Finding your Story

1. Finding your Story Exhibition Mentoring Duhallow Ancestry 30 November 2013

2. Human Stories • What is the story you can tell • Communicating the historical facts • Engaging your audience • ‘Whole hearted environment’

3. Examples • Ellis Island • Tells the story of Annie Moore – the first immigrant to land on Ellis island. It uses passenger records and tracks genealogy to help people follow the stories but also to find their own story • www.ellisisland.org

4. Irish Surnames – Cliffs of Moher • Visitors come and explore their surnames with an interactive board giving them the simple history of their surname and unlocking the mysteries of an Irish past of origin, characteristics and genealogy peculiar to Irish heritage Geraldine Enright – Surnames of Clare Project

5. Haunted London App • www.hauntedlondonapp.co.uk • This iphone app guides visitors through London’s haunted heritage sites, telling stories and providing adventurous tales revealing spooky themes about London

6. ‘Enlivenment’ • Find your story • Tell your story • Live your story

7. Tell your story • The beginning • The middle • The end

8. Your story should: • Answer: The ‘so what? Question – why should I be interested • Provide : interesting characters, dramatic events, situations people can relate to • Be specific – tailored to a distinct theme

9. Complete Exhibition experience • Leaflets, panels, audio guide, guided walks, audio visual presentation, expert talks, • Tell people about the exhibition, radio slots, press, booklet publication, newsletter • Communications – list of actions for finding, telling and remembering your story