The Cumbrian heritage sector is welcoming visitors again, with all heritage attractions, even those with indoor space only, able to open from mid-May.
With this long-awaited and welcome news fuelling its enthusiasm, Cumbrian heritage group, Cumbria’s Living Heritage is back out of wraps and ready to thrill those ‘all ears’ when it comes to picking up on cultural, heritage, gardens and food news.
Heritage lovers invariably feel enriched by what the past brings to the present, but when it comes to the 2021 season, the number 13 is going to be very lucky for some.
Despite Covid-19’s impacts on the cultural sector and its venues, the dynamic Cumbria’s Living Heritage, is still emerging with great optimism and 13 fabulous members are ready to wow visitors who may well appreciate them more than ever before. What’s more, the members are gearing up to do it in a brand-new way, to add to their marketing output.
Whilst the group’s size has unsurprisingly shrunk because of the financial situation and the downsizing of heritage charities, the 13 who remain are full of independent spirit and ready to champion the county of Cumbria’s heritage more fiercely than ever before.
The 13 members comprise, in alphabetical order, Askham Hall, Blackwell, Brantwood, Brockhole LDNP, Dalemain Mansion, Holker Hall, Hutton-in-the-Forest, Keswick Museum, Levens Hall, Mirehouse, Muncaster, Rydal Mount and Wordsworth Grasmere/Dove Cottage.
Cumbria’s Living Heritage proved expert at keeping in touch with prospective visitors through virtual means during the past year, with initiatives such as a Virtual Cumbrian Flower Show, Post-It Notes of Positivity and their own cultural CD actually generating them more exposure than ever. They are now going all out to add value to their visitor offering, to encourage visitors to lend them their support and help them back on the road to recovery.
The foot is on the pedal when it comes to attracting in-person visitors and the group knows that delivering virtual inspiration before a visit is as important as the experience itself.
Research conducted amongst 1000 consumers by its PR company has shown them that nearly one-in-five (19%)want to have information about a venue in advance of a visit. The group is preparing to provide it in the most current and relevant way.
The group is now generating podcast outputs, as part of the ‘Poodling Around’ podcast show, already available on Spotify and soon to be on other channels, with a first episode introducing the 13 members. Links and soundbites to the podcasts will be included in Cumbria’s Living Heritage social media posts too.
The podcast will regularly feature interviews with Cumbria’s Living Heritage members, throughout the 2021 season, offering the low-down on what’s going on within the 13 member venues, on an ongoing basis and teasing out the quirky and the different, the up-and-coming and the must-do.
However, the podcast will also look for opportunities to do exactly what the group does for visitors – linking past with present. It will seek out news to which members can perhaps link in some way, offering a perspective from the past that adds illumination to the here and now.
It will also offer mouth-watering updates on what the group’s brilliant tearooms are serving or offering to visitors, finding out from where the inspiration for recipes comes.
“We are very excited about this new departure and being able to stay in touch with visitors and inspire visits through audio,” says Chair of Cumbria’s Living Heritage, Peter Frost-Pennington. “We have long had a website and social media channels, newsletters and media profile but this will be brand-new and deliver fantastic insight, right into earpieces. It was an opportunity not to miss.”
The group also has a highly creative programme of ideas to implement in its marketing this year and is determined to thrive, so it can welcome former members back, when hopefully things are better for all. As the past has often taught us, sunshine follows rain.
To find out more about Cumbria’s Living Heritage and its members, head to www.cumbriaslivingheritage.co.uk or listen to the podcast at Spotify or at https://bit.ly/3xukCFr
