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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.
Results: Cultural Themes- brands within brands
Branding: Who is it for?What is it for?
The Views of the People
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