How to Set up a Museum Exhibit
Even when it comes to setting up an exhibit, there’s a lot of truth to the saying, “It’s now what you do but how you do it.”
If you have an impressive exhibit or exciting new find in a specific field, it won’t amount to much if you haven’t provided attention to communicating, designing, or highlighting the exhibit in an appealing way.
While the aesthetics and location of the exhibit are important, there are other things to consider when designing an exhibit aside from the visual appeal of your items.
From telling a compelling story and educating your guests to utilizing technology and enabling staff interaction, here’s everything you need to know on how to set up a museum exhibit.
Creating a Story Around your Museum Exhibit
If you’re presenting a new exhibit, you want guests to learn about the new display in a way that will grab their interest. Creating a compelling story or narrative around your exhibit is a great way to market its arrival and attract visitors.
The first thing to establish is the angle from which the exhibit exists in your museum. Is it a piece among several connected pieces? Is it a stand alone? Is it connected to a greater theme you’re trying to establish or that you’ve temporarily installed for a period of time?
Whatever the case may be, you want to try and create a narrative that will resonate with guests. Start by finding a suitable name for the exhibit, either as a stand-alone or as part of a greater story, that will catch your guests’ eyes. Beyond that, enrich the experience of the exhibit by connecting to its own history or through other parts of your museum.
Museum Exhibition Design and Layout
The design and layout has to do with the aesthetic appeal and strategic positioning of your museum.
If you’re introducing an exhibit in a series of newly acquired art pieces, think about the order in which you want to tell the art’s narrative. If they’re from the same artist, ordering them in chronological order could be a way for guests to follow an artist’s development in their careers.
If you have a theme like light and dark or peace and war, you can set up exhibits in their own designated areas to create some cogency to your displays.
Additionally, you want aesthetically looking displays. Assess what your budget is, and from there ensure that your curating team has all the tools they need to make the exhibit as appealing as possible.
Educating your Guests and Staff Interaction
It’s true that an inspiring exhibit experience is about moving your guests internally, but it’s also about stimulating them intellectually.
Providing information, either written or through technological means, is essential to informing guests on the historical, scientific, or otherwise appropriate context from which they can view the exhibit. This means providing resources near the exhibit, online information, or even brochures or pamphlets if the exhibit is sizeable enough.
It’s also a good idea to have some form of staff interaction to engage guests with the exhibit. You can offer tour guides, self-guided tours, events, speeches, and even workshops to generate excitement and build stronger guest interactions.
Utilize Technology for Your Museum
Museums in the 21st century are, for better or worse, adapting the technologist shifts of the modern era. If possible, it’s a good idea to utilize technology to both market your exhibit and create an excitement platform around your exhibit.
Interactive mobile apps, videos, and tablets provide several ways to integrate technology into your exhibit.
And newer applications are emerging every year: virtual reality is an exciting way to capture the imaginations of your guests, mobile app scavenger hunts and games are great ways to turn your museum into an educational adventure, and digital art that combines physical space with augmented reality are all innovations that are generating excitement across museums worldwide.
Utilizing a new exhibit or display series can attract guests, help to accrue memberships, and offer something new to the community..
In order to better understand the interests of your guests and develop exhibition strategies, you’re going to need to connect with your customers and gain valuable information on their visiting habits.
ACME’s CRM and ticketing technology will allow you to track every transaction, membership subscription, and minute detail of data that you can use to develop smart analytic strategies. Know your guests better and start designing exhibitions like never before with ACME.