Interpreting African American History Workshop offered in January 2017, Charleston, SC

The entry below is reprinted from the Engaging Places blog.  In my experience these kinds of interpretation/cultural heritage workshops can be an incredibly rich and quick way to significantly understand and undertake cultural heritage interpretation projects.  This one sounds particularly interesting and is inexpensive besides (other than the lodging and travel).

It's also a great time to visit Charleston, SC.  There, the Preservation Society of Charleston has a public storefront on King Street, the main shopping street.  It's a very public presence promoting historic preservation and an example that I wish more historic preservation groups would adopt.


Charleston is the home of the modern vernacular/neighborhood historic preservation movement, spurred by the actions of Susan Pringle Frost.  Ironically, besides being a response to disinvestment, it was a response to the "incursion" of gas stations in neighborhoods.  In 1931, Charleston passed legislation creating the country's first neighborhood historic district.

Interpreting African American History Workshop offered in January 2017, Charleston, SC

The National Museum of African American History and Culture, in partnership with the Association of African American Museums, the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission at James Island County Park – Charleston, SC, and the National Association for Interpretation are offering a week-long workshop on the interpretation of African American history and culture from January 15-22, 2017 in Charleston, South Carolina.

Charleston is an ideal place to study historic sites and African American history because of the diversity of interpretive methods used in the region (plus it’s a wonderful place to be in January). The 32-hour workshop includes:

• The history of the interpretation profession
• The principles of interpretation
• The thematic approach to developing and delivering interpretation that connects audiences to historical resources in meaningful ways
• Current literature in the field of interpretation

In addition to the training course, the workshop will include 18 hours visiting and analyzing the interpretation of African American history and culture, including methodology, at a variety of historic sites in Charleston.  Upon completion, participants receive Interpretive Guide Certification from the National Association for Interpretation.

Registration is $300 and includes tuition, most meals, lodging, and local travel. Applications must be received by Monday, November 21, 2016 by 5 pm EST and applicants must be members of the Association of African American Museums (not a member? It’s easy to join for $55 as individuals).  Note: the application process is competitive and extensive, so this is not a last-minute process.