TaleEnders and the Heritage of Welsh Cricket

Abstract

This project between Glamorgan Cricket and the University of Glamorgan seeks to explore the use of storytelling and technology to populate the new Museum of Welsh Cricket at Sophia Gardens as part of the current £9.6 million redevelopment in advance of hosting an Ashes Tests in 2009. There are 264 cricket clubs, affiliated to the Cricket Board of Wales – the arm of Glamorgan Cricket which oversees the recreational side of the game – many of which have long and diverse histories. This rich heritage lends itself to a major narrative research project to gather stories from players, support staff and spectators from these clubs which can then populate part of the museum. Glamorgan Cricket and their development partners (e.g. CC4 – Cardiff http://www.cc4web.tv/about.html) are keen to explore the use of digital and mobile technologies to deliver the stories to visitors to both the Museum and to the increased programme of matches that are anticipated following the redevelopment and to explore digital storytelling as a way of creating high-quality authentic content. The ground development includes the installation of a large digital screen/scoreboard which might also broadcast digital stories during intervals and rain breaks. This would be an innovative use of the available technology and would place Sophia Gardens as a leader in developing an enhanced visitor experience. The material gathered would also have potential benefit for Glamorgan Cricket, as it develops a range of educational products for use through its recently-appointed Cricket in the Community Officer