Category Archives: Tips and advice

Getting touchy-feely with art

Posted on May 4, 2013 by

A sensual guest blog from Cathy Lewis MAHI, interpretive writer extraordinaire:  A recent visit to a sculpture gallery had me bursting into song. Sadly, the lyrics were from Grease, ‘Keep your filthy paws off my silky drawers…’ Why? Because this … Continue reading →

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Another interpretation panel I like

Posted on April 30, 2013 by

It’s hard to be a perfect blogger. Or a perfect interpretation panel writer. I had imagined writing a ‘panel of the month’ post, every month this year.  There was

Posted in Interpretation, Tips and advice, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Having a laugh at heritage sites

Posted on April 27, 2013 by

Someone told me last week that their organisation had researched what people wanted from a day out at a heritage site and that ‘having a laugh’ was one of the top five answers. I wasn’t (and am not) totally convinced. … Continue reading →

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Why does everyone like John? Five things that make face to face interpretation work

Posted on March 28, 2013 by

We’ve been spending a lot of time recently looking closely at face to face interpretation and how it works for visitors and conservation organisations (particularly the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust). Our intern and blogger, Slovenian interpreter, Janja Sivec writes:  We … Continue reading →

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Why this is one of my all-time favourite interpretation panels

Posted on December 30, 2012 by

I am a nerd. Not a techie nerd, or a social media nerd, or even a gadget nerd.  I am a panel nerd. I can’t resist them.  I am constantly looking to find, and create, really good ones. Panels are … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Cultural difference, Culture, Environment, Interpretation, Tips and advice, Visit experience, Visitors, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Six things that help interpretation panels communicate better

Posted on December 27, 2012 by

Recently I was asked for some advice on how assess interpretation panels.  That made me think again about what makes a successful panel. Panels are very very popular, one of the most popular media in the interpreter’s toolkit.  They are … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Interpretation, Thematic interpretation, Tips and advice, Visitors, Wildlife and countryside attractions, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Harry Potter and the Art of Interpretelling

Posted on December 15, 2012 by

Obviously film makers know about storytelling.  Their job is to make stories that grip us, absorb us and stay with us. Just like heritage interpreters. So interpreters, especially interpretellers like me who are fascinated by story  as a medium, should … Continue reading →

Posted in Attractions, Good places to visit, Interpretelling, Stories, Storytelling, Tips and advice, Training, Visitors | Leave a comment

Give your visitors what they want, not what you would want

Posted on December 10, 2012 by

‘Do not do to others as you would that they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same.’ George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw was not a visitor experience advisor but nonetheless, he rather pithily summed up … Continue reading →

Posted in Ireland, Mentoring, Tips and advice, Training, Visit experience | 1 Comment

Do talk in class to find your story.

Posted on November 29, 2012 by

One of the joys of my work in heritage interpretation is that I often meet people with a compulsion to tell stories. They have a passion for their place that shows in the way they talk. Often they display that … Continue reading →

Posted in Attractions, Consulting, Heritage attractions, Interpretation, Interpretelling, Mentoring, Stories, Storytelling, Thematic interpretation, Tips and advice, Training, Writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Three storytelling secrets to improve your heritage interpretation

Posted on November 23, 2012 by

Interpretelling draws on the ancient art of storytelling to make contemporary heritage communication more effective. Storytelling contains several important lessons for interpreters. Here are three of them. 1. You must have mastery of your content Good storytellers know you must have … Continue reading →

Posted in Interpretelling, Interpretation Australia, Interpretation, Tips and advice, Heritage attractions, Storytelling, Stories, Visitors | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment