Traveling Exhibitions

1
Traveling Exhibitions

• Robert Mac West
• Informal Learning Experiences, Inc.
• June 12, 2002

2
Repeatability

• The most important product of a museum experience
  is a repeat visitor
• Changing experiences repeat visitors
• Number 3 of Bob Rogers 12 Strategies
• Most museums rely on their local market
• Became more apparent after 9-11

3
Museum Strategies

• Major Physical/Structural/Topical Change
• New/renovated gallery
• New theater
• New building
• Expansion
• Satellite facility

4
Museum Strategies

• Temporary Change
• Rotating films/simulator programs
• Extended special event
• Temporary exhibition
• From collection
• Rented/borrowed

5
Museum Strategies

• Short-term
• Weekend special events
• Celebrity guest appearance
• Topical days

6
Museum Strategies

• A special case charismatic animals babies

7
Issues and Problems

• Undercapitalization
• Time between changes
• Cost-benefit
• Access to interesting objects
• Competition

8
The Museum Traveling Exhibitions Industry

• Blockbusters (temporarily) increase attendance,
  membership, revenue
• Typical shows hold the status quo
• Changing exhibits stimulate giving and
  sponsorship
• Traveling exhibits introduce new topics
• Some traveling exhibits affect audience
  composition

9
The Museum Traveling Exhibitions Industry

• Retrofit buildings to create generic, accessible,
  flexible spaces
• Develop upcharge policies
• Expand retail
• Realistic expectations
• Attendance stabilization
• Blockbuster withdrawal

10
Shape of the Museum Traveling Exhibitions Industry

• Creators of traveling exhibitions
• Distributors of traveling exhibitions
• Funding of traveling exhibitions
• Size and cost
• Content and style

11
Creators of Traveling Exhibits
12
Distributors of Traveling Exhibits

• Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition
  Service (SITES)
• Association of Science/Technology Centers
• ExhibitsUSA
• Blair-Murrah Exhibitions
• State Arts/Humanities Agencies
• Collaboratives
• Producers

13
Funding of Traveling Exhibits

• National Science Foundation
• National Endowment for the Humanities
• National Endowment for the Arts
• Federal agencies
• State agencies
• Participation fees

• Corporate philanthropy and marketing
• Private philanthropy
• Advocacy organizations
• Collaboratives
• Operating budgets
• Investors

14
Size/Cost of Traveling Exhibitions
15
Content and Style of Traveling Exhibitions
16
Crossover Exhibit Developers

• Clear Channel Entertainment Exhibits (BBH
  SFX)
• Broughton International
• Cultural Exhibitions and Events
• Jack Rouse Associates

• Dinosaur Productions
• United Exhibits
• Kokoro
• DinoMae
• Entech Industries
• Advanced Exhibits/ Attractions
• Wonders

17
Crossover Venues

• Wonders
• Florida International Museum
• Wilmington Art Center
• Convention Centers
• Opryland

18
Wonders, 1987-2001
19
Three Examples of Crossover Exhibits

• Grossology The (Impolite) Science of the Human
  Body
• Body Worlds The Anatomical Exhibition of Real
  Human Bodies
• A T-rex Named Sue

20
Grossology
21
(No Transcript)
22
(No Transcript)
23
Body Worlds
24
(No Transcript)
25
(No Transcript)
26
(No Transcript)
27
A T-rex Named Sue
28
(No Transcript)
29
(No Transcript)
30
The Future

• Museum Concerns (if trends continue)
• Availability of quality, affordable exhibitions
  with appropriate content and style
• Entertainment Concerns (if Rogers is correct)
• Availability of quality, affordable exhibitions
  with appropriate content and style

31
The Future

• Look for ways to merge and leverage the assets of
  museums and entertainment venues to produce
  temporary/traveling exhibitions which satisfy the
  needs of both audiences and organizations.

32
From the Entertainment Side

• Discuss museums needs for capital and access to
  better revenue-producing markets
• Consider funding from leisure attractions to
  facilitate development of traveling exhibits, in
  multiple versions, which are appropriate in size
  and content to multiple markets

33
From the Museum Side

• Develop topics with broad appeal while
  determining both populist and educational
  approaches
• Develop large populist exhibitions for the
  leisure market while also developing
  educational exhibitions on the same topic,
  sized and priced for the museum market

34
From Both Sides

• Talk
• Communicate
• Share
• Trust
• Educate
• Learn