People who express interest in visiting a museum sometimes skip the trip because they feel there is nothing new to see or do there. A great traveling exhibit provides a novel experience that draws in new and repeat visitors. In fact, eighty percent of North American museums invest in traveling exhibitions to create short term spikes in attendance. For institutions that host a traveling exhibits, these exhibits can increase their museum’s prestige as well as bring in much-needed revenue.
However, there are unique challenges associated with fabricating a traveling exhibit because it needs to fit many different venues with different sizes, configurations, and regulations. Here are six tips for building a successful traveling exhibit:
Plan for Multiple Configurations
Not all temporary exhibit spaces are the same size. Therefore, it is best to have a range of square footages into which your exhibit can fit. One great way to accommodate multiple sizes of spaces is to design the exhibit so that an institution can omit entire exhibit elements without sacrificing the exhibit’s story.
Consider how best to split content into self-contained exhibit units, each of which communicated the exhibit’s thesis and main themes. Then, every host institution could tell the whole story, even if they could not place all of the content into their space.
Make the Exhibit Fit
Traveling exhibits shouldn’t look temporary. Rather, they should aesthetically meld with the host institution’s space. One way to make an exhibit look like a part of its surroundings is to hide the seams. However, an easier and equally effective method is to emphasize the seams as an architectural element.
Another aspect of fitting an exhibit into a host institution is literally fitting your exhibit elements through the door. Not all museums have loading docks or large freight elevators. Therefore, the pieces should fit into a standard size elevator and through standard double doors. A quick shorthand for figuring out if your exhibit element will fit into any institution is to make sure it can be carried easily by two people.
Keep the Same Job Lead
If you want your traveling exhibit installation in each location to go smoothly, pick a job leader from your fabrication firm to lead every installation. Should an issue come up, the job leader is completely familiar with the project, and can quickly identify and solve the issue. That way, the issue has little to no impact on the install of the project, and someone is able to delegate to local crews as they work on a solution. The job lead’s expertise in production and familiarity ensures that installation always goes well.
Request Comprehensive Instructions & Tool Kits
Make sure to require an Owner’s Manual for your exhibit in your Request for Proposal (RFP), even going as far as asking for it as a separate line item in the cost. An Owner’s Manual is a comprehensive set of instructions for assembly, installation, and proper packaging procedures. It includes details like which exhibit elements go into which crates for transport, instructions for how different elements fit together for assembly, and detailed schematic drawings of all the elements for reference.
Additionally, including tool kits provide an added layer of certainty that the installation crew will have what they need to put the exhibit together. Exhibit assembly often requires unique tools, such as security head screwdrivers and hex keys (aka Allen wrenches). Just like IKEA includes Allen wrenches in their furniture packages, they should be packed with the traveling exhibit elements.
Take Extra Care with Interactives & Artifacts
Interactives and artifacts are particularly difficult to package, ship, and assemble for traveling exhibits. With interactives, you not only need to make sure the assembled components look flawless, but you also need to ensure that the mechanics work correctly. With artifacts, you need to plan for the frequent mounting and de-mounting of sensitive collections, and for the proper packing, shipping, and sometimes added security. Therefore, it is important to prototype assembly, isolate potential problem areas, and consider which pieces need to be shipped as complete units.
Considerations for Personal Safety & Health
Instead of being fearful and nervous, we should do what expert creatives do best: be flexible, and adapt to changes. Ravenswood Studio is working hard to make sure that our team and our processes are up-to-date on the latest safety guidelines, preparing for researching and using antimicrobial or easy to clean materials. Strong communication is important to make sure that everyone understands the steps for keeping your team, our team, and your visitors safe.
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Building a traveling exhibit may seem complicated, but by following these suggestions your exhibit is sure to travel smoothly and function as designed.