Next Sunday (30 September 2007) over 300 delegates from 20 countries will arrive in Aviemore to take part in the biggest ever conference on interpreting our natural and cultural heritage. The Vital Spark, as the name suggests, aims to do just that – ignite the ‘spark’ in the visitor experience, create a memorable experience for them, encourage them to extend their stay in Scotland and hopefully to return at a later date.

The organisers are delighted with the attendance figures, as Bill Taylor, the conference chair explained:
“We’re thrilled to have more than 300 delegates registered for this, the only international interpretation event to be held outside the USA this year, and certainly the biggest ever to take place in Europe. We’re all looking forward to three days of fascinating and illuminating talks and workshops from speakers with a variety of backgrounds and experience. They will give everyone involved in this business of explaining the significance of natural and cultural heritage much to think about. We are all in the business of improving the experiences of visitors, encouraging people to return and enhancing the economy of our tourism areas.”

With 80 speakers from all over the world, there’s a dazzling array of talks and workshops relevant to today’s heritage and tourism businesses – on topics such as storytelling, engaging people with their cultural history, understanding the role of national parks and protected areas, the challenges of communicating the story of great literary icons such as Robert Burns to a 21st century audience and the use of modern day technology in enhancing the visitor experience at our museums and heritage sites.

Just a few of the events in the programme are listed below. See the website: www.thevitalspark2007.org.uk <http://www.thevitalspark2007.org.uk> for the full programme.

Design & Interpretation – a talk by those involved in the design of new displays at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Museum

Promoting Responsible Access – explore a range of traditional, inventive and innovate approaches that have been used to publicise and promote the Scottish Access Code

Interpretation and Events – a talk by Angus Farquhar, NVA, creator of site specific events such as the recent Half Life at Kilmartin

Traditional Voices, presentations on the Gaelic language and on how Aboriginal and Settler Australians interpret culture and country considers the hot issues of cultural identity

Heritage and tourism are vital parts of Scotland's economy and connecting effectively with our visitors can make a real difference to their experiences.
Make sure you don’t miss this exciting event, the largest of its kind to be held in Europe for 20 years.

More information on The Vital Spark conference available on the website:
www.thevitalspark2007.org.uk
ENDS
 

For further media information, please contact:
Sue McKichan
marketing matters
Tel: 07802 685454; email: s.mckichan@btinternet.com
 
Notes to Editors:
 
The Vital Spark 2007 is a joint venture between Interpret Scotland, a consortium of Scottish agencies interested 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.
 
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 elsewhere, with a beneficial effect on local pride and the economy of the region.
 
The Vital Spark is a joint venture between the Association of Heritage Interpretation and Interpret Scotland and is supported by the following organisations: Highland 2007 and EventScotland (£20,000), Highlands & Islands Enterprise (£15,000), Forestry Commission Scotland (£10,000), Cairngorms National Park Authority (£12,000), Scottish Natural Heritage (£10,000), Bòrd na Gàidhlig (£5000), Historic Scotland (£5,000), Highland Council (£4,000), UHI Millennium Institute / Perth College (£2,500), VisitScotland (£2,500) and National Museums Scotland (£750).
Help in kind has come from CairnGorm Mountain Ltd, Forestry Commission Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland and Scottish Tourist Guides Association.

Highland 2007 aims to promote the Highlands as a great place to live and to visit through showcasing the unique and special nature of Highland culture past, present and future. The project is a partnership between three principal funding agencies: The Highland Council, the Scottish Executive, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. See www.highland2007.com for full details.