AHI Journal Volume 29, Number 2, Winter 2024

The theme for this issue is storytelling. Interpreters tell stories. How can we harness the power of storytelling techniques to meaningfully and emotionally engage audiences? Three case studies give insights into how this has been done in very different contexts and using different interpretive approaches. These focus on how interpretive design frames storytelling at Bath Abbey, creative writing for outdoor audio installations in South Downs National Park, and co-producing new stories about woodlands in Buxton, Derbyshire. You will also find research results and practical tips about storytelling elsewhere in the Journal.

Interpretation Hacks features practical tips on performance storytelling in Live Interpretation, writing narratives in Write Track, carbon offsetting in Sustainable Interpretation and non-linear storytelling in Digital Horizons. We also put the spotlight on AHI’s excellent ‘Writing interpretation for children and families’ best-practice guideline.

There is a review of the Book of Kells Experience at Trinity College Dublin.

This issue’s Provocative Fellow is Eric Langham who extends the storytelling theme. He argues that interpreters should ditch key messages for stories and diversify who tells these stories before asking the question – can we move from storytelling to story-making?

Interpretation Research Lab features Philip Ryland’s field study of answers to his question, ‘What helps to bring a story to life for you?’ at a range of heritage and cultural sites. We also have a report about final year projects by undergraduate students at the London College of Communication in partnership with York Archives and interpretive designers Bright White Ltd that provides insights into how to make collections relevant to Gen Z.