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Figures in the Landscape: The Power of the Sculpture Trail
I’m a huge fan of contemporary sculpture parks and trails. I believe they can enhance museums and heritage sites, enrich the visitor...

Paul Baker
2 days ago5 min read


Clicks and Culture: Why Your Online Retail Offer Deserves More Attention
Why do museums and heritage sites so often misunderstand online retail? With an ever-growing number of organisations competing for a...

Paul Baker
Jul 74 min read


Does the museum interview process require an overhaul?
Let me start by saying that I know many museums already run exemplary recruitment processes—structured, thoughtful, and fair. If that’s...

Paul Baker
Jun 304 min read


How Can a Strategic Review Help You Secure Funding?
With so many organisations competing for the same limited pots of funding, finding a way to gain an edge is essential. One way to do this...

Paul Baker
Jun 234 min read


Ageism at the Museum: Burning at Both Ends
Ageism within the museum sector is a subject that warrants serious discussion, yet it remains largely unaddressed. It intersects with...

Paul Baker
Jun 164 min read


Leaving a Mark: Personalising Fundraising
How can personalising the act of giving build stronger relationships with our audiences? With so many museums and heritage organisations...

Paul Baker
Jun 94 min read


Case Study #2: When Witch Marks Went Global
This is the second in an occasional series of case studies drawn from my professional experiences. The first can also be found on my...

Paul Baker
Jun 26 min read


The Museum Shop: Time for a Counter-Cultural Revolution?
What could be more straightforward than a museum shop? The formula is well established: place it by the exit, stock it with souvenirs,...

Paul Baker
May 265 min read


Social Media: “Who Do You Think You’re Talking To?”
Social media has been a tremendous asset to museums and heritage sites. I remember how substantial marketing budgets used to be—and how...

Paul Baker
May 194 min read


Come Together: Could Sharing Resources make us Stronger?
We all work in partnership with other sites—it's best practice. But could formalising these relationships bring greater efficiency...

Paul Baker
May 123 min read


Review #3: Masson Mills - A Giant Re-Awakening
When you are part of a World Heritage Site and located alongside one of the UK's most popular National Parks, and the Matlock Bath...

Paul Baker
May 76 min read


The Brand Dilemma: Visitor Attraction or Alienation?
We live in an age where brands permeate every aspect of our lives. Brand loyalty and values are deeply embedded in our choices—often...

Paul Baker
Apr 303 min read


Strategic Moves: Why Good Governance is a Game of Chess
Good governance is about more than just passion and commitment. I’ve had the privilege of working with many museum Boards made up of...

Paul Baker
Apr 234 min read


Is your cafe part of your audience strategy?
At Heritage Thinking Differently , we’re pouring another coffee, ordering dessert, and turning our attention to a subject that’s often...

Paul Baker
Apr 165 min read


Reimagining the Relationship Between Museums and Academia
In today’s Heritage Thinking Differently blog , I reflect on a vital yet faltering relationship: that between museums and academic...

Paul Baker
Apr 94 min read


Parklife: The Engagement Space Beyond the Museum Walls
Many municipal museums and art galleries are nestled within pleasure gardens, originally conceived as an integrated public leisure...

Paul Baker
Apr 24 min read


My 'TED Talk' Toolkit
Do you take time to listen to or watch TED Talks? If not, you might be missing out on an opportunity for personal development. I’m a big...

Paul Baker
Mar 264 min read


We need more wet weather destinations
Holidaying in the north of England, Wales, and Scotland has shaped my perspective on this topic. Despite the UK’s well-earned reputation...

Paul Baker
Mar 193 min read


How does Digital Mapping & Storytelling Improve Access?
How familiar are you with ‘Lidar’ 3D scanning in the cultural sector? Is it on your radar yet? My own experience with this technology is...

Paul Baker
Mar 123 min read


Are you a big fish in a small bowl? Or…
How well do you understand your target audience and catchment area? For some cultural sites, this is straightforward—particularly if they...

Paul Baker
Mar 43 min read


If you don't have a Strategy, that IS your strategy!
Many organisations operate without a formal, written strategic plan. Sound familiar? It’s understandable—we’re all busy. While most...

Paul Baker
Mar 33 min read


How many museums need be sacrificed?
Will we see a bonfire of museums? How many must close before we collectively say, "No more"? And if some survive while others disappear,...

Paul Baker
Feb 253 min read


How to Turn Your Commercial Offer into a Destination
Have you ever visited a museum and been drawn in not just by the exhibits, but by the inviting café, the well-curated gift shop, or the...

Paul Baker
Feb 234 min read


How does your cultural site sound?
Does your life have a musical soundtrack? Is every moment of drama or beauty accompanied by your personal playlist? This isn’t a new...

Paul Baker
Feb 183 min read
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