Historic Interpreters conduct tours at museums or historical sites and provide information about the history associated with historic collections or sites. These individuals may also be referred to as Museum Animators or Museum Guides. Alternately, Historic Interpreters provide costumed interpretations of historical events for tour groups.
Under the supervision of knowledgeable museum staff, Historic Interpreters conduct research to develop programs for people of all ages and write scripts for interpretive plays. They demonstrate activities that would have taken place during specific time periods such as crafts and cooking.
Historic Interpreters are employed by governments and museums.
Skills
A museum is an institution that collects, archives, preserves, exhibits and interprets cultural, historical and physical information and artifacts for the benefit of the community.
Preserving Our Identity
Heritage refers to the inheritance of the past; monuments, buildings, land, artifacts, language, traditions, folklore, and social and economic practices. A career in cultural heritage means preserving, reviving, and bringing past events and traditions to the present. Career options are far reaching – tourism, design, storytelling, and education are some of the areas in which our cultural heritage thrives. The workforce includes, educators, archivists, restorers and preservationists, architects and curators. A career in cultural heritage means preserving our history and identity.
Events, Traditions, Methods
A career in heritage preservation comes with great responsibility – to accurately communicate information about past events, to share traditions from times long ago, to preserve and pass along methods of building, design and construction. Working in this field requires specific attention to detail and accuracy. The ability to investigate, research, and compile complex findings.
Community Service
Heritage workers play a great role with the community, their work is displayed in public places such as, historic buildings on streets, restored artifacts in galleries and museums, or documents in archival institutions like libraries. They plan, organize, and analyze their findings in order to clearly communicate intricate ideas to many people. A heritage worker interacts with people of all ages, acting as a resource or assisting others with their own research. They are ambassadors of customer service.
People – Connections
Heritage workers love history and enjoy connecting the past with the present through language and art. Above and beyond all of the duties, expectations, and responsibilities that come with being a part of the heritage workforce, is a desire to preserve and protect their identity and their community’s identity.
A background in history or museum experience is an asset.