Principal Investigator: Dr Karen Smyth, University of East AngliaCo-investigators: Dr Andrew Power, University of Southampton; Sr Jon Gregory, University of East Anglia; Mr Rik Martin, Norfolk Rural Community CentreCollaborators: Paston Heritage Society; Pathways to HistoryDuration: From 2014 to 2015
The project evaluates processes involved in community choice, use and attitude towards place. What places are community groups interested in preserving? What places do they use to preserve their stories? This project is interested in the narratives behind these choices. To that end, what this project aims to visualise are the methods, techniques, environments, personalities and perceptions that help and hinder these preservation processes. The aim is to provide an innovative resource that will preserve and visualise the range of responses that can be given to the above questions. A conceptual map will be designed of the opportunities and difficulties faced by Connected Community projects in the telling of their stories. The aim is to create an immediately understandable visual map of the directions involved in the decisions, activities, negotiations, obstacles and outputs of the community groups. Hypermedia enhances the sustainability of this story of cultural mapping. The intention is that this conceptual map will be a one-stop, innovative reference point, of benefit to future planning processes of heritage community activists. The map offers groups already funded in previous phases an opportunity to share and reflect on approaches that other groups have taken, offering further opportunities for ensuring and safe-guarding legacy impact of current projects.
