Interpretive Planning Presentation by Prof. Jennifer McStotts College of Charleston

Definition of Interpretation “ My own working definition of interpretation is a process that adds value to the experience of place.” - Goodey P23 “ It is a communication process that seeks not simply to inform, but also to provoke a reaction. It has been defined as the art of explaining the significance of a site to the people who visit, with a view to pointing a conservation message.” - Tabraham P59

“ My own working definition of interpretation is a process that adds value to the experience of place.” - Goodey P23

“ It is a communication process that seeks not simply to inform, but also to provoke a reaction. It has been defined as the art of explaining the significance of a site to the people who visit, with a view to pointing a conservation message.” - Tabraham P59

Definition of Interpretation “ It is the role of the interpreter to identify and to engender cognitive conflicts in understanding the past through the tools of concrete experience of the historic site providing the opportunities for collaborative discourse and allowing reflection.” - Copeland P84 Interpretation is “deciding what to say about the heritage, and how, and to whom, to say it.” - Howard P244

“ It is the role of the interpreter to identify and to engender cognitive conflicts in understanding the past through the tools of concrete experience of the historic site providing the opportunities for collaborative discourse and allowing reflection.” - Copeland P84

Interpretation is “deciding what to say about the heritage, and how, and to whom, to say it.” - Howard P244

Definition of Interpretation “ Interpretation is all about exploring the meanings of places and collections with people, whether it be a landscape, building, object or idea. It strives to help people find their own meaning and values and make sense of the world around them.” - Taylor P102

“ Interpretation is all about exploring the meanings of places and collections with people, whether it be a landscape, building, object or idea. It strives to help people find their own meaning and values and make sense of the world around them.” - Taylor P102

Tabraham P60 Interpretive planning is a thought process through which we establish: What we wish to interpret, and why; How we wish to interpret, and where; Who we wish to communicate with; What resources we need to achieve our aim.

Interpretive planning is a thought process through which we establish:

What we wish to interpret, and why;

How we wish to interpret, and where;

Who we wish to communicate with;

What resources we need to achieve our aim.

Tabraham’s Description of Scottish Interpretive Planning Part 1 - Know your: Property Public Price Part 2 - Describe the potential for interpretation - “identifies and addresses core issues, highlights constraints and proposes possibilities”

Part 1 - Know your:

Property

Public

Price

Part 2 - Describe the potential for interpretation - “identifies and addresses core issues, highlights constraints and proposes possibilities”

Tabraham’s Description of Scottish Plan Implementation Researching the subject Communicating the message Selecting the media Catering for disabilities Catering for children Catering for other languages Respecting the site Its fabric, surfaces and setting Reversible installation Evaluating the interpretation

Researching the subject

Communicating the message

Selecting the media

Catering for disabilities

Catering for children

Catering for other languages

Respecting the site

Its fabric, surfaces and setting

Reversible installation

Evaluating the interpretation

What should our method be?

In Class Exercise Result

Interpretive Strategy Project Identify definition of interpretation Identify management and interpretive objectives Mgmt = operational Interp = Learning, emotional, behavioral; what visitors should know, feel or do as a result of the experience Identify process for planning and apply it. It must: Identify message Identify audience Identify medium Clearly define final product, including how you will turn it in electronically and showcase it in class.

Identify definition of interpretation

Identify management and interpretive objectives

Mgmt = operational

Interp = Learning, emotional, behavioral; what visitors should know, feel or do as a result of the experience

Identify process for planning and apply it. It must:

Identify message

Identify audience

Identify medium

Clearly define final product, including how you will turn it in electronically and showcase it in class.

Prof. McS’ Method - Not the “Right” Way!

All references from: Hems & Blockley’s Heritage Interpretation [2006], except Howard’s Heritage: Management, Interpretation, Identity [2003]