Now we are putting up new cultural signs
Imagine if cultural signs could function as portals to other times where we can meet people and their stories! That was the overall vision of a new county-wide sign system that has now become a reality.
During May and June, 10 new cultural signs will be put up around Kalmar County. The signs are part of a new county-wide sign system for cultural signs called Kalmar läns Kulturarvsportal and which was created within the project Unique historical Kalmar län. The new signs will function as a time travel portal that makes visible and spreads knowledge about the place's cultural heritage and a meeting place where visitors can take part in the region's stories and shape the place's future history.
- When we created Kalmar County's Cultural Heritage Portal, we didn't just want to create signs. We also wanted to show how a sign program in an innovative way can make a difference for the region's local communities, cultural environments and visitor destinations, says Maja Heuer, business developer at Kalmar County Museum.
The signs make the site's cultural heritage accessible
The sign system's concept is that it should contribute to the development of places in the county by creating meeting places around cultural heritage. Here, the visitor should be able to listen to stories, watch film material or, for example, take an audio map that the visitor can use to walk around and discover all the exciting stories of the place. In the extension, there are ideas about adding interactive participation functions so that visitors can leave their own stories about the place and thus be co-creators of its history.
- Eastern Småland and Öland are our best part of the world where there is a lot to see and discover! Every place has its story and we feel that many are just waiting to be discovered but lack an accessible story. With the new signs, those who are on an excursion, walking the dog, walking with a friend or on their own have the opportunity to take part in the stories of the place in their everyday life, says Örjan Molander, museum director at the Kalmar County Museum.
There is a great need in the county to create meeting places for both residents and visitors. Especially in smaller mill towns, there is a strong demand because the industry and thus also the natural meeting places have often disappeared.
- What people gather around in these places is the cultural heritage and its development because it is often the place's common denominator. That's why it's so interesting to use cultural heritage as a resource to create meeting places in such communities, says Maja Heuer, operations developer at Kalmar County Museum.
Here are the signs
The signs are placed in the places where the county project carried out site development. They have been well received by the local residents, businesses and associations because these were also involved in the creation of the signs. Some associations plan to have a special dedication of their sign.
- Bergkvara: in the harbor
- Vissefjärda: at Vissefjärda church
- Rockneby: at Allaktivitetshuset
- The Golden Ring: at the library (assembly in progress)
- Virserum: in the park by the bridge (installation in progress)
- Västervik: at the Träbåtbryggan (assembly in progress)
- Påskallavik: in the harbour
- Berga: at the station
- Mörbylånga: Skansgatan in the Sockerbruk area
- Nybro: Badhusparken, behind the swimming hall by the playground
Many opportunities
The new sign system has emerged within the Unique Historic Kalmar County project and has been developed in collaboration with representatives from municipalities, businesses and associations, the County Administrative Board of Kalmar County, Region Kalmar County, the county's home association, the Agency for Growth, the Swedish Heritage Agency and the Kalmar County Museum. The working group has also included designers, a designer and an accessibility consultant. After the end of the project, the Kalmar county museum will take over the concept and, together with local and regional partners, take long-term responsibility for the supervision and management of the signs. The sign system consists of a flexible modular system that companies, associations, organisations, authorities, municipalities etc. can order in different designs and price ranges. This means that the client can get a completely customized solution. The materials of the signs connect to the county's main materials: wood, glass and stone.
