Case Study: 12
ENAME Centre for Public Archaeology and Heritage Presentation (Belgium)
Themes
Non-profit organisation to develop and disseminate expertise relating to the scientific study and
public presentation of archaeological sites and historical monuments both in Ename and at partner
sites throughout the world.
Keywords: Belgium, archaeology, historical monuments, international collaboration, heritage policy,
heritage interpretation, heritage technology
Relation to wider policy agendas
e-inclusion: widen access
e-learning: enhanced learning and research opportunities
Demand
Founded in 1998, the Centre grew out of the experience gained by the Ename 974 Project,
a comprehensive programmeme of archaeological excavation, architectural restoration, and public
outreach based in the village of Ename within the municipality of Oudenaarde in the Province of
East-Flanders. This award-winning project and its state-of-the-art community museum have received
support from the European Commission and have been recognised for the use of innovative technologies
for archaeological interpretation.
The Ename Centre's continuing goal is to develop a wide range of heritage presentation techniques and
programmes based on high scholarly standards of archaeological and historical research. The Centre's
interpretive programmes seek to convey the importance and excitement of the past to local and international
audiences through the use of multimedia and virtual reality presentation techniques as well as active academic
and educational projects in community heritage and outreach.
Description
Ename's past is presented to the public in an innovative archaeological park (open-air museum),
an architectural monument (The Saint Laurentius Church; Ottonian style), a state-of-the-art community
museum (Provinciaal Museum 't Ename) and in a nature reserve ('The woods of Ename').
Based on the achievements of the Ename Project and the presentation of the Ename Provincial Museum,
the Ename Centre for Public Archaeology and Heritage Presentation was established to fulfill the following
Objectives:
- To develop a wide range of heritage presentation techniques and programmes based on high scholarly
standards of archaeological and historical research;
- To present the importance and excitement of the past to local and international audiences through the
use of multimedia and virtual reality presentation techniques, as well as through active academic and
educational projects in community heritage and outreach;
- To establish international consortia for scholarly communication and cooperation in research and
development of new technological aspects of heritage presentation; design of site-specific interpretive
programmes; development of educational heritage programmes; organisation of international conferences and
scholarly exchange programmes; and the organisation of conferences and seminars regarding the evolving
techniques and ethical and professional standards for the presentation of archaeological sites.
Products/ services
- To test the applicability of new technologies such as virtual reconstruction methods; user interfaces for
virtually reconstructed sites; heritage interpretation on the web; digital information storage; technology
to exchange ideas; and methods and data between international scholars for heritage presentation.
- To offer practical solutions to technical problems encountered in the development of heritage presentation
projects, both nationally and internationally;
- To analyses proposed technical specifications, formulate suitable technical solutions and identify
technology partners to realise projects within time and budget.
- The translation of recovered archaeological data into effective interpretive programmes and presentations
for the general public in the Ename Centre;
- To work with scholars, administrators and educators at partner sites to craft interpretive programmes
suited to the needs and interests of both foreign visitors and the local community;
- To develop educational programmes for students of all ages together with educational networks and community
outreach programmes; and conferences and workshops on public archaeology;
- To establish an annual multidisciplinary heritage course entitled Archaeology and Heritage in Flanders:
A Multicultural European Past conducted in conjunction with the Centre for Heritage Resource Studies of the
University of Maryland to promote the formal integration of heritage into university curricula;
- The publication of proceedings of conferences and workshops organised by the Ename Centre in Interpreting
the Past, a series from the Institute for the Archaeological Heritage of the Flemish Community;
- The close cooperation with archaeologists and researchers at partner sites to disclose reliable scientific
information for the creation of international heritage presentation projects;
- Close cooperation with the Ename 974 project and the Institute for the Archaeological Heritage of the
Flemish Community to create a multidisciplinary research group which is an integral part of the Francia
Media Project.
Barriers/constraints
- The Ename Centre is structurally linked to the provincial archaeological museum and the Flemish
antiquities
service and these local administrative ties are not always compatible with an international mission;
- The focus on local presentation objectives (maintaining a specific archaeological site and serving
a local
audience) doesn't easily facilitate cooperation with academic institutions whose main mission is research and
teaching;
- The challenge of establishing effective relationships with private firms engaged in heritage presentation
as The Ename Centre wants to establish procedures and guidelines for interaction with SMEs, both through
its own project as well in its role as one of the managing partners of the EPOCH Network of the Sixth
Framework Programme).
Keys to success
- The multidisciplinary mission of the project has allowed the Ename Centre to build a team with a
range of academic and professional specialisations: Archaeology, History, Engineering, Information
Technologies, Tourism, Education, Graphic Design, and Industrial Design;
- Experience with site presentation projects in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and the Middle East
have contributed to a good understanding of the needs of local authorities in the heritage field.
- Extensive international connections;
- Research partnerships.
Impact
- Through its participation in the EPOCH Network, the Ename Centre is active in carrying out surveys
in the use of IT in cultural heritage interpretation. The results of its study of stakeholder needs and
technological integration will be essential in the formulation of a research agenda and a long-term European
strategy;
- The development of new multimedia applications (TimeScope, TimeLine, ArchaeoLab) aimed at the general
public including school groups and community organisations.
Dissemination of lessons learned
In addition to organising courses and conferences and maintaining several websites to disseminate
information on its ongoing projects, the Ename Centre publishes a series entitled Interpreting the
Past, in conjunction with the Flemish Heritage Institute
(VIOE).
Domains involved
Archaeology, museum, monument, nature reserve (in Ename); heritage sites (elsewhere in Belgium and abroad)
Geographical coverage
Belgium
Standards/Guidelines used
ICOMOS Ename Charter for the Interpretation
of Cultural Heritage Sites
(currently under review by the International Scientific Committees and National Committees of ICOMOS).
This document contains a number of general principles of cultural heritage communication.
Partnership
Province of East-Flanders
The Flemish Heritage Institute (VIOE)
Administration Monuments and Landscapes of the Flemish Community
Municipality of Oudenaarde
Funding sources
The Province of East-Flanders is the main sponsor of the Provincial Archaeological Museum Ename and is an
active supporter of the interpretive and heritage education programmes of the Ename Centre.
The Flemish Heritage Institute (VIOE) is responsible for the archaeological research at Ename and
participates in the educational and research programmes of the Ename Centre.
The Administration Monuments and Landscapes of the Flemish Community works closely with the Ename
team in the presentation of the historical monuments and environment of the Scheldt Valley and supports
the historical and ecological research in the 'Bos t'Ename' nature reserve.
The Municipality of Oudenaarde, in coordination with the Province of East-Flanders, supports the operation
and continuing development of the Ename Archaeological Park.
Lifespan of project
1998 -
Status of project
Ongoing
Relates to
Ename Centre
Ename 974
EPOCH Network
Francia Media Project
CHIRON (Cultural Heritage Informatics Research Oriented Network)
Host Organisation
ENAME Centre for Public Archaeology and Heritage Presentation
Organisation type
Non Profit Organisation with 15 members of staff:
Director, Coordinator New Technologies and EPOCH Project, administration team of 3,
multimedia team of 3, research team of 4 (art historian, archaeologist, project member EPOCH,
technical Writer), development team of 3 (coordinator educational projects, communications coordinator,
coordinator technological projects).
The Ename Centre is currently developing a wide range of projects and initiatives that employ
information technology to improve cultural heritage communication to the general public. Its work
is focused on four main themes:
- 'Memory and Identity: How Does the Past Shape the Present?'
Recognising the important contemporary social context of archaeological sites and historical monuments,
the Ename Centre studies current practices and techniques of heritage commemoration to help in the
formulation of public policy and develop innovative interpretive programmes for the general public.
- 'Open Access to Heritage: How Do We Discover and Understand the Past?' The new information technologies
offer powerful new tools for the recording and presenting historical and archaeological data. Through its
experience and international partnerships in the field of Cultural Heritage information technology, the Ename
Centre is active in encouraging research and development of new digital applications for data analysis,
visualization, and public presentation.
- 'Sustainable Heritage: How Do We Preserve Remains of the Past for the Future?' Effective heritage
management requires the study of stakeholder needs and formulation of best practices in interpretation
and community involvement. Both activities play an important role in the Ename Centre's work, as does
the development of non-intrusive digital reconstruction methods for archaeological sites and historical
landscapes.
- 'Who Owns the Past?: What are the Economic and Non-Economic Values of Heritage?' With communities
increasingly viewing heritage resources as a basis for local economic growth, the Ename Centre is involved
in assessing the impact (both positive and negative) of such strategies through the study of private and
public sector interaction and formulation of new modes of sustainable heritage development.
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