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Sense of Place
The Centre, with funding from
three LEADER+ areas, will administrate the Northern Uplands Sense of Place
Project. Over the course of a year, the project will involve both training
and research across English northern upland regions. One of the project aims
is to identify if, and how, elements in the cultural
landscape of upland Northern England might contribute to community
sustainability and development.
English Northern Uplands Sense of Place Project
The English
Northern Uplands Sense of Place Project is a one-year action research and
training project, taking place throughout 2006 in the Cumbria, Durham and
Northumberland Leader+ areas of Northern England. These areas include some of
the most scenic and remote upland areas in the country, with unique landscapes –
many of which have protected status – containing a network of farming and rural
communities, each with its own traditions, culture and heritage.
The project
aims to:
·
Identify if, and how, elements in the cultural
landscape of upland Northern England might contribute to community
sustainability and development.
·
Explore the meaning of ‘sense of place’ and
‘cultural identity’ to participating communities.
·
Identify potential community based landscape,
cultural and heritage features, activities and organisations which can provide
the basis for future development projects and actions in the participating
Leader+ areas.
·
Provide events, training workshops and
reciprocal visits for participating communities, organisations and individuals,
around themes relating to cultural landscape and project development.
·
Test whether the concept of ‘Sense of Place’
can be used as a future development tool throughout the Leader+ network across
the UK and Europe.
Perceptions
of cultural identity, sense of place and belonging are at the heart of the
project. The concept is based on the hypothesis that cultural identity and sense
of place are defined by tangible and intangible heritages from the deep past to
the present. The ‘ecomuseum’ framework is also central to the project, an
ecomuseum being a defined geographical area with distinctive landscape, cultural
and heritage features that are recognised, protected and interpreted by local
communities and people. Ecomuseums are found worldwide, and can be an important
means of development for isolated rural communities. (www.ecomusei.net).
The project was developed by the
three Leader+ Groups in Cumbria, Durham and Northumberland, the International
Centre for the Uplands, Newcastle University and the Hidden Britain Centres
Cumbria Project.
The project is administered by
the International Centre for the Uplands, and funded by the three Leader+ Groups
in Cumbria, Durham and Northumberland. Peter Davis, Professor of Museology at
Newcastle University, is the Project Adviser, providing specialist knowledge and
expertise. These organizations and individuals form the Project Management Group
for the Sense of Place Project.
Jenny Smith, who previously
managed the Hidden Britain Centres Cumbria Project, is the Sense of Place
Project Officer, responsible for developing and implementing the project.
A Project Advisory Group will
also be set up early in 2006, which will include wider representation from
communities and organizations in the participating Leader+ areas.
For more information on the
Sense of Place Project, contact the ICUC team.
Tel: 01772 894240
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