In view of the 75th commemoration of the liberation of World War II, Visit Brabant tasked BUas with connecting the main heritage locations in the province through storytelling, aiming to attract more visitors.
What was the goal of this research?
The goal of the project was to develop and implement a narrative concept that would engage visitors with personal stories from World War II, enhancing their connection to the heritage sites across Brabant. This involved creating a compelling narrative framework and guiding the selection and presentation of historical narratives to offer new and meaningful interactions with the past, particularly targeting younger audiences.
How was this accomplished?
In 2015, a narrative concept titled “Crossroads. Life Changing Stories 40-45” was developed. This was followed by the creation of a brand guide in 2016, outlining storytelling guidelines. Between 2017 and 2018, in collaboration with Brabant Heritage and Brabant Remembers, 15 meetings were organised across the province to collect personal WWII narratives. From over 600 collected narratives, 75 were selected with the help of historians. These narratives were then rewritten into Crossroads stories by approximately 20 different authors. Brabant Remembers launched a marketing campaign and created both digital and physical experiences based on these stories.
What did we achieve?
The project successfully connected heritage locations through a compelling narrative framework, effectively engaging visitors with personal stories from the past. The process of collecting, selecting, and rewriting narratives allowed for the creation of impactful stories that resonated emotionally with both visitors and locals. The marketing campaign and experiences, designed to attract and engage younger audiences, provided new ways of interacting with historical narratives. Overall, the initiative achieved its aim of fostering a deeper emotional connection with WWII heritage and enhancing visitor experiences.
What is the timeline of this project?
The project has been running since 2015. We currently play an advisory role in the development of the Brabant Remembers app (for example augmented reality videos), and in physical products such as the Dilemma Maze and the Stilllevens of Studio Verdult.
