This article explores the use of exhibit development as an instructional strategy in the school and in the museum and how both approaches offer innovative alternatives to traditional learning. Linda D'Acquisto, managing owner of Kid Curators, LLC, discusses her work and the value of school museums. Marie Scatena, Youth Programs Manager at the Chicago History Museum, discusses the Teen Chicago project.
In this article, Alan Jacobson, President of ex;it and BAJdesign, shares the lessons he learned in Rwanda, while building a memorial to the 1994 Genocide, in which 1,000,000 people died in 100 days. Jacobson recounts his personal journey in Rwanda as well as how this experience reshaped his core design principles.
In this article, Caitlin McQuade, an interpretive project developer, describes how four small history museums in St. Louis operate on tighter budgets while still fulfilling their missions. Through creative partnerships and comprehensive historical research, the leaders of these institutions have found ways to overcome the challenges of limited resources.
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Caitlin McQuadeNational Association of Museum Exhibition
In this article, Joanne Jones-Rizzi, Program Director, People & Cultures, at the Science Museum of Minnesota, explores the role of museums in presenting and translating cultural experiences for visitors. Her perspective is based on twenty years of community-centered work in the field at two museums.
In this article, Kathleen McLean, Principal of Independent Exhibitions and consulting Creative Director for the Oakland Museum of California, and Adam Nilsen, History Researcher at the Oakland Museum of California, describe the experimental design process associated with their new gallery "Forces of Change." This 750 square foot installation is part of the larger "Coming to California" history exhibit. The "Forces of Change" exhibit is being developed as part of a collaboration between 24 people from across California. This co-design and co-development project can be instructive for other
In this article, Daniel Spock, Director of the Minnesota History Center Museum, explores the effects of public participation in museums. Spock acknowledges the challenges associated with increased public participation, but argues that museums should consider themselves as trusted "mediators" in this complex new age of media and information.
In this article, Sonal Bhatt, Assistant Director of Interpretation at the Wildlife Conservation Society (headquartered at the Bronx Zoo), describes the Zoo's Eco-restroom project, a multi-part experience that embodies their mission of conservation. Bhatt highlights the key features of Eco-restroom area, evaluation results, and lessons learned.
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Sonal BhattNational Association for Museum Exhibition
In this article, Maria Mortati, Founder of the San Francisco Mobile Museum, discusses her experience launching a "pop-up" museum project in 2009. Mortati describes the process of selecting and designing mobile exhibitions, and shares best practices.
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, 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
This article features an interview with Dr. Richard Kurin, Under Secretary for History, Art, and Culture at the Smithsonian Institution. Dr. Kurin describes the Haitian Cultural Recovery Project and how it has helped Haitians rebuild after the earthquake struck the nation in 2010. He describes the goals of the project, key partners, funding sources, future opportunities and challenges, and how individuals can get involved in the project.
In this article, contracts attorney Bruce A. Falk offers a practical guide to circumventing the legalities of soliciting content from third-parties (i.e. audience participation). Falk provides a brief history of copyright and contract law and useful examples and models of contracts, in response to the growing trend of museums integrating user-generated content into their spaces and programs.
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Bruce A. FalkNational Association for Museum Exhibition