Follow the Vikings
York Archaeological Trust
Cooperation Projects
England
2015
Follow the Vikings kick off meeting
Total project grant (euros)
€1,960,000
Percentage of budget funded
50%
Programme
Creative Europe
Sub-programme
Culture
Call number
EACEA 32/2014
Project date
1 Jul 2015 - 31 Dec 2018
Number of partners in project
14
Lead organisation
Shetland Amenity Trust, UK
Partners
York Archaeological Trust, UK;
Iceland Saga Trail Association, Iceland;
Waterford Museum, Ireland;
City of Upplands Väsby, Sweden;
Museum Vestsjaelland, Denmark;
Ab Bengtskär Oy, Finland;
Sør Troms Museum, Norway;
Dublinia, Ireland;
Lofotr Viking Museum, Norway;
Concello de Catoira, Spain;
Vikingveien in Vestfold, Norway;
Avaldsnesprojekt, Norway;
National Museum of Denmark, Denmark
The Vikings had profound cultural effects on the societies they visited, transforming them as well as the Scandinavian homelands themselves. This project brings together a network of partners to broaden and develop the audience to Viking heritage and its sites across Europe. These partners are already members of the Destination Viking Association which will take forward the results of the project.
The Follow the Vikings project is a multi-faceted project to promote, celebrate, transfer knowledge and skills and facilitate the exchange of tangible and intangible cultural material relating to the Viking World. The objective of the project is to make the transnational Viking heritage accessible and understandable to a world-wide audience.
The project has several key components:
1. Audience Development – through a variety of means including the use of new technologies (e.g. social media, mobile applications, website)
2. Building Competence in Business Models - through sharing best-practice throughout the project and expert advice at a seminar on business development
3. Strengthening the International Network - build a wider network among professionals and institutions working with the dissemination of Viking heritage, by investigating the ways of presenting Viking heritage to the public to create a better visitor experience
4. International Touring Event - Promote interest in Viking heritage and heritage tourism by organising a travelling group of Viking actors and artists to Viking markets and similar events throughout Europe.
The project will create a large and lasting network among cultural actors involved in the preservation, presentation and marketing of Viking heritage throughout Europe and further afield. The project will also support an intensified exchange of knowledge and experience between these actors, as well as supporting the creation of joint transnational presentations and products on Viking legacy.





