> Museums collect, preserve and interpret 
> original objects (or living collections) for the benefit of those who 
> wish to learn from what they (the collections) have to offer.  We can 
> stress that definition in our daily work.

Fair enough, but sometimes it might not be so clear what a "collection" or
an "original object" actually is. 

Consider Science Centres vs. Science Museums - given that many science
museums also have hands-on exhibits, the line between "Science Museum" and
"Science Centre" is not a clear-cut one, especially if you look at their
mission statements and not just whether or not they have collections. 

To further muddy the waters, a hands-on exhibit in one context could be an
artefact in another. (For instance, the Deutches museum in Munich has a
hands-on exhibit from a Science Centre in Wales, but it is displayed and
interpreted the same as any of its other objects and working models.) At
what point does a hands-on exhibit become an object in its own right? Do
Science Centres indeed have a "collection", albeit of objects they have
commissioned? (And, is the commissioning and building of hands-on exhibits
that different from an art gallery which purchases and commissions
contemporary works? And if not, why do we call the art a 'collection' but
not the hands-on exhibits?) It gets even more complicated to make the
distinction if the art gallery has interactive artworks in its collection!

How do we define what is an 'original object' in this context? 

Best,

Regan Forrest
Exhibitions Planner
Adelaide, Australia

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