This article was derived from an AAM panel session of the same title at the 2003 Annual Meeting. The session, chaired by John Chiodo, Director of Design at Academy Studios, included observations by three international museum professionals: Silvia Singer, Director, Espacio Centrale Educativo Betlemitas, Mexico City, Mexico; Tim Walker, Director, The Dowse Museum, The Hutt, New Zealand; and Chris Cawte, Managing Director, MET Studio Design LTD, London, England. The speakers argue that American musuems need to be more willing to implement alternative interpretive techniques.
In this article, Maria Piacente, Principal at Exhibition Studio for LORD Cultural Resources, draws on experience in Asia and Continental Europe to reveal that audience development and visitor research is less common than in the US, Canada, and UK. Some projects at small museums in Asia, however, reveal that a few are taking strides to engage their audiences and work with local communities to meet their needs.
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Maria Piacente
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
In this article, Dan Bartlett, Curator of Exhibits at Midway Village & Museum Center, explores his experience preparing RFPs (Request for Proposals). Bartlett describes a "rational, formal process" that can guide others as they plan, prepare, and distribute RFPs.
In this article, Eugene Dillenburg, Assistant Professor of Museum Studies and Scholar at Michigan State University, seeks a universal definition for a museum, noting that the term nowadays describes institutions representing a broad range of sizes and disciplines. Dillenburg provides examples from museum literature and deconstructs these definitions to conclude that exhibits are the defining feature of the museum. He goes on to define exhibits and remarks that exhibits are museums' "one irreplaceable feature."
In this article, three museum professionals explain the meaning and importance of experience design. The authors include Dan Spock, Head of Exhibitions at the Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul, Donna Braden, Lead Experience Developer at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan, and Ellen Rosenthal, Executive Director at Conner Prairie in Fishers, Indiana.
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Dan SpockDonna BradenEllen Rosenthal
In this article, Eileen Campbell, head of Farallon Media, discusses how video can be used as an integral part of exhibits, especially small exhibits, interspersed with objects, panels, interactives, and other exhibit elements. Campbell describes the various ways video can be used effectively in exhibits including presenting narratives, recreating environments, introducing people, showing the unseen or unseeable, showing beauty and motion, making connections to the wider world, and adding humor. Campbell also provides advice about producing videos for exhibits.
In this article, Linda Pearcey, museology consultant, explores a recent shift in the Syrian economy, which has led to a reform in the education system with a greater emphasis on cultivating self-motivated, educated youth. As an example of these efforts, Pearcey highlights Massar, a national learning and development project for Syrian youth. Pearcey discusses the overall project as well as the specific physical components of the Massar Discovery Center.
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Linda PearceyNational Association of Museum Exhibition
In this article, Sean Duran, Director of Exhibits at the Miami Museum of Science, examines how the institution serves a multicultural audience and helps bridge cultural boundaries. As an example, Duran discusses how the "Amazon Voyage: Vicious Fishes and Other Riches" exhibit will serve this international audience.
In this article, Steven Lubar, professor of American civilization and director of the John Nicholas Brown Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage at Brown University, describes the final project--producing an exhibition--he gives the students in his Methods in Public Humanities course. Lubar explores the process, successes, and learning opportunities associated with student-curated exhibition, "Remember the Old Times: Cape Verdean Community in Fox Point."
In this article, Claire Pillsbury, an independent exhibit developer, examines Singapore's Asian Civilisations Museum. Pillsbury analyzes how the museum successfully engages visitors of all backgrounds in the study of Singapore's past and present.
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Claire PillsburyNational Association of Museum Exhibition
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
This article presents examples of how cross-department relationships can facilitate the development of new and unique educational content to engage audiences. Authors include Dave Becker, manager of the Hamill Family Play Zoo at the Brookfield Zoo, Rich Faron, President of Museum Explorer, Inc., Diane Gutenkauf, Chief Business Developer at Exhibit Works, Inc., and Marcia MacRae, Interdisciplinary Art Specialist at the DuPage Children's Museum.
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Dave BeckerRich FaronDiane GutenkaufMarcia MacRae
This article provides commentary about the early closing of "Imaginary Coordinates," an exhibition at the Spertus Institute in Chicago, inspired by the antique maps of the Holy Land. The exhibition reportedly closed early because some groups found it "anti-Israel." Featured voices include exhibition curator Rhoda Rosen, Marc Fischer, of the Chicago-based design firm Temporary Services, and artist Michael Rakowitz. The materials gathered for this article present a microcosm of the museum community's struggle with "the unexhibitable" among other challenging museum issues.
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National Association of Museum Exhibition