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Institute of
Historical Interpretation
Following a workshop in Oxford last November, the Institute of Historical
Interpretation has been set up to facilitate co-operation and mutual
understanding between live interpretation groups, historians,
archaeologists, the heritage industry, and educationalists, in order to
exchange information and improve the quality of public presentations. The
IHI was conceived by a small group consisting of live interpreters from
re-enactment societies and living history groups, historians and heritage
professionals.
Re-enacters are thought to re-enact only for themselves with the groups
being mainly concerned with the enjoyment of their members. However
re-enacters see themselves as educators, entertainers and researchers, and
many are concerned with the quality and content of the displays and the lack
of communication with interested parties. Re-enactment and live
interpretation are powerful communication tools, with the capacity to change
people's perceptions on history or to perpetuate myth. The Institute is a
forum in which academic historians, archaeologists and heritage
professionals, can exchange views with re-enactors and live interpreters.
It should allow the opportunity for heritage professionals and historians to
influence the type and content of historical live interpretation currently
being presented to the public. It gives live interpreters access to current
historical thinking, and an informal medium in which to discuss future
requirements with potential sponsors. Archaeologists have a forum to discuss
experimental archaeology with living history participants.
Academic historians, archaeologists, heritage professionals, educators,
re-enactors and live interpreters are all being invited to become involved.
Anyone with an interest in heritage, public history, academic history,
living history, experimental archaeology and re-enactment is encouraged to
attend the inaugural meeting, to include their ideas and opinions about the
future of live interpretation at historic sites.
The Institute hopes to encourage standards in presentation and display.
Sponsors and the public should be informed about the historical and
educational relevance of displays, whether they are historical battle
pageant, with noise, colour and spectacle or potentially much smaller, more
accurate living history presentations. Different types of display attract
different types of sponsor and the Institute aims to help awareness of
presentation techniques and historical accuracy.
In addition it aims to co-ordinate a pertinent educational programme for
those involved with live historical interpretation, to aid the acquisition
of relevant knowledge and skills, whether it be traditional farming or
cottage industry skills, research methods or visitor management and health &
safety.
Obviously all this will take time and will be a gradual process, but as a
starting point the Institute is producing a biannual journal.
First Issue of the IHI Journal available at the Inaugural Meeting or from
Partizan Press in November 1999.
You are able to influence discussions about the Institute and it's aims by
attending the inaugural meeting. This will take place at "The Re-enactor's
Market", Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre, Oxford on Saturday 13th Nov 1999 at
12 noon. The meeting is expected to formally agree the aims of the
Institute, agree a committee and editorial board for the Journal, and
discuss the way forward.
Anyone with an interest in heritage, public history, academic history,
living history and re-enactment is encouraged to attend to include their
ideas and opinions about the future of live interpretation at historic
sites.
Inaugural Meeting:
Saturday 13th Nov 1999 at 12 noon.
at
The Re-enactor's Market,
Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre, Oxford.
Directions: From the A34 Oxford ring road, take the B480 heading out of
town. At the traffic lights with the Bull Nose Morris Public House on the
right, turn right. Take a left hand turn into Pegasus Road, the Leisure
Centre is on the right.
"The Re-enactor's Market" is the main outlet in the UK for makers and
traders in reproduction period equipment and clothing, where they can sell
their wares to live interpreters and museums. There are over 100 stalls. It
takes place three times a year, twice at Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre in
Oxford, and once at "History in Action", the English Heritage premier event
at Kirby Hall, Northants.
We hope that you will support the Institute and attend the meeting in
November.
For more information contact:
IHI, c/o 1 Golden Noble Hill,
Colchester, Essex. CO1 2AG
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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