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 brief article, Frank Madsen, President of Teller Madsen, Inc., describes how his team created stand-up labels--labels positioned at a nearly 80% angle immediately behind the flat object being described--for the Newberry Library's recent exhibition on Abraham Lincoln. Madsen describes how these unique labels improve the object/label relationship and provide more space in the display cases showcasing many flat documents and books.
The article is a summary of the comments and discussions from the NAME-hosted "What's Going On? Hot Topics in Exhibits" session at the 2006 AAM conference. Paul Martin, Vice President of Exhibits at Science Museum of Minnesota, Janet Kamien, President of Janet Kamien Museum Consulting, Tamara Biggs, Director of Exhibits at the Chicago Historical Society, and Eugene Dillenburg, Exhibit Developer at the Science Museum of Minnesota, as well as other participants addressed the diverging attitudes between new and older exhibit professionals.
In this article, Jim Spadaccini, owner and Creative Director of Ideum, examines the influence of Web 2.0 media and how new models (wikis, blogs, community sites, etc.) provoke new ideas and new questions. Spadaccini includes examples of how institutions are integrating this technology into their work.
In this article, Jay Rounds, Director of Graduate Program in Museum Studies at the University of Missouri, St. Louis, explores the growing concern within the museum field about (a lack of) of exhibit creativity. Specifically, Rounds explores why creativity seems to be diminishing despite enhanced technical competencies.
This article presents some of the basic tools to keep in mind when developing a traveling exhibitions program. Michelle Torres-Carmona, Director of Scheduling & Exhibitor Relations at the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, provides advice on developing a traveling exhibit (concept, collaborators, budgeting, contracts) and Whitney Owens, manager of the traveling exhibitions program at The Field Museum, Chicago, discusses how to best market the exhibition tour.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Michelle Torres-CarmonaWhitney Owens
In this article, Darcy Fohrman, Principal of Darcie Fohrman Associates, summarizes the conversation at an AAM session, in which three young exhibition professionals (the "Young Bloods") and three experienced exhibition professionals (the "Silverbacks") debated issues related to planning and designing interpretive exhibitions. This article also includes post-session thoughts from the presenters.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Darcie Fohrman
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
In this article, Jeff Hayward, Director of People, Places & Design Research, defines the role of museum evaluators by explaining what they do, who they do it for and why, the skills they have, and how they see themselves in relation to other exhibit-related professionals. With input from colleagues, Hayward also describes issues associated with the profession, like the question of credentialing and the role of evaluators in the exhibit planning process.
This article explores the ways museums can utilize portable devices (i.e cell phones) as a way to engage visitors in their exhibits. Featured are three museums experimenting with this technology in their exhibit spaces. Authors include Wayne Labar, Vice President of Exhibitions and Theaters at the Liberty Science Center, Denise Bressler, an Exhibit Developer and Project Manager at the Liberty Science Center, David Asheim, Founder and CEO of Guide by Cell, Peter Samis, Associate Curator of Education and Program Manager of Interactive Educational Technologies, and Stephanie Pau, Associate
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Wayne LaBarDenise BresslerDavid AsheimPeter SamisStephanie Pau
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
In this article, James Sims, principal of Threshold Studios, explains the work and value of exhibit designers. In particular, Sims focuses on an exhibit designer's expertise and practice.
The article is a summary of the comments and discussions a session at the 2006 AAM conference that addressed what museums in the fields of art, history, and science might learn from each other and how museums might benefit from "cross-pollination." Panel participants were Eric Siegel, Executive Vice President for Programs and Planning at the New York Hall of Science, Benjamin Filene, Director of the Public History Program at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, Deborah Schwartz, President of the Brooklyn Historical Society, and Jennifer MacGregor, Curator of Visual Arts at Wave Hill.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Eric SiegelBenjamin FileneDeborah SchwartzJennifer MacGregor
In this article, Dan Tomberlin, an exhibit and graphic design consultant, investigates virtual museums. Tomberlin presents several definitions of these online museum-like experiences and then highlights several noteworthy museum sites. This article is a reprint from the "Exhibitionist" vol.15, no.2, Fall 1996.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Dan TomberlinNational Association for Museum Exhibition