England’s Historic Cities announces landmark conference on heritage interpretation – Alexandra Palace, 19th September 2019

The England’s Historic Cities consortium has announced a major conference for tourism destinations and visitor attractions for this Autumn. To be hosted by Alexandra Palace in north London, the conference – “Interpreting History, what works, what’s next?” – is for anyone who is passionate about interpreting, communicating and marketing history to future generations of visitors.

The conference is aimed at curators, audience developers, demonstrators, content developers, owners and operators working in visitor attractions, museums, historic houses and heritage properties. It is also expected that academics involved in digital, heritage, curation, history, tourism, events and related courses and disciplines will be attracted to the event, as will companies involved in the application of new technologies to enhance interpretation and visitor experience.

A wide range of tourism professionals, including destination managers and marketers, public sector culture and heritage managers and travel trade operators is also expected to attend.

The “Interpreting History” conference will be hosted by Dr Jonathan Foyle, architectural historian and self-confessed “historic buildings obsessive” whose TV appearances uncover those stories that makes history relevant to today’s audiences. Other speakers already confirmed include David Eng, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, The Tenement Museum, New York City, Dr Nick Lambert, Director of Research, Ravensbourne, Ben Moore, Managing Partner & Creative Director, Hex Digital, Professor Deborah Ryan, Professor of Architecture & Urban Design at the University of North Carolina, and author of “The Anarchist’s Guide to Historic Houses”, Melanie Sensicle, Chair, England’s Historic Cities and director of the England Originals project, and Kathryn Thompson, Chief Executive, National Museums of Northern Ireland, who will speak on the country’s Game of Thrones tapestry project.

The National Heritage Lottery Fund, VisitEngland, The Association of Heritage Interpretation and the Heritage Alliance will also be fielding speakers on subjects ranging from Why interpretation is important, what funders are looking for and how culture and heritage can best work together. The event is also being supported by English Heritage, Historic Houses and London & Partners.

Melanie Sensicle, Chair of England’s Historic Cities, said “Conference delegates will find new inspirations at the event, and will be better able to make future investment and strategy decisions on how they can interpret their product and attract new audiences”.

Alongside the conference, there will be an exhibition to allow participants to see demonstrations of new interpretive technologies, and an opportunity for everyone who attends to experience the superb £27m restoration of the Victorian Theatre and East Court at Alexandra Palace.

Delegate rates for the conference on Thursday 19th September are from £75.00, and bookings can be made at http://www.heritagecities.com/interpretinghistoryconference/