Laurie,

 

The schedules are rather informal, just a guideline.  They go something
like, "artifacts selected/cleaned 2 months before exhibit opening,
furniture built by a month before D-day, photos selected/printed/mounted 3
weeks out," etc.  Naturally, with several exhibits being planned and
worked on at any given time, these schedules are sort of interlaced with
many other things going on at the museum.  This complexity naturally leads
to change and chaos; they say that's good for you..

 

One of our biggest issues is label text, which must be approved by our
director before labels are created.  We plan to get these to the director
well in advance, but as label text writing and editing is THE hardest
thing, they usually don't get done until the very last, regardless of
where they are in the "schedule!"  We are grateful that our director is
flexible and very good natured.  

 

Our schedules don't work every time either!  Things do change, and the
plan must also change; flexibility is key.  As time goes by I realize
either I'm getting slower or my sense of how long things take really
sucks.  Either way I'm inclined to take my best guess and pad liberally.  

 

Some exhibits are changed right in front of people in public spaces,
others are roped off.  The two weeks mentioned only applies to the big
exhibits we change periodically in the main hall, those are closed off
(but we leave holes in the curtain for folks to peek).  Is it a mad dash?
Yes it is, and I'm trying to plan better so I don't have to dash as hard.
We ain't getting any younger.

 

Curtis

 

  _____  

From: las [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Monday, January 11, 2010 12:57 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Exhibit preparation schedules

 

Curtis,

Do you have an actual "schedule" that you could post (a "timeline of
deadlines for major elements")?  I have my own but I would love to compare
to see if I have left out anything or if there is a better approach, since
mine does not seem to work all that effectively every time.  :( 

 

I can't believe you have all that time to change exhibits!  I am taking
one down while the other one is going up, practically...do you set up
"under construction" roped off areas? We do not.  It's a mad dash in a
rotating exhibit gallery area.  

 

Please advise and thank you for your input.

 

Laurie S.



-----Original Message----- 
From: Curtis Morris 
Sent: Jan 11, 2010 12:50 PM 
To: [log in to unmask] 
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Exhibit preparation schedules 




We usually schedule 2 weeks to change exhibits.  That entails taking an
existing exhibit down and replacing it.  Now if the new exhibit is going
up in a previously unoccupied space that you could block off from the
public, you might plan to complete it that early, otherwise it would be
unrealistic.

 

As others have commented, I've scooted out the back as the first visitors
were coming in the front on opening day.  We usually develop a timeline of
deadlines for the major elements to be completed.  That way I can see how
far behind schedule we're running and how late I'll have to work to catch
up.  The real trick is to be honest about how much time the various parts
actually take.  Pad your schedule when you can.

 

It is nice to have a few elements up early so the local media can take
pictures for publicity and feature stories, and we've tried to manage that
at least.  Often we'll take our own photos before nailing down the
Plexiglas covers and pass those along to the press. 

 

And it is funny how design changes, additions, deletions, and political
maneuvering will conspire to eat up every minute allotted to exhibit
installation time!

 

 

 

Curtis Morris

Shiloh Museum of Ozark History

Springdale, Arkansas

 


  _____  


From: Anna Poull [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Thursday, January 07, 2010 10:19 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Exhibit preparation schedules

 

I feel that is unrealistic for a lot of museums. I have worked on some
exhibits where we were doing finishing touches the day of the opening. I
don't recommend this but I would think aiming for having it completely
done for about 2-3 days ahead of time would be good.

 

Anna Poull


  _____  


Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 07:45:39 -0800
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Exhibit preparation schedules
To: [log in to unmask]

Happy New Year. I am wondering how far in advance of your exhibit openings
are your exhibits completed. (We've been told to have the exhibit
essentially complete 2 weeks in advance of the opening date. That doesn't
seem too realistic to us, but we wonder if any of you have managed it.)

 

Thanks

 

Sarah Griswold

Gunn Museum

Washington, CT

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