Connecting with our heritage, whether as a visitor or as a local, is vital for Scotland’s people and for our tourist economy. Late September will see a significant development in helping Scotland make these connections even better, with the staging of a major international heritage interpretation event at Aviemore.

The organisers of The Vital Spark have announced a high quality programme of speakers, workshops and site visits for the conference to be held in the Cairngorms National Park.

There will be eight key note addresses from internationally renowned speakers, which will lead on to both formal and informal discussion sessions.

The speakers are:

• Professor Sam Ham, Director of the Centre for International Training and Outreach, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
• Dr Jim Hunter, author, historian, commentator, expert in rural development and former chair of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Inverness, Scotland, UK
• Professor Jane James, Head of Cultural Tourism and Festival & Event Management, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
• Alastair McIntosh, Writer, broadcaster, campaigning academic, visiting professor, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
• Shonaig Macpherson, Chair, National Trust for Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
• John Pastorelli, Interpreter and interpretive trainer, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
• Jette Sandahl, Director Experience, Te Papa Tongarewa Museum, Wellington, New Zealand
• Susan Strauss, Storyteller, children’s author, wildlife interpreter, trainer, Bend, Oregon, USA

The Vital Spark conference is being held in Aviemore from 30 September to 3 October and is already attracting delegates from all over the world. The aim of interpretation is to encourage people to develop a greater understanding of, and concern for, their natural and cultural heritage. We interpret our past and present lives and surroundings in order to understand who we are, where we have come from and where we may be going.

This conference will also celebrate the wonderfully rich heritage of the Gaidhealtachd, the Highlands, explaining how we communicate the many different aspects of our natural and cultural surroundings and showcasing examples of best practice. Gaelic will play an important part in presenting the heritage of the region, as the language is such an evocative element in the place names and cultural life of the Highlands.

The programme includes: -

• Three days of sessions featuring a wide range of speakers, workshops and talks
• A varied programme of walks and site visits, which will include the National Trust for Scotland’s new visitor centre at Culloden and many of the Cairngorms National Park features and facilities
• Opportunities to enjoy traditional entertainment, network informally and taste high quality food and drink from the Highlands.

The Vital Spark Interpretation conference is the only international interpretation conference to be held outside North America in 2007 and more than 300 delegates are expected to attend. Registration is available now, using the website: http://www.thevitalspark2007.org.uk 

Notes to editors:

The Vital Spark 2007 is a joint venture between Interpret Scotland, a consortium of Scottish public organisations involved in interpretation, and the Association for Heritage Interpretation, the United Kingdom body representing organisations and individuals working in the field. It is an important part of Highland 2007, a year-long celebration of Highland culture, which is supporting the conference, as is EventScotland, and a number of other public agencies.

The conference is based on four themes:

• The Vital Spark: interpretation as the driver for cultural regeneration
• Creativity and innovation: interpreting remote and fragile areas
• Voices in interpretation: languages, cultures and communities
• Authenticity and re-interpretation: traditional icons in the 21st century

Interpretation is the key connector between communities, visitors and our outstanding heritage and for visitors it is a key means of engaging them with the place now and in the future. The aim of interpretation is to encourage people to develop a greater understanding of, affinity with and concern for our natural and cultural heritage. We interpret our past and present lives and surroundings in order to understand who we are, where we have come from, and where we may be going. Interpretation can be static, media-based or personally-delivered and is an essential part of the tourism and leisure product in the Highlands of Scotland, and it is in many parts of the world, with beneficial effects on local pride and the economy of the region.

For further media information, please contact:

Sue McKichan
marketing matters
Tel: 07802 685454; email: s.mckichan@btinternet.com