The Public Interface of Heritage Sites in Rochester, NY

1. The Public Interface of Heritage Sites in Rochester, NY A multi-site, qualitative study of preservation entities Adele Anderson Ann Pearlman Wesley Mills State University of New York

2. Local preservation groups occupy multiple resource ecologies simultaneously. • They represent consumption alternatives • They are part of a larger media ecology • They compete for space,places & events • They seek attention and support for public issues of resource allocation, and bid for • Time that people allocate to non-paid activity

3. Heritage places and preservation groups compete for resources • Audience awareness amid flashy, large, and well known, well funded attractions. • Advocacy for their missions to audiences; alternate uses could preempt their locations and activities otherwise • Public exposure and support—but the wrong strategies to achieve this can also jeopardize local sponsorship, meaning, and authenticity.

4. Appreciative Inquiry Research After initial description, asks questions rather than posing recommendations, regarding cultural and communications issues

5. Cultural questions about preservation • What are the subject and object of preservation and representation? • Who are the producers/hosts/representers and how do they establish the authenticity and authority of their mission? (collectivism and relativism of authenticity) • Who are the audiences and who the cultural insiders? • What knowledge and networks connnect #2 and #3? • If the engagement is mediated, how does it represent the mission and organization? (all communicated information is a representation)

6. Attracting the Support of Audiences in Rochester: Three Preservation Entities

7. Landmark Societyhttp://www.landmarksociety.org/ “discover, protect, and revitalize the architectural and related cultural heritage of the Rochester region, and to educate and inform our community about that heritage.”

8. Landmark Society Profile • Nonprofit corporation affiliated with other historic, architectural, and preservation entities • Audiences: Many older, affluent, may be conservative in outlook, relatively well educated; yet some events are also geared for children and the general public • Experts and insiders: Founders, managerial staff, educators, curators, other consultants, trained docents and volunteers; partner associations.

9. Historic house museums, private gardens, churches and public sites Trips, tours, shows, and talks Offices: library and gift shop, catalog Classes and conferences on and offsite Children’s day camp at historic house site “Ghost walk,” historical Halloween theme “Walk the Walk” period actors recount abolition for public and school in local concert hall space Landmark Places and Events

10. Landmark Society knowledge network (partial list) Rochester region historical societies Rochester Preservation & Zoning Board NY State & Rochester Arts Councils University at Buffalo Western NY regional information network National Trust for Historic Preservation State historic preservation office Preservation League of NY State Preservation Action-national Rochester City Living Resource Center

11. Rochester Public Markethttp://www.ci.rochester.ny.us/PRHS/PublicMarket/index.cfm “a unique experience that transports you across 150 years of local commerce to the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of other days”

12. Rochester Public Market Profile • Overseen by a city department with services from several other city departments, director is member of an international public markets association • Audiences: Peoples with customary ties to open air markets (substantial numbers of recent immigrants), local residents with lower income; recently, young audiences from nearby college and cultural districts, for special events • Experts: Vendors, part time market staff; local historians and researchers; market associations.

13. One market site central to the city, surrounded by poor neighborhood, some warehouse areas Centennial celebration 2005 on site Holiday events, TV spots Popular concerts on off hours at market site (e.g., Bands on the Bricks) Garage sale days Chefs’ market days Non-market events at market location Festivals and fairs Public Market Places and Events

14. Public Market knowledge network (partial list) Rochester City Communications Bureau Area colleges, university, researchers City Parks & Rec. Dept. Local historians and supporters International conference of public markets Other area tourism and visitor bureaus Other area farmers’ markets

15. Braddock Bay Raptor Researchhttp://www.bbrr.org/ “Braddock Bay Raptor Research was formed to ensure continued study of the hawk migration at Braddock Bay”

16. Braddock Bay Raptor Research Profile • Nonprofit organization of founders, local residents, educators, and a small core of conservation experts • Audience: School aged children, families, the public, some college students, outdoor enthusiasts, occasional birders • Experts: Several persons of intermediate or greater birding expertise; ties to colleges, universities, national organizations

17. Braddock Bay Places and Events • Braddock Bay (state environmental department-owned land), nearby town park • Monthly education presentations at lodge • Joint banding and migration outdoor events in March, April, May, June with other organizations • Museum, school, and nature center presentations offsite

18. Nursing homes Canal festival days Groundhog festival Science museum Radio spots Town Park lodge International Migratory Bird Day Braddock Bay Presentation Venues

19. Braddock Bay knowledge network (partial list) Braddock Bay fish & wildlife Committee Cornell ornithology observatory GeneseeCountry museum NYS DEC Greece Town recreation department Community college conservation Environmental Education and Conservation Global Audobon Society Montezumaa wildlife refuge (NY State) BirdCOR (Rochester bird coalition)

20. Presentation of one or more physical sites and subjects/objects to the public Events onsite and offsite (conferences, public presentations) Web presence: E-mailing, interactions TV, Radio spots, Moving media Surface mail, newsletters and publications Library and bookstore publications Links to other organizations to participate in a wider network What does a preservation group do?

21. Using cultural features: Know who you are, what larger ecology you are a part of, and whose support you want.

22. How does the organization solve its communication challenges? • Mission and audience communicated clearly on brochure, fliers, Web site, presentations, etc. • Contacts and information clear and available to make the contacts (public relations) • Linkage to partnership or consultative relationships clearly indicated • Real time events announced in advance, current • Knowledge of its different audience segments—including newcomer access, insider enrichment access, and any special audience interest groups

23. Strategic Positioning Features

24. Emphasized Features

25. Comparative positioning • Landmark Society: Highly developed, updating communications • Braddock Bay: Developing, moving into more participatory communications but still a way to go • Public Market: Developing, moving more slowly in communications, but moving

26. Web site features • Access and platform friendliness (PC, Mac) • Load time, ease of reading, navigation • Visual representation of identity, mission • Links or rings to an interest group network • Interactivity, e-mail, retail, member outreach • Moving media, sense-appeal, learning styles • Update ability for current announcements

27. Landmark Society Web Site • Identifiable logo • Easy to load • Hierarchy to subgroups’ interests • Many links to partners • Database format so multiple staff can update regularly

28. Landmark: Current Directions • Move to databased Web site with increased updating capacity • Online membership and optional e-mail alerts • Diversified sections by interest area

29. Public Market Web Site • Hard to find and access (listed under City Recreation with a webmaster) • Events updated • Webmaster system takes longer to change • Harder to find out about volunteer group • Site map does not include street directions to find within the City; refers to other sources

30. Public Market: Current Directions • Hosting international public market conference with survey results from a local anthropology department • Updating Web site • Building “Friends of” volunteer group

31. Braddock Bay Web Site • Old site, and new site under construction • Both speak to “insiders” first • New site has discussion posting area but it is not very easy or clear how to get posting status • More membership information on new site; incomplete • Some network partners listed

32. Braddock Bay: Current Directions • Redesign of new Web site underway • Addition of visible membership opportunity, discussion area on Web • Expansion of annual event calendar and publicity • Joint educational projects with area and national partners with appropriate expertise