Request – Interpret Europe

The newsletter needs you!

Inesa Sulaj — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:46:39 +0000

This is YOUR newsletter … What would you like to see more of?

We are thinking about some changes to how we package and deliver news, but we’d love to hear your views first. Thank you to those who joined for the Market of Ideas session at iecon26 in Faro where we started a discussion that will continue while we investigate some options.

In the meantime, this newsletter is for all of us to communicate what we’re up to and what we’re thinking, to support each other, and to start conversations that can help to shape our profession. So, please consider contributing something for future issues and spreading the word among your colleagues to support this communication outlet.

Also, if you think you could spare some time to help on the team – please let Marie know! There are various support roles available and if we change the format of the newsletter, there could be more!

Marie Banks is IE’s News Coordinator. She can be contacted at: marie.banks@interpret-europe.net or news@interpret-europe.net.

To cite this article: Banks, Marie (2026). The newsletter needs you! Interpret Europe Newsletter – Summer 2026, p. 34. Available online: IE newsletter 2026-2 summer

Call for tenders: Development and delivery of a mentoring programme and peer support programme

Inesa Sulaj — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 08:27:55 +0000

One of the key areas of action in Interpret Europe’s HI-People project is to support the training and professional growth of heritage interpreters. As such, we are looking for a provider to develop and implement a mentoring and peer support programme for heritage interpretation trainers and new/early-stage freelancers to foster their entrepreneurial capacities and effectively employ the skills they have learned to build a career in the profession. If you can provide such a service, we’d like to hear from you.

Tender Document

Deadline for proposals: 7 July!

Call for social media coordinator

Inesa Sulaj — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 07:44:51 +0000

Click, like, share – Do you like engaging on social media? IE is looking for your support!

Are you keen on developing and posting content on several social media channels? If so, and if you are also good at managing a small team and could give a few hours of your time to support IE, we are looking for you! Joining the team is also a great way for you to be informed about all the great things happening in the world of heritage interpretation and cultural tourism.

The tasks of the Social Media Coordinator entail:

Development of IE’s presence in media communication
Communication with the IE Management, News Team and native English proofreader
Posting and sharing announcements on heritage interpretation from other stakeholders
Annual plans and quarterly reports

We are currently active on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter/X and we are developing content for our YouTube channel and Wikipedia articles.

If you would like to join our team in posting, sharing and editing social media content, we would love to hear from you. Drop us a line: office@interpret-europe.net

To cite this article: IE Office Team (2023) ‘Call for social media coordinator ‘in Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2023, pg.19.
Available online: https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IE-Newsletter-2023_4-winter.pdf

Interpretation in a digital age: A review of this new guide

Interpret Europe — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 22:00:00 +0000

Native or progressive apps, frame rates or bit rates, QR codes or NFC tags – it is too easy to confuse readers with technology terms. In Interpretation in a digital age, Paul Palmer and Neil Rathbone do exactly the opposite.

This new, easy to read guide, aimed at heritage interpreters and site managers, provides an accessible walk through the background and current technologies surrounding the use of smartphones and tablets: from apps, and augmented reality, to beacons, webcams and video. It also describes practical, strategic approaches to managing an area of technology that is subject to rapid change and obsolescence.

Engineer and lead author Paul Palmer explains, ‘I have seen a lot of misleading information, commercial hype, and technical jargon that can lead people into making mistakes. Digital installations should enjoy a ten-year horizon, and need not become defunct in months, or too expensive to maintain.’

‘Do you really need an app?’ What a nice question for a subtitle in a book about digital technologies, notes Thorsten Ludwig. It is not the only question of that kind. The authors clearly see that access through digital media is not almost the same as first-hand experience (or might be soon) and discuss how the first can best support the latter. As a consequence, Interpretation in a digital age carefully notes not just the pros but also the cons of numerous technological approaches on a case-by-case basis.

Even more appealing to Thorsten is the way the individual features are described. Although each of the twelve chapters opens with a full-page illustration, there are almost no pictures within the generously set text blocks – and nevertheless the 178 pages almost read themselves. All who think text on digital technologies needs to be complicated will realise that this is simply not the case. Thorsten admits he is truly no technology buff but read half of the book during an afternoon tea break, especially enjoying the short bullet point-like summaries at the end of each chapter.

Terry Lilley agrees: The ‘key knowledge’ at the end of each chapter is very helpful. The clear, well laid out text is succinct yet always with adequate detail for the non-technical audience. Terry is sure the book will fulfill the need for the authors’ target market exactly as stated on the back cover. Although Terry is familiar with a range of IT aboard ‘Wellington’ (the ship on which he works), the book gives a handhold in using computers in interpretation for the first time. From experience aboard ‘Wellington’, the expectations of Terry and his colleagues are that tablets and phones will compensate for a shortage of ‘wall space’ for interpretion.

Matthew Tyler-Jones thinks the book lives up to its promise of giving "objective and practical guidance". A useful chapter on accessibility and inclusiveness concludes with a section on mindfulness, wherein the authors argue we "need to develop more skill in the psychology of storytelling using digital media rather than blame the media". A sentiment with which Matthew agrees, given the subject of his PhD study.

In addition to the chapters walking the reader through the types of handheld technology, there are chapters on using technology outdoors, understanding wifi, compliance and intellectual property, and project management. Matthew highlighted an optimistic chapter near the end of the book, which explores some of the possibilities that ‘the digital toolbox’ might enable, and we all liked the fact that the book ends with a jargon busting glossary to aid the intended audience of museum and cultural heritage professionals who are not digital experts but are thinking of commissioning something and don’t want to be fast-talked by potential suppliers.

Matthew notes: It’s not an academic work, it doesn’t have references to other texts. Rather it is based on the practical experience to the two authors. So, it’s very good, if not technically detailed, on the how – and also offers practical advice on project management that will last longer than some of the technologies that are now current – but it lacks the why. It’s not their intention (Matthew thinks) to sell the concept of digital technology to heritage sites, rather it’s a response to heritage sites looking to see what is possible. Indeed, in the introduction the authors refer to the "Gartner hype cycle", the tendency to over-estimate the potential of technology, and potential to be disappointed by its limitations. Given that more and more evidence Matthew sees in his PhD study suggests only a maximum of 5% of heritage visitors use apps or other mobile technologies, he still questions whether it’s possible to build a business case for the creation of digital content, let alone the purchase of hardware etc.

However, we all agree that if you need a straight-talking reference to better understand the technologies available to augment your interpretation, and are looking for practical tips clearly based on sound knowledge and experience of the sector, then this would be a solid investment for your bookshelf. Should it be available as an e-book?!

Our views on the price of the book:

Thorsten Ludwig: Of course, one could ask whether being entertained during two tea breaks is worth the €23.50 but for myself I must say: yes, it is. For those who are not using digital technologies in interpretation on a daily basis, this is the lightest introduction I’ve seen.

Terry Lilley: The Project Management chapter is a fund of straight forward common sense, clearly based on the scars of experience. This chapter alone makes the cost of the book (£18 in the UK) good value.

Marie Banks: Being able to find all the ‘Key knowledge’ (lessons learned) for each type of technology in one handy book is invaluable and the honesty with which it is presented is refreshing and worth the investment.

Book citation:

Paul Palmer and Neil Rathbone (2017) Interpretation in a digital age: understanding the range of digital technologies available for heritage interpretation. North Charleston: CreateSpace. ISBN: 1533253072.

The book is in English and available from Amazon US at:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1533253072

and from local Amazon sites e.g.:

UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1533253072

FR https://www.amazon.fr/dp/1533253072

DE https://www.amazon.de/dp/1533253072

Marie Banks is the News Coordinator for Interpret Europe and manages her own business, Zebraproof.uk. She can be contacted at: marie.banks@interpret-europe.net.

Terry Lilley is a Research Volunteer aboard the HQS Wellington ship in London. He can be contacted at: tdlilley@btinternet.com.

Thorsten Ludwig is Managing Director of Interpret Europe and manages his own business, Bildungswerk interpretation. He can be contacted at thorsten.ludwig@interpret-europe.net.

Matthew Tyler-Jones is studying for a PhD in Interpretive Technology at Southampton University and is also a visitor experience consultant for the National Trust. You can read his full review of Interpretation in a digital age on his blog and contact him via: www.memetechnology.org.

Paul Palmer and Neil Rathbone also created the Info-Point, a mobile, stand alone internet browser for areas with no internet connection. Further information and contact details can be found at: www.webnebulus.co.uk

To cite this article:
Banks, Marie, Lilley, Terry, Ludwig, Thorsten & Tyler-Jones, Mattew (2017) ‘Interpretation in a digital age: A review of this new guide’. In Interpret Europe Newsletter 3-2017, 19-20.

Searching for examples of cultural heritage interpretation involving local communities

Interpret Europe — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 22:00:00 +0000

As French coordinator of an Erasmus+ consortium, Abbaye aux Dames, la Cite musicale from Saintes, is compiling good examples of interpretive activities involving local communities in cultural heritage interpretation.

A new approach to cultural heritage interpretation is to become more people-centred by having the audience interact with the collections by placing people at the heart of activities and organising an intelligent dialogue between different points of view.

The French Erasmus+ consortium brings together complementary institutions based in Saintes (South-West of France, close to La Rochelle): the city of Saintes (local authority), the Saintes Touristic Information Centre, the Atelier du Patrimoine de Saintonge (local cultural heritage interpretation association) and the Belle Rive social centre.

The objective of this Erasmus+ mobility project in adult training is the identification and the analysis of innovative methodologies and practices in the interpretation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage that involves local people and communities, particularly under-represented groups and non-audiences. The analysis and evaluation of these best practices will help identify new competences needed for the sector and to develop professional skills at the European level. The best practice examples that we are looking for can be digital or non-digital.

If your organisation uses this approach or if you have visited any European institution that has developed similar involving and inclusive methodology, I would be very glad to receive your examples, feedback, evaluation, or comments.

The project lasts until May 2017. Thanks to the support of Erasmus+, and in response to your feedback, my consortium will be very interested to meet you in your country.

The sharing of best practice between European cultural heritage institutions will inspire our today life practices. Our future professional meetings and exchanges will be the basis of potential cooperation between our organisations and countries for applications to EU funds (Erasmus+, Creative Europe, etc.) in 2017.

Please send your best examples of cultural heritage interpretation activities involving local communities to Vincent Soccodato at: soccodato@abbayeauxdames.org

For more information concerning Abbaye aux Dames’ activities, please consult our website www.abbayeauxdames.org or have a look on Youtube at: https://www.youtube.com/user/abbayeauxdames

Vincent Soccodato works at the Abbaye aux Dames, la Cite musicale, Saintes (France) as European projects coordinator. You can get in touch with him at: soccodato@abbayeauxdames.org

To cite this article:
Soccodato, V. (2016) ‘Searching for examples of cultural heritage interpretation involving local communities’. In Interpret Europe Newsletter 2-2016, 29

Available online:
http://www.interpret-europe.net/fileadmin/Documents/publications/Newsletters/ie-newsletter_2016-2_summer.pdf

Searching for examples of digital heritage interpretation

Interpret Europe — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 22:00:00 +0000

The Swedish Centre for Nature Interpretation is compiling examples of best practice in digital forms of heritage interpretation. Please send us examples of good, fun, interesting, useful digital interpretation that you have seen!

The objective is to improve digital heritage interpretation and visitor information in Sweden’s 29 national parks and 4 000 nature reserves. The examples we look for could be of interpretation about both cultural and natural heritage. By digital heritage interpretation we mean interpretation that is being communicated with the visitor through for example smartphone apps, websites, digital text boards or audio guides driven by solar panels. The interpretation itself could come in many forms, eg. text, pictures, sound, films, games, tasks and augmented reality. Sometimes the visitor starts to interact with digital interpretation before the visit and continues doing so after the visit. All those kinds of interpretation are of interest to us.

Since we are doing the overview with a visitor perspective we are also interested in examples of how digital heritage interpretation can be combined with regional or national information to visitors about how to get to heritage sites, accommodation and restaurants.

It is also interesting to hear if you have got any feedback from visitors about your digital interpretation, for example through comments or evaluations.

Please send your best examples of digital heritage interpretation to Per Sonnvik at scni@slu.se.

Per Sonnvik is working at the Swedisch Centre for Nature Interpretation (www.slu.se). You can get in touch with him at per.sonnvik@slu.se.

To cite this article:
Sonvik, P. (2016) ‘Searching for examples of digital heritage interpretation’. In Interpret Europe Newsletter 2-2016, 30

Available online:
http://www.interpret-europe.net/fileadmin/Documents/publications/Newsletters/ie-newsletter_2016-2_summer.pdf

Searching for a work placement in furniture restoration

Interpret Europe — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 22:00:00 +0000

Maïte Chailleux has a passion for art and furniture restoration and has contacted us in her search for the perfect volunteering position with the European Voluntary Service. Can you help?

Maïte is 24 and lives in France. Brimming with enthusiasm, she graduated in restoration of furniture and works of art and wants to complete an EVS project (European Voluntary Service) in heritage preservation.

The EVS programme is open to young people aged from 17 to 30 and provides volunteering opportunities from 2 weeks to 12 months in another country in the European Union. Find out more here: https://www.erasmusplus.org.uk/european-voluntary-service-accreditation-for-youth-organisations.

Potential host organisations can be a non-profit companies and associations (museums, associations, national organisations, etc.) in the field of heritage where she can be involved in a project that might involve restoration, knowledge sharing, showcasing heritage preservation, raising awareness about conservation and learning more about related jobs, etc.

The search starts now for a placement that she could take up in 2017. The host organisation must obtain accreditation from the Erasmus Programme in order for the EVS placement project to be approved. Click on this link for more information on accreditation: http://ec.europa.eu/youth/programme/mobility/european-voluntary-service_en.htm.

To contact Maïte directly, please e-mail her at ma.chailleux@gmail.com.