the story of mann – an expression of local, national and international value for heritage identity...

Stephen HarrisonDirector

The National Heritage Service for the Isle of Man

The Value of Heritage Identity-Local, National, International

Isle of Man Case Study

Islands: we live in the romantic imagination of the public

Threatened and Saved by Transport Links

The Blessing and the Curse of Island Tourism

• European Islands receive more than 40million tourists a year

• The economies of 70% of islands depend upon tourism

• Tourism simultaneously supports and destroys culture and heritage

Private Communities, on Display to the World

How do we express our heritage value & identity to ourselves, &

to the rest of the World?

Isle of Man Case StudyA laboratory for Heritage Value:

• Museum’s Impact on Heritage Identity?

• Local Social & Economic Benefits?

• International Dimension?

1990s - IOM Cultural Assessment

• traditional sea-side resort• declining market• threatened infrastructure• changing perception

A Crisis of Cultural Identity

• population change• new residents• social instability• economic change• new family needs• sense of place• cultural identity

Internal & external perceptions in times of change?

IOM Community Consultation• opinions on change?

• quality of life?

• strength of feeling for heritage and culture?

• sense of “ownership and access”?

• sense of national identity?

Cultural Assets- Perception pre-1990

• Museums (archaeology) emphasis

• Only for the few

• No links to the countryside

• National monuments not part of the interpretive plan

• Not of great Governmental, social or economic significance

Asset Audit

Asset Audit

The Public Debate

The Heritage Process?- a choice by the

community?• What to value from the past?• What to value in the present?• What to pass on to future

generations?• What values govern these

choices?

IOM Community Perception

• Valued the sense of an historic landscape

• Wanted the specific Isle of Man story

• Wanted better Intellectual & physical access

580 km2 of Historic Countryside

A Co-ordinated Strategy• multi-site

• inter-disciplinary

• community partners

• social and economic

• the 570sq Km museum

The “Story of Mann”

The Need For Partners

Involving the Community

Product Examples: Manx Museum

Product Examples• Manx Museum

• ‘threshold interpretation’

• ‘come in, go out, discover!’

• new community uses

• Island museum overview

Product Examples:Castle Restoration

Product Examples:Cregneash

The Old Parliament House

Peel Castle & Heritage Centre

Peel: 1990s- Difficult times for town and castle

• decline of fishing

• shops closing

• properties derelict

• people leaving

• major heritage site

New Heritage Cemtre

New Heritage Presentations

New Heritage Experiences

Telling the Story• latest technology

• narrative technique

• links object to landscape

Emphasising the “real sites” in the countryside

Landscape Conservation & new public access

Removing the “fear” of accessing the countryside

Countryside Restorations

Results: Change of Perception & Service

Expansion• 4 museum sites in 1990

• 13 museum sites in 2007

• Integration of special landscapes

• Integration of National Monuments

Results: New Access to the Historic Landscape

Results: Local Economy

• local economy improved

• buildings restored

• new restaurants

• increased pride

• increased involvement

Results: Cultural Tourism

• tourism pattern changed• destination image changed• based on cultural image • industry more focussed• lower volume/higher spend• European linkages• quality facilities• confidence in product

Results: Local Education

• increased school links

• new academic research

• £1m new national history

• new higher education courses

• new National Curriculum

Results: Heritage Awards• British "Museum of the Year Award"

(1992/93)• Museums Association Gulbenkian Award

(1992)

• Tourism award for excellence (1992)

• European Museum of the Year Special Award (1994)

• “International Ambassador” (1998)

• British “Museum of the Year Award” (1998)

• “Interpret Britain” award (1999)

• Civic Trust Award (1999)

• British Archaeological Award (2001)

• Heritage Interpretation Award (2006)

• Best Customer Service Award (2006)

• Industrial Archaeology Soc Award (2007)

• Visitor Attraction of the Year (HOM -2007)

• Museums & Heritage Award for Excellence (2008)

Results: International Profile

• high profile openings

• International awards

• new local pride in product

• international publicity

King & Queen of Norway

Results:New International Contacts

• Norway• Sweden• Finland• Italy• Portugal• Greece• Russia• Falkland Islands

MNH at the Council of EuropeThe European landscape Convention:

“The IOM presentationwas a perfect exampleof a success story and aEuropean model.”

(Co of Europe Head of Regional Planning, 30 Nov. 2001)

Results: Community Support• new partners

• doubled membership

• confidence for investment

• increased visitor numbers

• local heritage groups

• business sponsorship

Results:The Story of Mann• 580 Km2 of themed historic landscape

• A “local heritage identity”, not just museums

• Multi-site

• Multi-disciplinary

• A Co-ordinated international heritage “product”

The MNH Estate is Island-Wide

• 13 staffed sites

• Over 50 historic buildings

• Over 40 Listed Ancient Monuments

• c.3,000 acres of protected landscape

Results:- New Product – New Perception – New Brand?

Heritage in Nation-BrandingThroughout the discussions on “Branding”, we have maintained a vision of a society that:

• understands, values, cares for and enjoys its heritage

• nurtures it as an important part of its present and future success

• recognizes that our heritage has formed our national personality

• that our shared heritage provides the firm foundations on which we can all join together as a community and on which our freedom to flourish in the future can, and should, be built with pride and confidence.

Values of Cultural Democracy• What are our Community

Values?

• Is there community participation?

• Is there community understanding?

• Are there clear community benefits?

The “Story of Mann”- the heritage process in the community

Shared community perceptions sustain the value of heritage assets.

Stephen Harrisonemail: heritage@manx.net

www.storyofmann.com

Results: Cultural Themes- brands within brands

Branding: Who is it for?What is it for?

The Views of the People