IN THE PICTURE • Reconstruction illustrations • Associated objects • Historic photos and drawings • People!
GRAPHIC DESIGN • Procurement • Briefing • Revising drafts • Finalling
WHO SHOULD YOU ASK TO DO THE WORK AND WHAT WILL IT COST? https://www.hlf.org.uk/interpretation-guidance
MAKING YOUR INTERPRETATION PANEL
INSTALLATION
“We visited a lot of castles when we were in Scotland, and this was by far our favorite. The placards they've built into the self-guided tour are very helpful to imagine how the castle must have looked when it was fully operational and intact, and they provide enough history to fascinate.” TripAdvisor CH10, Kilchurn Castle
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