XpoNorth announce Heritage HangOuts
Due to the unprecedented situation that we are in with the outbreak of COVID-19, many heritage organisations now find themselves looking for alternative ways to connect with their audiences.
XpoNorth has been working hard behind the scenes to offer quick and effective responses to support these organisations to investigate how more innovative use of new technologies could allow them to launch fresh products and services and engage with their networks using more dynamic models.
The Heritage HangOuts series will offer specialist advice on how heritage organisations can package up new remote offerings, articulate their stories, look at what technology can be used and leverage high-value digital experiences for their customer base.
XpoNorth’s Heritage HangOuts will offer 30-minute slots for heritage organisations across the Highland and Islands to discuss how technology can be used most effectively to engage with new and existing audiences; discuss how to better articulate the richness of your stories, package and distribute digital experiences for remote consumers; develop new and immersive online interaction; and discuss ways to monetise your assets. These slots will be allocated on an individual basis, allowing maximum time for our heritage and digital specialists to offer tailored advice built around the specific needs of your organisation in these challenging times.
XpoNorth heritage specialist Nicola Henderson said: ‘These are extraordinary times and the heritage sector, like many others, is going into a battle for survival over the coming months. This is a first step in supporting museums to look for new ways of working, utilising digital technologies to engage with their audiences and identify new potential income strands.
‘We will be working with the sector going forward to identify the best mechanisms of support we can offer to help them come out the other side stronger.’
Heritage HangOuts will be building on the XpoNorth Heritage programme that was launched in February 2020 and is supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Museums Galleries Scotland, Creative Scotland, Historic Environment
Scotland and Museums and Heritage Highland.
Museums and heritage organisations in the Highlands and Islands are offered the chance to work with creative industries businesses to help bring forward innovative ideas.
Led by HIE, this new pilot programme will help groups tell their fascinating stories to visitors while creating new revenue opportunities.
They will be introduced to networks of creative businesses who can help take the ideas to market and help open new ways for visitors to experience history by
XpoNorth’s sector specialist advisers.
The advisers and creative businesses will help to inspire new ways of viewing the world around stories from the region. This could be through innovations such as VR experiences, exhibition design, poetry, craft sales, music festivals or book publishing.
The Heritage HangOuts will initially be taking place today, Thursday March 26, between 10am and 2pm. These will be accessed via Zoom and there will be support for anyone that is not familiar with this platform.
For anyone who would like to book a slot, XpoNorth would request that they make contact with their heritage specialist, Nicola Henderson (nicolahenderson @xponorth.co.uk), in the first instance and she will confirm your slot and full details directly.