At the Christchurch City Council Archives, we have used technology and creativity to create an interactive experience, with the launch of a collaborative and innovative self-guided digital walking tour. Winner of the 2024 ALGIM Customer Experience Award this project showcases innovation and creativity to increase engagement.
In 2022 we began to digitise our most fragile and hidden archives - capturing the stories of Christchurch’s early days. These treasures, once inaccessible to the public, paint a vivid picture of life for our early residents.
Following the success of guided walking tours in conjunction with Christchurch City Libraries, we wanted to increase its impact by moving the tour into a digital space. With the help of our GIS Spatial team, we used ESRI StoryMaps, harnessing available technology to create a self-guided digital walking tour. The walking tour is now a dynamic interactive experience, complete with photographic and audio content, taking participants on a journey back in time.
In our presentation we will share with conference attendees how we created the tour on a limited budget, and how we have inspired citizens and visitors to explore stories of the early city in an accessible and innovative way.
Annabel Armstrong-Clarke has had a 28-year career in libraries, archives and research spanning public and private institutions in New Zealand, the UK and Qatar. She been the Archivist for Christchurch City Council from 2007-2010, returning in 2022. She is passionate about finding creative ways for the community to engage with archive collections.
Sarah Tester has a Masters in Archives and Records Management and began her career contracting across higher education, business, and libraries in England. She has worked with archive collections of international significance, and on the development of innovative community projects to promote archive management to communities. Sarah moved to New Zealand in 2016 and since 2018 has worked for Christchurch City Council, most recently as Assistant Archivist for the Council.