Tourism, heritage, technology - challenge fund

HIE is delighted to announce the winners of the Tourism Heritage and Technology challenge fund.

Launched in late November 2006, the winners were selected from a very competitive field of 53 applications. The winners were selected in three categories, and each wins up to £40,000 to take forward their ideas:

The winners in each category were: 

Site-based - Macbeth the King

Based in Moray this will deliver a compelling visitor experience, blending drama and historical fact, through the medium of mobile technologies.

Community-based – Galson Trust

Hosted by Galson Estate Trust, on Lewis, with technical input from Lews Castle College, UHI and other partners, this project aims to explore the benefits of bringing together state-of-the-art online social networking technology with the local knowlege and enthusiasm of the community to improve access to cultural and heritage resources for both tourists and locals.

Destination-based – Visual Arts Sutherland

Breathtaking geography makes Sutherland a unique area. This project will design and create a highly original and technologically innovative virtual studio trail linking artists and craft businesses with the outstanding heritage of the area.

Further details of the winning projects can be downloaded here, right, in Adobe pdf format.

Link to associated HIE news release

The winners will be leaving shortly to visit the world famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology to learn about the latest developments in using technology to link tourism and heritage. On their return they will work with the newly established Distance Lab in Forres to ensure their projects are as innovative and exciting as possible.

Each of the winners has until November this year to complete their project and they will present their final work at an international conference on 21st November in Aviemore.

The other applicants have been put in touch with their local enterprise companies and will be helped to make future connections through working with Fusion.

The THT challenge fund was created to encourage, innovative and collaborative working between sectors across the Highlands and Islands, and encouraged applications for projects in the use of technology to connect tourism and heritage.