The values and value of community heritage: visitor evaluation of do-it-yourself museums and archives of popular music in Europe, Australasia and the United States of America

Abstract

Do-it-yourself (DIY) and community-based efforts to preserve popular music heritage often take place in tangible sites open to the public. These places contrast with authorised sites of heritage in their form, but not their function, and are often judged equally by visitors in terms of cultural value. This article analyses Tripadvisor user reviews of 11 DIY institutions of popular music heritage to highlight the tension between the production of cultural value by such places and the expectations of visitors. As unintentional sites of tourism, DIY institutions of popular music heritage find themselves caught between providing access to unique collections and experiences prized by niche audiences, and producing an entertainment value attainable only through the higher level budgets and skill sets found in authorised heritage institutions. This article contributes to an understanding of how the producers and consumers of DIY institutions understand value, while focusing on the neglected experience of end-users in the broader space of heritage engagement. In doing so, it draws attention to the co-creation of heritage experiences in online and physical spaces.