by Barrie Andrian, Scottish Crannog Centre, UK

1. The Scottish Crannog Centre:
Sustainability in a Self-funded AOAM
EXARC – OpenArch
‘Managing Archaeological Open-Air Museums’
Cardiff May 2015
Barrie Andrian May 26, 2015

2. The Scottish Crannog Centre
Kenmore, Loch Tay, Perthshire
•Iron Age life on the loch
• Based on 2,500 year old
remains
• Built as experiment 1994-96
• 5* heritage centre
• Only AOAM in Scotland

3. The Scottish Crannog Centre
Facilities: Exhibition/museum; Crannog tours; Activities &
Experimental Arch.; Giftshop; Outdoor picnic area

4. The Scottish Crannog Centre
Facilities

5. Common Challenges & Issues
Balance between
Archaeology, Tourism & Education
The Scottish Crannog Centre
• Location
• Maintenance
• Seasonality
• Marketing
• Management
• Funding
Some Survival Strategies
• Management
• PR & Marketing
• Events & Outreach
• Networking
• Private Bookings
• Innovation & more…
Future Options…..

6. The Scottish Crannog Centre
Location
The Good
• Tourist Area
• Stunning Rural Scenery
• 18 ancient crannogs
The Bad
• 16 miles (26km) to
main trunk road
• 6 miles (10km) to
nearest town
• Signage
• Poor public transport
• Small population pool
• Staff travel distances
• Too far & costly for most
schools
• Weather!

7. The Scottish Crannog Centre
Location
1997
2015
And the Ugly!
Building works
ongoing
2011 – 2015+

8. The Scottish Crannog Centre
Maintenance
Damage from Neighbours
1998 pontoons hit Crannog
1999 boat damage
2000 single pontoon damage

9. The Scottish Crannog Centre
Maintenance
Extreme Weather!

10. The Scottish Crannog Centre
Natural degradation: rot; air-water interface; fungi
Maintenance

11. The Scottish Crannog Centre
Maintenance
Resources & Skills Major rebuild
2008-9
Crannog Crew
Archeo-Serwis from Poland

12. The Scottish Crannog Centre
Seasonality
• SCC Open 1st April to 31st Oct
• Weather affects tourists
• Staff retention: nearly everyone needs at least
1 other job to cover our winter closure
• 7 months does not generate enough profit!

13. The Scottish Crannog Centre
Marketing
• Decreasing visitor numbers/rising fees
• Not enough profit so small budget
• PR – need to generate news & events
• Limited leaflet distribution due to cost
• Target audiences. Low-income excluded
• Visitor feedback on paper
• www.crannog.co.uk New site needed
• Most done in-house by non-specialists
• ADVERTS too expensive
• Need to focus on ‘free’ promotion eg.
online marketing, social media

14. The Scottish Crannog Centre
Management
• Founders/Director(s) 24/7
• Too few staff
• No one person with
overview except MD
• Skills & experience of staff;
too many part time
• Multi-tasking needed
• Insurance!
• No time/money for strategic
planning or development
unless in own time
• No volunteers – no accomm.
• Succession!

15. The Scottish Crannog Centre
Funding
• Totally independent
SCC is trading company for the parent charity STUA.
Profits supposed to go to the Trust.
• No subsidies from local, regional or national govt
• Rely wholly on ticket entry, shop sales, café window, and
donations & grants
• No growth possible without project funding
• Economic downturn + adjacent building site = fewer
visitors

16. The Scottish Crannog Centre
Coping Strategies: What keeps us afloat??
Personnel – Management
• Potential opportunities with new development next door.
• PASSION & enthusiasm
• ‘Lifestyle job’ so accept low salary & long hours
• Watch cashflow carefully
• Good hourly wages – low recruitment
• Dedicated core team: encourage research in own time
• Skills- learn on job, in own time, some external training
• Promotion from within to mgt team
• Few volunteers but 1-2 students annually

17. The Scottish Crannog Centre
PR
• Tv & celebs
• Events Partnerships
• Piggyback marketing
• Online and social media free
• Free community magazines
• Radio
• Working on new website

18. The Scottish Crannog Centre
Events on site

19. The Scottish Crannog Centre

20. The Scottish Crannog Centre
Outreach Events

21. The Scottish Crannog Centre
Networks
EXARC, PKHT, ArchScot
ASVA, AIM, MGS, FSB etc.
Private Bookings

22. The Scottish Crannog Centre
Innovative & Targeted Projects
Event Catalogue
Off-season events
Woodland Management

23. The Scottish Crannog Centre
• Awards for credibility and publicity
2006
• General Fundraising – Donations, FOC,
• Project & event grants
• Community Involvement
• Stronger, more involved STUA
Board(no more ‘us and them’)

24. The Scottish Crannog Centre
Now & Short term Future
• Seeking Museum Accreditation
• Develop retail: in shop & online
• Find grant(s) for rebuilding shelters on site
• Plan for 20th Anniversary – 2017!!
• Monitor political situation: Impacts of Team 56,
EU Referendum

25. The Scottish Crannog Centre
Future Options – long term
Development Proposals

26. The Scottish Crannog Centre
We look forward to welcoming you!
www.crannog.co.uk