Ecomuseums and Sense of Place

1. Ecomuseums and Sense of Place Key features of successful community-based projects Peter Davis and Gerard Corsane Newcastle University

2. Ecomuseums Recognise the special nature of places � local distinctiveness Are planned and managed by local communities � the democratisation of cultural and natural heritage

3. An ecomuseum is a community-based heritage project that supports sustainable development

4. Ecomuseums originated in France, the concept being developed by George Henri Rivi�re and Hugues de Varine. It was Varine who coined the term �ecomus�e� in 1971 for use by the French Minister for the Environment, Robert Poujard

8. Ecomuseum characteristics A territory � a place - not necessarily defined by conventional boundaries A �fragmented-site� policy, in-situ conservation and interpretation Intangibles very significant Community empowerment Holistic vision Local identity and sense of place

9. What makes a successful ecomuseum project? 1. A well-defined need or challenge provides purpose 2. An inclusive process 3. An holistic approach 4. Community-based with effective networking 5. Strong and sensitive leadership 6. Recognises the importance of intangibles 7. Conserves and interprets heritage 8. Links past to the present � celebrates place now, aids community identity and regeneration 9. Sustainable

10. 1. A well-defined need or challenge Ecomuseum of the Terraces and of the Vine Cortemilia (Northern Italy) challenge: community decline

15. Needs and challenges a constant thread in our �Sense of Place� research �It�s something a bloke said in the pub over the road about three months ago, and he's been around for ages, a local lad, and he just sort of said, he said, I can't do it exactly, he said "look the scenery's not very much, it's always cold, there's no bloody jobs and the jobs that are, are badly paid, you know, if it wasn't for the people there'd be nothing it wouldn't be anything, it'd be nowt".

16. 2. An inclusive process The ecomuseum of Hirano-cho, Osaka, Japan

17. So local people open up their houses once a month to visitors � but you need to ask where to go �So local people open up their houses once a month to visitors � but you need to ask where to go �

18. 3. An holistic approach

19. Asahi-machi is known for its skiing in winter � but summer visitor figures are low. Yet it has spectacular landscapes � rice, apples, cherries are grown here, and the ecomuseum association, in co-operation with the local council, has encouraged traditional agricultural techniques and farming practices to sustain these remarkable cultural landscapes.Asahi-machi is known for its skiing in winter � but summer visitor figures are low. Yet it has spectacular landscapes � rice, apples, cherries are grown here, and the ecomuseum association, in co-operation with the local council, has encouraged traditional agricultural techniques and farming practices to sustain these remarkable cultural landscapes.

20. Asahi-machi also has sites of great spiritual significance, including this lake, where mats of vegetation move of their own volition � although they didn�t when I was there �. The surrounding forest is breathtaking, with small shrines dotted between the trees.Asahi-machi also has sites of great spiritual significance, including this lake, where mats of vegetation move of their own volition � although they didn�t when I was there �. The surrounding forest is breathtaking, with small shrines dotted between the trees.

21. New spiritual sites have been created. This is the Air Shrine, located on the top of a wooded mountain; beneath the polished steel surface there is a small temple, used for celebrations such as this marriage ceremony.New spiritual sites have been created. This is the Air Shrine, located on the top of a wooded mountain; beneath the polished steel surface there is a small temple, used for celebrations such as this marriage ceremony.

22. 4. Community based but with effective networking

24. 5. Strong but sensitive leadership

25. 6. The recognition of intangible heritage

27. 7. Conserves and interprets heritage

30. 8. Links past to the present � celebrates place now, aids community identity Chiomonte, Italy

33. 9. Sustainability A major issue for all community-based heritage projects Sustainable projects (Finance, personnel) Sustainable heritage Sustainable communities: the Community Sustainability Assessment developed by the Global Ecovillage Network suggests that communities are sustained by ecological, social and spiritual factors

34. The CSA checklist includes: Ecological connections to place locally produced food Social communal space and patterns of use sharing ideas and information Spiritual celebrating heritage creative arts encouraged ritual and celebration

35. Ecomuseums and community-based heritage projects can aid community sustainability

39. The Sense of Place research suggested that � * sense of place is difficult to define and very individual * tangible natural and cultural heritage is important to communities, as is a historical connection * that intangible heritage is especially significant * that many local communities are using heritage projects for regeneration

40. �I think the biggest factor that gave me a sense of place was just people telling me stories about the place.� � �You can feel it tumbling down, stories that people just happen to tell you, you're doing that thing, you're leaning on the gate and the old neighbours telling the new neighbours stuff.� The intangible nature of heritage

41. �I think that we've stood still in our whole attitude to looking after and managing our landscape�we've tended to wrap it in muslin instead of working out ways of taking it forward.� But our research has revealed a wide range of heritage projects (oral history, local history groups, community archaeology etc.) are being developed by local people. Many are ecomuseums in all but name. Attitudes to cultural landscapes