The THING Project (Thing sites International Networking Group) 2009-2012

Before our Parliaments, before the High Courts – there were Things.  Our project is to share and exchange knowledge on how to sustain and develop these sites in whose history lie the roots of northern democracies.

The THING Project is a three year transnational project funded by the Northern Periphery Program involving partners in Norway, Iceland, Faroe, Highland Scotland, Orkney, Shetland and the Isle of Man. The  Northern Periphery Programme aims to help peripheral and remote communities on the northern margins of Europe to develop their economic, social and environmental potential. The project has established a network to explore and promote the shared links between the Northern European Thing sites and develop sustainable business and tourism opportunities in each of the partner regions.  

 From Thingvellir National Park                                  Photo:Einar Á.E.Sæmundsen

We aim to create a common strategy for interpreting and promoting Thing sites across the network. Although each site is unique, they share many of the same concerns and challenges, and we can gain valuable insights through exchanging knowledge and site management strategies. Partners will collaborate and share expertise in creating educational and interpretive materials and activities. We will establish and test methods for raising awareness and communicating information using innovative web based technologies and social media.

One of the project’s main outcomes will be the creation of a web portal which will act as a hub for anyone looking for information relating to each of the sites and the partner regions. We will also explore the possibility of a future serial UNESCO World Heritage nomination, building on Iceland’s existing World Heritage site at Thingvellir.

In order to achieve these objectives we intend to:

1) Organise a series of international workshops, lectures and field visits to strengthen the network and promote site awareness.
2) Explore the use of web based project management systems and social networking sites to facilitate networking between partners and interested parties, and to promote  
    awareness about the sites.
3) Create common interpretation and dissemination strategies for the communication of information on the sites.
4) Create a separate public facing website which will act as a hub connecting users with relevant information about each site, and promote sustainable tourism.