Heritage, Tourism and Economy in rural Scotland: Potential, barriers and the future

Dr Andrew Heald, Deputy Managing Director, AOC Archaeology Group

The importance of the heritage sector in rural Scotland and the value it adds to tourism and the local economy.

The potential the sector offers for further development and possible opportunities

Existing barriers

Ways ahead

My brief

Worked in the heritage sector for 11 years across Scotland, particularly in rural areas. Worked with numerous Trusts and Charities across Scotland in heritage projects including education, museums and interpretation displays.

Public sector Curator of Archaeology, National Museums Scotland 1998-2003; 2004-2008. Also work closely with Historic Scotland

Private Sector Deputy Managing Director, AOC Archaeology, 2008- current

Third Sector Archaeology Development Officer; Caithness Archaeology Trust, 2003-4; Director of Archaeology Scotland (Council for Scottish Archaeology).

My background in Heritage

The importance of the heritage sector in rural Scotland and the value it adds to tourism and the

local economy.

Case Study: Caithness i. One of the richest archaeological and historical areas in

Scotland

ii. 1 monument for every 7 people

iii. Largely understudied and marginalised

iii. But this is beginning to change

Caithness Heritage

The area houses some of, if not the most, impressive archaeological and historical monuments anywhere in Britain. In many areas you can cover 10,000 years of history.

Caithness Heritage

• More active local communities and trusts

• An increase in heritage projects over last few years

WORK TO DATE Examples of Project Work

2003-2009

Partnership Buildinge.g. RCAHMS Survey Project

• Yarrows and Watenan• CED sponsorship• 2005• Digital mapping and

drawing of sites• Promotion of area• Training local people• Community Identity

Doors Open Day

• Council for Europe Initiative• Coordinated by Highland

Council• CAT has assumed the mantle• Every heritage-based Centre in

Caithness and other related projects

• Biggest region in Scotland

Scottish Archaeology Month

• Coordinated by Archaeology Scotland • Largest region in

Scotland

Early Building Experiments

Broch Site Excavations

The Caithness Broch Centre

Opened July 2009

The Caithness Broch Centre

Excavations: In Search of Vikings

Castlehill Archaeological Research Facility

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

ECONOMIC IMPACT

Programme Investment LevelsFunding and Non Cash

Keiss Brochs Research and Excavations 150,000 Caithness Broch Centre 290,000 Royal Commission SurveyWattenan and Yarrows 250,000Castletown Research LaboratoryAnd Viking Coast Excavations 150,000Reconstructing the Past Spittal 200,000

Other additions to the local economy

• Conferences and Events • Income from Excavation and Research workers

(e.g. Scatness, Shetland, £92,000 per season). • Increased tourism• Value of local community voluntary contribution• Skills development and jobs created• Work in schools and with Young Archaeologists• Publicity and media coverage

• 33% Visitors to Caithness said that they visited archaeological sites.

• 17% for Highlands as whole

• 59% for Orkney where 23% said that visiting archaeological sites their principal activity.

Focus on Tourism & Economy

Potential and possible opportunities for heritage, tourism and economy

Basic Development Needs: the bedrocks

• New work on some key heritage sites/monuments

• County-wide , structured around local hubs with strong links between them

• Embrace archaeology, architecture, folk culture, local history, family history, place-name evidence and the environment

• Stories are the new economic foundation“People need good and socially justifiable stories and heroes and they are prepared to pay for this” (Rolf Jenson, The Dream Society)

Stories are the new economy

By themselves, monuments are mere stones in the landscape; river valleys mere water courses, mountains mere monoliths. Heritage is embedded with personal experiences and memories, founded on the often harsh climate and geology. Every place, every hillock, every hill and slope has its own name and associated personal memories

Some possibilities in Caithness

• The Broch Coast• The Viking and Norse Coast • Experimental work in Early Architecture • The Living Landscape• Maritime Caithness• Wetland Studies

Brochs of Caithness

Flagship sites excavated, conserved and prepared for visitor access.

Extension of work on the Broch Sites around Sinclair Bay

Extension of Spittal Experimental Constructing the Past Project

Land of Legends, Lejre

Land of Legends• Founded in 1964, Land of legends Lejre started out as an

archaeological research station.

• Its aim was to gain new knowledge about the past through practical experiments with past technologies.

• These experiments aroused great public interest and people flocked to Land of Legends to watch the researchers.

Land of Legends

• Today Land of Legends brings 10,000 years of Danish history to life.

• Retains a strenuously professional and ethical approach to activities

• Programme of workshops and activities based on archaeological evidence and historic documents.

• 55,000 tourists and school children visit each year

• Handicrafts and shop• Replicas• Handwoven iron age

fabric• Artisan workshops weavers house pottery smithy

The legacy of the work?

i. Engagement of local community and local ownership

ii. Increased access (both direct and indirect) to heritage

iii. Increased heritage infrastructureiv. Skills development and training

provision (planned in association with colleges and universities)

v. Some direct employment opportunities

vi. Increased visitors / interest in the areavii. Increased economyviii. The academic body of heritage:

knowledge of the county’s sites, monuments, people, landscapes and places

Barriers

i. Fundingii. Who does the work? - Community

Capacityiii. Sustainability

Funding

Limited funding from national or local institutions, but partnership working works extremely well

Tapestry of funding streams, each with their difficulties• Regional bias• Who can apply?• Intervention rates and community capacity• Filling in the forms – high level of expertise and

commitment

Who does the work / Community Capacity

Third Sector bodies (not for profit; charities; trusts; local volunteers; retired individuals)

Private sector (often treated with scepticism)

Public bodies (often advisors as opposed to partners)

Heritage, Tourism and Economy in rural Scotland: Potential, barriers and the future

Dr Andrew Heald, Deputy Managing Director, AOC Archaeology Group