UVM Theses and Dissertations
Format:
Print
Author:
Pontius, Lindsay
Title:
Dept./Program:
College of Education and Social Services
Year:
2010
Degree:
Ed. D.
Abstract:
Rural communities throughout the nation are struggling with out-migration, loss ofjOQs, and economic decline along with limited opportunities for youth, isolation and lack oftolerance for those with different ways of seeing the world (W.K. Kellogg Foundation, 2004). The Adirondack Park in Northern, New York faces a host of similar challenges including a paucity of year-round jobs, out-migration, decreasing school enrollment and an increase in second and third home owners. In 2007, a federal organization awarded funding for a tri-partnership to develop capacity in a network of heritage centers that are strategically placed as gateways to Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Park. The partners included a regional tourism agency, a pre-existing heritage network and a county museum. The three-year heritage center project was an effort to increase capacity of tourism and, at the same time, empower and revitalize the local year-round community. The funding was awarded to the program because of its innovative approach involving the museum in the implementation of a community partnership initiative.
The purpose of the qualitative case study was to understand the roles that a museum can play to engage the local community in implementing a rural heritage tourism initiative and promoting social inclusion.
The literature on rural tourism initiatives has identified that some local residents perceived negative social impacts of tourism on their communities such as changes to traditional culture, more vandalism in the community and the phenomenon of high spending tourists negatively affecting the host community's way of life (Murdy, 1999; Tosun, 2000). Museums have the ability to encompass individual, community and societal change by addressing self-esteem, sense of place, community self-determination and by promoting "inter-community respect" and tolerance by challenging stereotypes (Sandell, p. 45). Museums can bring to a network of collaborating community agencies knowledge, staff, employment opportunities, collections, exhibits and space or a venue (Jackson, 2002). Museums have been asked to undergo change, to look critically at local issues that were formerly ignored, and take an active service role in the community (Kammen, 2003; Suchy, 2004). There are similarities between the efforts of heritage tourism organizations to consider people and stories as anchors for interpretation (Bacon, Yuen, & Korza 1999; Laven, 2006) and the work of museums to make meaningful connections with communities and become lively centers for civic engagement (Gogan, 2005).
The study was conducted in the eight heritage centers involved in the Aqirondack Gateways Networks. It included 33 interviews with initiative participants, observations of trainings, workshops and network meetings; and a document review. Five interwoven themes emerged supporting the role ofmuseums in the initiative: 1) engaging the local community in the "doing ofhistory" (Kammen, 2002); 2) Re-investing in the heritage centers as facilities for collections and as sustainable organizational entities; 3) Energizing the community through creative partnerships; 4) Creating a forum for meaningful resident involvement; and 5) Encountering cultural challenges and barriers. Results from the study will help museums extend their reach into communities. The results will also link together key elements and social inclusion strategies for cultural heritage and rural tourism initiatives.
The purpose of the qualitative case study was to understand the roles that a museum can play to engage the local community in implementing a rural heritage tourism initiative and promoting social inclusion.
The literature on rural tourism initiatives has identified that some local residents perceived negative social impacts of tourism on their communities such as changes to traditional culture, more vandalism in the community and the phenomenon of high spending tourists negatively affecting the host community's way of life (Murdy, 1999; Tosun, 2000). Museums have the ability to encompass individual, community and societal change by addressing self-esteem, sense of place, community self-determination and by promoting "inter-community respect" and tolerance by challenging stereotypes (Sandell, p. 45). Museums can bring to a network of collaborating community agencies knowledge, staff, employment opportunities, collections, exhibits and space or a venue (Jackson, 2002). Museums have been asked to undergo change, to look critically at local issues that were formerly ignored, and take an active service role in the community (Kammen, 2003; Suchy, 2004). There are similarities between the efforts of heritage tourism organizations to consider people and stories as anchors for interpretation (Bacon, Yuen, & Korza 1999; Laven, 2006) and the work of museums to make meaningful connections with communities and become lively centers for civic engagement (Gogan, 2005).
The study was conducted in the eight heritage centers involved in the Aqirondack Gateways Networks. It included 33 interviews with initiative participants, observations of trainings, workshops and network meetings; and a document review. Five interwoven themes emerged supporting the role ofmuseums in the initiative: 1) engaging the local community in the "doing ofhistory" (Kammen, 2002); 2) Re-investing in the heritage centers as facilities for collections and as sustainable organizational entities; 3) Energizing the community through creative partnerships; 4) Creating a forum for meaningful resident involvement; and 5) Encountering cultural challenges and barriers. Results from the study will help museums extend their reach into communities. The results will also link together key elements and social inclusion strategies for cultural heritage and rural tourism initiatives.