XpoNorth helps heritage groups stay connected through the coronavirus crisis

Heritage organisations across the Highlands and Islands are being offered a chance to keep in touch with the public, thanks to creative industries conference XpoNorth.

While the outbreak of Covid-19 has forced north heritage organisations to close their doors, XpoNorth has been looking at how new technologies could allow them to launch fresh products and services and engage with the public.

XpoNorth's Heritage HangOuts series will offer specialist advice on how to use technology to tell their stories and create high-value digital experiences for their customer base.

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.”

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.

It will build on the XpoNorth Heritage programme launched in February, which connected heritage groups with creative professionals 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 take place on 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 that would like to book a slot, contact Nicola Henderson at nicolahenderson@xponorth.co.uk

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