Heritage Matters Conference 2018
January – August 2018
Heritage Matters aims to bring together experienced heritage professionals with early careers professionals and current MA and undergraduate heritage students and provide a space for discussion and networking.
The focus for the 2018 Heritage Matters conference was Marketing and Promotion in the Heritage Sector. Dr Sarah Morton, Lecturer in Heritage at Bath Spa University, and Stephen Dunning as the liaison with Bath Guildhall and B&NES Council, organised a one-day conference held on 23rd August 2018 at Bath Guildhall, that brought together academics, students, and experts in the heritage sector to discuss this theme.
Bath Spa University (BSU) students currently undertake placements with a wide range of heritage organisations across the south west. The University has been working in partnership with South West Museum Development’s Sustainable Volunteering Officer and the University of West of England to promote best practice guidelines for future placements, supported by MUPI funding. Therefore as well as papers from industry professionals there was also talks from students that highlight the range of work they undertake on placements, with a particular focus on how students can contribute to the marketing and promotion of heritage sites.
If you would like to find out more about the Heritage Matters brand and future events, please visit the Heritage Matters website.
Venue Hire in a Heritage Setting
January – September 2017
Stephen worked as a student intern conducting evaluative research on events programme and venue hire on behalf of B&NES Council at Bath Guildhall. Stephen produced a research paper entitled, Venue Hire in a Heritage Setting: A Comparison Study of Events Management at Bath Guildhall and similar sites in the UK, which presented research on venue hire and events at various sites including Bath Guildhall, Salisbury Guildhall, Exeter Guildhall, Worcester Guildhall and The Holburne Museum. This paper was produced as a student commission for B&NES Council and was also made available to the other sites featured in the research. The paper was also submitted as Stephen’s MA research paper and was awarded a distinction. In August 2018, Stephen presented his paper on Venue Hire at the 2018 Heritage Matters Conference, organised by Bath Spa University and hosted by B&NES Council at Bath Guildhall.
Open House: Christian Community Outreach in the 21st Century
December 2016 – April 2017
In 2016, Stephen was commissioned on a pro bono basis to produce an analytical report on the progress of a community outreach programme, known as ‘Open House’, at St. Andrew’s Church, Fontmell Magna. The church is one of 5 parishes in the Iwerne Valley Benefice and is situated at the heart of one of the largest villages in the area. The report focused on a financial audit and an assessment of attendance and visitor demographic trends over 8 years of the programme from 2009 to the close of its 2016 season. The final report, of the above title, included graphical data representation and analysis as well as in depth analytical discourse, and closed with recommendations for improvement. It was written on behalf of the programme operators and submitted to St. Andrew’s Church Social Committee in March 2017. A revised edition was submitted to St. Andrew’s Church PCC in April 2017.
Bringing Stories to Life: Costumed Interpretation at No. 1 Royal Crescent
June – September 2016
In 2016, Stephen was commissioned to oversee the data collection for a project trialing costumed interpretation and object handling at No. 1 Royal Crescent, Bath. Stephen consulted on the design of the visitor questionnaire, and oversaw the collection of visitor survey data over two trial periods in June and July 2016. He was then commissioned to write two reports analysing the data collected from the said surveys. This data included basic survey questions as well as limited geographic information based on postcode data on the geographic origin of visitors. The final reports included digital mapping and graphical data representation and analysis, as well as in depth analytical discourse. The two reports, of the above title [Parts 1 and 2], were submitted to Bath Preservation Trust in July and September 2016.
CapableCreations: Noticing Newton Park
February – June 2016
Capable Creations was a student led project, on behalf of Bath Spa University and in association with Capability Brown Festival, that aimed to tell the story of Capability Brown and how he redesigned the landscape at Newton Park. The project delivered new interpretative media, both digital and physical, to engage students, staff, visitors and local residents with the 18th century history and origins of Newton Park. This allowed students and residents alike to view the landscape from a new perspective. Stephen took on a lead role in research as well as the development of both a paper leaflet and interactive website. He also took on the role of Co-Project Manager with responsibility for project communication with the local community. The project was very successful and has since become a resource used at university open days. The project also gained publicity via the Newton Park page on the Capability Brown Festival website and also featured on the Capability Brown Festival’s News section. Stephen has continued to develop the projects website and social media, and has also been employed by the university to lead private historical tours of the campus landscape for VIP guests and international students and academics.
Shaftesbury At War
September 2008 – June 2010
Shaftesbury At War was a student led project that aimed to record and present oral histories and memories of what life was like in Shaftesbury during the Second World War. Stephen took the lead on editorial for the project and wrote the introduction to a book of interview transcripts and memorabilia which was produced in limited edition along with an accompanying DVD. Copies of the book are kept by Shaftesbury School and Gold Hill Museum.
Stephen J. Dunning 