Content & interpretation

The best stories are often hidden, deep in people’s memories, and among the pages of unexpected archives. Our extensive curatorial experience means that we know what makes a good story and where to find them.

Our aim is to share these stories about art, culture, and heritage with others. This not only facilitates understanding and appreciation, but also fosters public awareness and engagement. An indication of the range of projects for which we have developed content and interpretation is shared below, where target audiences range from the general public through to specialist academics.

We deliver content and interpretation site plans, collections development, exhibitions, university degree course units and professional practice training, culture and heritage tours, significance assessments, publications, and for other purposes.

Interpretation plans

We prepare interpretation plans for museums, exhibitions, cultural tourism destinations, historic houses, and World Heritage sites.

Al-Faw was inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO in July 2024. Known as the western gateway of the great ar-Rubʿ al-Khali desert, Al-Faw covers 4,847 hectares and encompasses around 12,000 archaeological features. These testify to two main spatially distinct stages of human occupation: from prehistoric nomadic and semi-nomadic presence to an urban settlement when an ancient caravan city developed in the oasis between the second half of the 1st millennium BCE and the 5th century CE.

The creation of interpretation and visitation facilities to present the cultural landscape and the archaeological site is a key component of the cultural strategy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the Nominated Property.

Collections development

Despite the many changes that our sectors are witnessing, for many, the collections remain at the heart of the organisation’s mandate. They provide tangible connections to stories and help bring contemporary culture and history to life.

We provide support ranging from individual acquisition research through to defining overarching collecting principles.

University degree courses and training in professional practice

We have developed undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses and professional development training in culture, heritage, and museum practice. Our work assists students and professional staff to develop the knowledge, research skills and practical experience to make a difference in the sector.

Such a dynamic sector requires constant attention to the latest trends and developments to remain relevant as well as provide a stimulating and engaging learning environments.

Culture and heritage audio tours

Our work brings together the enjoyment, knowledge and experience of the world that we live in. Through our audioguide walking tours we share the art, culture and heritage stories that create memorable experiences.

Walking audio tours that we have created and produced include

· Gouda, The Netherlands Canals, colonies and, of course, cheese
· Sharjah, United Arab Emirates Pearl merchants & palm trees in Sharjah
· Hattem, The Netherlands Windmills, bakeries & possibly ghosts in Hattem
· Utrecht, The Netherlands Castles, canals & good folk in Utrecht

Walking, driving and metro train tours that we have created and written for others include

· Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates The Historical Heart of Abu Dhabi: Around Al Hosn Site (for Department of Culture & Tourism)
· Liwa Oasis, United Arab Emirates Discover Liwa Driving Tour (for Department of Culture & Tourism)
· Dubai, United Arab Emirates Metro Moments. Historic Dubai from DXB Airport to Burj Khalifa (for Dubai Tourism)
· Dubai, United Arab Emirates Metro Moments. Historic Dubai from Burj Khalifa to DXB Airport (for Dubai Tourism)

Collection significance assessments

Through extensive curatorial research in combination with consultation with experts, we prepare collection significance assessments. The assessment is used to determine the meaning and values of public and corporate collections to identify what makes them important. Undertaken through research and analysis, and by assessment against criteria relating to the historic, aesthetic, scientific and social values that an item or collection has for the past, present, and future.

Peer review publications and professional journals

Academic and professional journals demand formality and strict structure in the exploration and presentation of new ideas and fresh research. Our experience writing for these contexts is in museum practice, heritage studies, Middle Eastern archaeology, and cultural trends.

This output includes a research paper that was originally presented at the conference ‘Fashion in Fiction. Style stories and transglobal narratives’ City University Hong Kong. It was selected as one of five to be included in the Special issue of the Journal of Clothing Cultures: Transglobal fashion narratives & style cultures.

Site tour narratives

Al-Fahidi has long been the place to go for a glimpse of old Dubai. This pocket-sized neighbourhood is characterised by narrow alleyways and buildings made from traditional materials such as coral, teak, sandalwood, and palm fronds. Al-Fahidi is currently being revitalised to make it even more appealing to locals and visitor s alike.

Culture Counsel devised the content for on-site interpretation as part of the site’s activation programme.