Cartography

Couldn't find the exact map that I wanted for my tours - so having to create my own - tracing from an old map. So far I have worked out the route (red dots) but not exactly everything that i will say on the way - or how exactly I want to make the brochure (tourist information map).
There is a lot to do before next weeks tour.

Tour Guide Costume Design

Route Planning

Luckily for me I decided to plan my route for the tour on the 20th yesterday. (lucky because now there is a blizzard outside.) So I set off with the GPS device and my camera to plan where I will be taking the Polish artists on their tour.

What this city really needs...

In response to the lecture I went to 'lectures in regeneration' from the architects that had put in a bid for Stoke-on-Trent's public realm but had lost out to Glen Howells I have been thinking about their approach and I really liked it.
They also spoke of the need for a city to have a champion, to drive things forward; someone who really cares about the place, and is willing to go out on a limb for the place.
Thinking about it, this is a very true observation.
Liverpool has Phil Redmond; Manchester had Tony Wilson: who does Stoke have?
In response to this I have created a badge which will be given out on my tours.
Haven't decided on the exact wording of the badge just yet, but it will be one of a few choices.
or alternatively
or perhaps

and finally

Stoke-on_trent's official tour guide

If I am going to be Stoke-on-Trent's official tour guide I will need a Tour Guide's uniform, and a flag, like the lady above.

Mediascapes

After talking to Katie I have become more convinced of the need to research the use of digital mapping. I want to create a map which tells you about what has happened somewhere in the past, and also talks about what might happen in the future: I was thinking that this would be either a physical map that you fold out (on paper) and take with you, or signage which you happen across in the place. Mediascaping seems to offer the ability to almost do the two things at once, and seems very exciting. Using a GPS (Global positioning system) and a PDA (Personal digital assistant) I could create an experiential walk that people can download and then take (without me having to be there.) As the walker enters particular zones on the route certain pieces of information, sounds and images pop up on the screen of their PDA. I don't know whether the technology will be beyond me, but I will try to learn how to use it in time for the end of the action research in March: in order to leave a downloadable walk on this site, as a legacy for this research period. Creatascape appears to be the best place to look first - offering software and help on creating a mediascape.

Stoke Garden Festival

Since the Undercover tourist initiative, and from the Tourist Information lady's suggestion I have become very interested in the Stoke-on-Trent garden festival. I have begun to purchase memorabilia from the year long event, and have also begun some excavations into the minds of people that went, or were around at the time.
I will be visiting the Festival Park with my camera soon (as soon as there is a dry and bright day) in order to take some pictures of the remanats from the Festival. I visitied the area on Saturday and found a large plaque. I hope to also develop a series of walks and become Stoke-on-Trent's official tour guide; one will be the Festival Garden's tour, one will be the City Centre Regeneration tour and I am still not sure what to make the last tour (maybe a pot bank tour or something??) I will be devleoping maps and tour packs for participants, and already have a group of 5 from Poland sugned up for a tour in February.
As well as this I have been talking to Katie Shipley about mediascapes: and the possibility of a multi-media tour, that would not require me to be there when people take the tour (but this sounds a bit sci-fi at the moment - I will look into it further...)