Clarifying Interpretive Themes

Using interpretive themes will make your program planning easier and more effective!

Interpretive Themes

A common misconception we often come across when planning interpretive programs or services is that of developing interpretive themes.

The following are a few ideas and examples that will help make interpretive theme planning process easier and more effective.

So what exactly is an interpretive theme?

The interpretive theme is the central concept or key idea of any interpretive experience or presentation. Not only does the development of an interpretive theme provide organizational structure and clarity of purpose of the program, it also has a dramatic effect on the whole business planning process.

Interpretive themes help you plan exhibits and manage visitors; they determine how you train your staff, who your market is and what you sell in the gift shop.

Themes are all encompassing and the single most important element in the interpretive planning process.

Once an interpretive theme has been established, everything you do in effectively presenting that interpretive theme to the audience falls into place.

What makes an interpretive theme?

Interpretive themes should contain one main idea.

Interpretive themes should be stated as a short, simple, complete sentence.

Interpretive themes should reveal the overall purpose of the experience, program or activity.

Interpretive themes should be interestingly and motivationally worded

What's the difference between interpretive themes & interpretive topics?

It is important not to confuse interpretive themes with interpretive topics. Examples of interpretive topics that might be mistaken for interpretive themes might be:

Birds of the Park

Seasonal Wildflowers

Bird migration

Cooking with native plants

Remember, interpretive themes are always stated as complete sentences and ensure that they meet the other criteria noted above.

Here are some examples of interpretive themes:

We manage our habitats to benefit both people and wildlife

Garden wildlife needs your help to thrive

Tropical forests around the world have plants that heal people

Living below stairs at Wilton House was full of daily challenges

We need to preserve wetlands for five reasons

Steam engines changed our lives in three ways

In simple terms visitors exiting your heritage site should be able to summarise the interpretive theme of the interpretive experience in one succinct sentence.

As a simple experiment ask 20 visitors leaving your site what they thought the experience was all about and to sum that experience in one short sentence.

The answers you get back, if you have done your job properly, should reflect your interpretive theme.

If it doesn’t, you have a problem with your interpretive theme!