Consulting
Belle Heritage serves a wide range of clients—film producers, museum professionals, travel writers, historical guides, and cultural interpreters—through professional consulting and training designed to bring history and cultural stories to life.
Our services include:
Designing exhibits and programs that make the best use of available resources to interpret and convey concepts to diverse audiences.
Providing research, subject-matter expertise, and fact-checking to ensure feature films, documentaries, and museum displays accurately represent the time and place portrayed.
Developing compelling living history programs that engage and educate visitors.
Creating meaningful interpretive plans for museums and historic sites that connect visitors with collections, places, and stories.
Facilitating and conducting oral history interviews to preserve personal and community memories.
Contextualizing and conveying personal, family, and community stories in ways that respect nuance and authenticity.
Training managers, staff, docents, tour guides, and volunteers to work as effective teams, fulfill their site’s mission, connect with diverse audiences, strengthen community relations, and enhance visitor experiences.
Tell us about your project and how we can support you. Contact us to get started.
“As a member of the Cash Clan, I have been both impressed and moved by the dedication and drive demonstrated by Dr. Istre in the Historic Dyess Colony: Boyhood Home of Johnny Cash Project. Her work ethic, research capabilities and engagement with the Cash family and public figures in the area were indispensable in the restoration of the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home in Dyess, AR, where many of my family lived and grew up between 1932 and 1958, including myself from birth until 1947.”
–Roy Cash, Jr.
"My staff's performance improved tremendously after working with Dr. Istre!"
–Scott Daubert, Director, National Infantry Museum, U.S. Army
“I traveled to America as a young man to pursue my education thinking I would be forced to separate from my rich culture in Saudi and eat tasteless food. Instead, God led me to the Istres who I now consider my second family. They introduced me to the Creole world, a culture full of love and wonderful flavors. I enjoyed my Louisiana experience so much, I was inspired to open Saudi Arabia’s first Creole restaurant. I still rely on Elista’s expertise to ensure that our Cajun and Creole restaurant features delicious dishes and represents an authentic, hospitable atmosphere that brings me back to my beloved Louisiana.”
–Ahmed Al-Omair, owner, Creole Café and Restaurant, Saudi Arabia