1. Connecting Audiences with Maritime Archaeology
Great to be here
Title
Refer to other talks
Anniversary of raising 35years
10 million visitors
Building Steve White – Evoking something maritime but being modern
Right next to HMS Victory
Standout but fit in WHO?
Christopher Dobbs
Valparaiso, Chile
19 October 2017
@MaryRoseMuseum

2. Battle of The Solent – 19 July 1545
History
Battle of The Solent – 19 July 1545

3. To connect audiences with maritime archaeology
in the 21st century, we have to do it
in a way relevant to that audience

4. Just a book on a wall? – No
To connect audiences with maritime archaeology
in the 21st century, we have to do it
in a way relevant to that audience 4

5. Just showcases? - No To connect audiences with maritime archaeology
in the 21st century, we have to do it
in a way relevant to that audience 5

6. We wanted to present Maritime Archaeology in a relevant way
People are interested in people
They objects can help us to tell stories
Illustrate life at all levels of society
There is something to interest everyone
The Mary Rose objects are intensely personal
The objects
The ship
The people 6

7. Archaeology - the context of the artefacts is key:
So one of the concepts is to display the hull
opposite thousands of the objects

8. Archaeology - the context of the artefacts is key:
So one of the concepts is to display the hull
opposite thousands of the objects

9. Archaeology - the context of the artefacts is key:

10. Interpreting the Mary Rose for a 21st-century audience
Using personal items

12. Interpreting the Mary Rose for a 21st-century audience
This museum is dedicated to
those who lost their lives when
the Mary Rose sank on
19th July 1545
Here you will see their possessions
and some of their remains
Telling stories
The museum is about real people
It’s not about a ship
MB Matthew – A ship is not enough
CD – It;’s not about a ship

13. Interpreting the Mary Rose for a 21st century audience –
Using film to put life back in the ship

15. Interpreting the Mary Rose for a 21st century audience –
Using film to put life back in the ship
Authenticity
Integrity
Sensitivity

16. VR / 3D CGI or the real thing in 3D?
Competing with computer games, Hollywood, Disney etc –they have more resources
A U.S.P. of museums is that we have the real thing – so why promote VR??
VR can be done in people’s homes or by competitors
Quite often it is an individual not a group experience
Conversely as we can’t really tour our real items - should we tour a virtual museum?

17. Real Vs Replica? We have a way of distinguishing between the two:
we use frosted Perspex to denote modern bits

18. Real Vs Replica? We decided not to rebuild the ship with modern stuff
We don’t mix real and replica

19. Interpreting the Mary Rose for a 21st century audience –
Giving access
Appealing to different senses
Hearing
Touch
Smell
Hearing
Touch
Smell
Balance

20. Information points
Drill down like Simon Stephens

21. Some quotes from Trip Advisor …
 “Absolutely breath-taking mind-blowing exhibition of the ship and its contents…”
 "This is by far the best museum I have ever been in."
"This has to be one of the best museums in the world."
“There has been so much thought, love and attention put into this attraction!”
Trip Advisor score
October 2017:
4.95 (= 99%)

22. Connecting Audiences with Maritime Archaeology

23. Connecting Audiences with Maritime Archaeology
Great to be here
Title
Refer to other talks
Anniversary of raising 35years
10 million visitors
Building Steve White – Evoking something maritime but being modern
Right next to HMS Victory
Standout but fit in WHO?
Christopher Dobbs
Valparaiso, Chile
19 October 2017
@MaryRoseMuseum

25. Interpreting the Mary Rose for a 21st century audience –
Giving access
Showing the real thing
Using personal items
Telling personal stories
Using different media
Appealing to different senses
Giving Access: Physically
Intellectually

26. Interpreting the Mary Rose for a 21st century audience –
Giving access
Physically and Intellectually
Aiming for a comparable visit – not identical
Considering visitors with differing abilities
Different levels of intellectual capacity
Visitors from different countries / cultures

27. Sir Francis Drake “O Lord God, when thou givest to thy servant
to endeavour any great matter,
grant us also to know that it is not the beginning,
but the continuing of the same unto the end,
until it be thoroughly finished,
which yieldeth the true glory.”

28. Geoff Hunt painting

29. Helping the local economy
Visitor type %
Number
Spend per head (£) *
Total spend (£)
Day Visitors
(from home) 52
207,079 23
4,833,000
Day Visitors (on holiday) 27
107,522 38
4,139,000
Staying Visitors 21
83,628
148
12,376,000
Total
100%
398,228 -
£21,348,000
Over £21 million per year is spent locally by visitors
US $32 million per year
* Data from Tourism Southeast

30. Mary Rose Trust Objectives (1979)
To find
… record
… excavate
… raise
… bring ashore
… publish
… report on
… preserve and
... display for all time in Portsmouth the Mary Rose
… all for the education and benefit of the nation

31. The French Armada of July 1545

32. Mary Rose Trust Objectives (1979)
To find
… record
… excavate
… raise
… bring ashore
… publish
… report on
… preserve and
... display for all time in Portsmouth the Mary Rose
… all for the education and benefit of the nation

33. 34 years!
Raised 1982
Final Museum opening 2016

34. Notes for Megan Obviously very unfinished Ends at slide 25
Some of the bits in large type are notes for me
Yucky lilac slide or pics are ones I used in HK so I want to change
Black slides are videos that probably won’t load for you now
Blue slides with just a title are the areas I am working on what my point is and thinking of what images to use to re-enforce the point

35. And … archaeology needs to be at the heart of the interpretation
Between 1979 and 1982
- Over 28,000 dives
Over 500 divers
29,000 registered finds

36. Archaeology - the context of the artefacts is key: