Interactive Approaches in Heritage Interpretation: A Tourism Report

This report provides an evaluation of different interactive approaches employed for heritage interpretation within the tourism sector, focusing on the Imperial War Museum, Shakespeare Globe, and Museum of London. It examines methods such as pop-up exhibitions, video films, roaming interpretation, and interactive trails. The report discusses how these techniques enhance visitor experiences by communicating historical and cultural information effectively. The analysis considers the strengths and weaknesses of each approach, highlighting how they engage visitors with varying levels of knowledge and interest. The study concludes that effective heritage interpretation is crucial for enriching the tourism experience and promoting a deeper understanding of historical sites, emphasizing the importance of interactive tools in achieving these goals. The report is designed to help students understand the various strategies for interpreting heritage sites for tourists.

Heritage Interpretation as
part of the Tourism
Experience

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK ..............................................................................................................................................1
Evaluation of different interactive approach by which heritage was interpreted........................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Heritage Interpretation refers to a structured approach of non formal learning, specialized
in conveying significant ideas regarding a place to visitors. It creates a link between people and
what they can discover at that particular place such as museum (Bryce and et. al., 2015). The
main purpose of heritage interpretation is to enrich and enhance the experience of visitors by
helping them to understand the importance of site they are visiting and link those meanings to
own personal lives of visitors. In this assignment, different interactive approaches are evaluated
by which heritage at Imperial War Museum, Shakespeare Globe and Museum of London was
interpreted.
TASK
Evaluation of different interactive approach by which heritage was interpreted
Heritage Interpretation is a way of sharing culture and history of a particular place with
visitors, new citizens, other communities and people overseas. It is a mean of passing on
information and knowledge of United Kingdom's history, values and culture to new generation.
The connection between visitors and natural cultural heritage is often expressed by music,
literature, food, art, dance and other creative traditions and works. Interpretation improves
understanding of heritage by appealing to visitors, different experience level, knowledge and
learning styles. It shows visitors that why heritage place is valuable and inspire them. It create a
sense of community and individual pride. Interpretation encourage visitors to come or to visit
particular site for exploring the story and site experience (Smith, 2015).
Interpretation can be one of the most effective way to communicate information about
museums with their visitors. Yet, it's not always easy to convey it in an engaging manner. With
changes in technology, public demand and funding accessibility, it is very necessary to use
interactive approach to communicate information regarding a particular place. It should be done
in such a manner that it creates a link between visitors and what they can find at heritage such as
Museum of London, Shakespeare Globe and Imperial War Museum. Sometimes covering entire
landscapes, geographical components can restrict informative schemes that are extensive and
costly. Difficulty also uprise in interpreting hidden heritage like battlefields and archaeological
sites. Interpretation of historic sites is required to attract people more towards it to visit ( Walker
and Moscardo, 2014). Some interactive approaches by which heritage was interpreted are
defined below:
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Pop up exhibitions and video film - Imperial War Museum
Temporary exhibitions are often set up by museums in public areas or loan out it to
others. These impulsive pop-ups have an ability to reach large group of people, away from
museum space. The Imperial War Museum presents a rich exhibition programme and events
responding and revealing to personal stories of the individuals whose lives has been influenced
by conflicts over last century. It aims to provide and encourage understanding of modern war and
wartime experience. IWM welcomes visitors or people to step back in period of time at Churchill
War Rooms in order to uncover the location and historic events that inspired the film. It features
in universal motion pictures darkest hour (Laing and et. al., 2014). To see the site, people can
walk in foot steps of Winston Churchill and find out the location featured in darkest hour,
involving cabinet room, transatlantic telephone room, historic map room and Churchill's
bedroom. These rooms were recreated by set designers of film who spent several months
painstakingly in researching the real war room.
(Source: Imperial War Museum, London, 2018)
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Illustration 1: Imperial War Museum

In museum, people can hear extracts from rousing wartime speeches of Churchill, read
some of the letters that he exchanged with his wife and can see objects related to all periods of
his life, involving one of his preferred cigars and number 10 Downing Street door. Use of this
interactive approach can help visitors in discovering a lot about Churchill. Trip to Churchill War
Rooms provides opportunity for people to listen personal testimonies from ordinary women and
men who worked below London Streets at the time of Second World War. Use of this video clip
inspire visitors to discover more regarding location and historic events. They can know about the
history, spot the objects and locations and uncover fascinating personal narration that lie hidden
below Westminster Streets.
In addition to Imperial War Museum itself, people who want to discover more about
historic Churchill War Rooms and Winston Churchill can purchase Imperial War Museum
publications in words (Miles, 2014). By pop up exhibitions and video film, museum was enable
to promote itself, engage with community and discover new stories by those who would not visit
normally. Working with given space, the museum had limited budget. Community outreach is
becoming an inherent component of resilience of museum. For many heritage places, exhibitions
is one of the attractive option as it provides plentiful rewards in low cost. Pop up exhibitions and
video films are assistive in providing information to visitors about collection of museum
involves archives of official and personal documents, video material and films, photographs, an
extensive library, a large collection of art, oral history recordings, and examples of aircraft,
military vehicles, equipments, tools and other artefacts.
Globe Theatre Tour and Exhibition - Shakespeare Globe
Shakespeare Globe is a reconstruction of globe theatre which was established in year
1599. It was destroyed in 1613 by fire and was rebuilt in year 1614. The Globe Theatre Tour and
Exhibition provides an opportunity to visitors to discover more about unique building of
Shakespeare Globe and its famous playwright, Shakespeare. By the exhibition, information is
communicated to visitors regarding colourful stories of globe of year 1599, reconstruction
process in 1990s and how 'Wooden O' works as an experimental and imaginative theatrical space
(Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition, 2018). The informative and engaging exhibition explores
Shakespeare's life, the place where he lived as well as the theatre he wrote for. This tour and
exhibition helps visitors in discovering archaeological site of first theatre of Bankside, the Rose,
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involving walking tour that depicts about interesting historical landmarks. This will help in
providing information about history and other features of Shakespeare Globe.
Exhibitions provides opportunity for heritage site to share data or information regarding
history, developments, features etc. of that particular place. It is the way by which detailed
information was provided to visitors regarding its founder, establishment, fire destroyed history,
its reconstruction etc. Wanamaker Playhouse is also includes in the site which is an indoor
theatre that opened in year 2014. It is a small candle-lit space which is based on playhouses of
Jacobean London. Exhibitions also give the information to visitors about Stalker Studios, which
is an rehearsal and educational studios complex located around the corner of main site. An
exhibition is also there through which visitors can discover about life of Shakespeare as well as
his work. The main feature of site includes its globe, which is made up of timber. Contemporary
descriptions and drawings was present on first globe (Waterton and Watson, 2016).
In year 1614, when it was rebuild, some features (like external staircases) of first globe
was incorporated in modern design due to some practical reasons. By exhibitions, the
information of its design team is consist including architect, service and structural engineer and
quantity surveyors. The entire building of Shakespeare Globe is constructed of English oak with
tenon and mortise joints that makes it an authentic timber framed building of 16th century. All
these informations are provided to visitors which assists in improving their experience to that
particular heritage site. Exhibition provides an opportunity to those people who visit site to
discover and know more about Shakespeare Globe (Roberts, Hall and Morag, 2017).
Roaming interpretation, interactive trail, exhibitions and video films – Museum of London
Museum of London is situated near London Roman Wall. It is the oldest remaining
section of city. It is the only museum among all which educate or provide knowledge to visitors
about history of London. Different things are expected by visitors from their visit to site. Perhaps
with roaming panels of interpretation, museums can appease everyone (Mason, 2015). By these
panels, additional information is provided to visitors. They can opt in or out of this interpretation
and exploring exhibitions on their own accord. These panels are of relatively low cost and
replace more expensive and larger panels that have to be closet in-situ.
Installation of interactive audio trail also assists in providing information to visitors about
heritage. People can walk in trail that gives audio info complimented by visuals which interpret
surrounding landscape. Quick facts are provided by limited texts and large images compliment it
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that shows visitors about original artefacts, Medieval London and other facts related to Museum
of London. This interactive trail also assists in attracting more number of people to explore the
landscape into visitor centre. These audio points and panels gives an option to digital technology
and can assists in diversifying interpretive framework of museum (Graham, Ashworth and
Tunbridge, 2016).
Short films and exhibitions are also the best ways to provide information to visitors about
Museum of London. Children's activities, unique and historical objects and interactive timelines
of the place provides a kind of experience to visitors that ignites all senses. Variety of temporary
exhibitions are held in London throughout the year that range from Roman Baths, contemporary
British photography, history of London cinema and Sherlock homes. It provides information
some permanent galleries gallerias of Museum of London that includes: War plague and fire,
London before London, expanding city, World City, Roman and Medieval London, People's City
and Gallery, the City Gallery etc. By this, people can explore about collapse of Londinium,
tumultuous events in history of city, its famous residents, modern architecture, the great fire of
London etc. All this helps visitors in exploring a lot about the particular place and improves their
experience to visit London of Museum (Williams and Lew, 2014).
CONCLUSION
As per the above mentioned report, it has been concluded that heritage interpretation
helps visitors in gaining information about a particular site and discover new things about that
place. Without interpretation, a heritage site has no value in eyes of visitors. It assists visitors in
creating their unique choice of ways to learn and experience about the site as well as its history.
There are various interactive tools and approaches such as video clips, pop up exhibitions,
interactive trail, roaming interpretation etc. by which heritage sites can be interpreted. This
interpretation enrich and improve the experience of visitors by assisting them to understand
importance of site.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Smith, M. K., 2015. Issues in cultural tourism studies. Routledge.
Laing, J., and et. al., 2014. Assessing the experiential value of heritage assets: A case study of a
Chinese heritage precinct, Bendigo, Australia. Tourism Management. 40. pp.180-192.
Miles, S., 2014. Battlefield sites as dark tourism attractions: An analysis of experience. Journal
of Heritage Tourism. 9(2). pp.134-147.
Williams, S. and Lew, A. A., 2014. Tourism geography: Critical understandings of place, space
and experience. Routledge.
Waterton, E. and Watson, S., 2016. Introduction: A visual heritage. In Culture, Heritage and
Representation (pp. 19-34). Routledge.
Mason, P., 2015. Tourism impacts, planning and management. Routledge.
Graham, B., Ashworth, G. and Tunbridge, J., 2016. A geography of heritage: Power, culture and
economy. Routledge.
Walker, K. and Moscardo, G., 2014. Encouraging sustainability beyond the tourist experience:
ecotourism, interpretation and values. Journal of Sustainable Tourism.22(8). pp.1175-
1196.
Roberts, L., Hall, D. and Morag, M., 2017. New directions in rural tourism. Routledge.
Bryce, D., Curran, R., O'Gorman, K. and Taheri, B., 2015. Visitors' engagement and authenticity:
Japanese heritage consumption. Tourism Management. 46. pp.571-581.
Online
Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition, 2018. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on-2018/guided-tours-and-exhibition>.
Imperial War Museum London, 2018. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-28316238>
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