Creation vs. Curation

Societies that survive either create or they curate. For the first two hundred years, the canal builders created, but in the last generation British Waterways has switched to being a curator, and now it's chiefly in the heritage business. Indeed, BW probably looks after more listed buildings and other historic constructions in the country than anyone else. Every canal trip passes under, over, by or through hundreds of these protected structures.

Last week BW won three awards at the 2004 Interpret Britain & Ireland Awards, organised by The Association for Heritage Interpretation (AHI), held during the Museums & Heritage Show, the curation industry's biggest annual bash.

Of interest to me is the prize received for:

"the waterway interpretative maps at 12 popular waterway locations across Britain".

I came across some of these at Kingswood Junction in March. They are slightly tacky and redundant to the boater, who quickly learns - from his Nicholson's or his Pearson's - the history and significance of all these curious old structures on the waterways. But I found the children of towpath walkers quite amused and interested by them, and that can only be a good thing. Why, for instance, are there so many seemingly pointless brick humped-back bridges that do little more than link one field to another?

Why are there black-painted iron corner bracings on bridge edges, and why the deep groves in them? What, come to think of it, were the English canals built for in the first place?

Important questions with obvious answers to almost any boater. But most people are still unaware of the questions, let alone the answers. The walkers that I observed made good use of the babytalk signboards.

Says Annette Simpson, British Waterways’ 'Interpretation Manager' [now there's a job title!]:

“The Harry’s Cut project, which is part funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, centres around the social history of our nation’s waterways - an area often overlooked. This history of the working boat people is one of hard work, poor working conditions and fierce pride. The interpretation focuses on the waterways’ complex and industrial past through the eyes of three central characters - Harry, Jim and Ethel, who bring a real 1950s dilemma to life. People-focussed interpretation is far more effective in providing a lasting impact on visitors. It took almost two years to plan, trial and modify this project and we are proud to have won this award.

“Our interpretive maps have been researched and developed in close consultation with local communities and experts to draw out what is really special about a place. Stories and snippets of information are woven into their design and illustration. In this way they include an element of discovery and become something which people will want to refer back to and share with others. Working this way can mean a significant investment in time, money and effort but the rewards far outweigh the investment - inspiring visitors is what matters and we are proud that AHI has recognised this work, which can only inspire us to do more.”

Fine words; well, mostly. I'm not sure about the jargon used to justify all this, though. Whoever thought to call it "people focussed interpretation" must have been using one of those random business jargon generators - they obviously ran out of narrative before they ran out of ink! Whatever happened to heritage in the English language? \