In a message dated 01-11-06 17:49:33 EST, Cindy Olsen asks:

<< Third, is it common for exhibit designers to do the historical research for
 the exhibits, or is it more common for the museum staff to do it? We have a
 staff of only 5 museum professionals and I am the only Curator. I will need
 to get interns to help if we do the research, and I will need them next
 semester. >>

I'm not sure I know what's "common" in museums any more (the times they are
a-changin'), and can really speak only from my own experience.
Traditionally, a designer just designs--including visual concept, layout,
graphics, and typography--but a curator conceives an exhibit, researches it,
selects objects to be displayed, and writes the text or script.  Many
designers would not be competent to do historical research and would not
presume to attempt it, but I would say that a designer who performs the
research is functioning as a curator.  To me, an exhibit designer and an
exhibit curator perform separate, distinct functions.  I've produced a number
of exhibitions in which I functioned as curator, designer, and installation
carpenter, all by myself, but I was always conscious of which role I was
assuming at any given moment.  Oh, yeah, I was sometimes also my own PR
person, and that's also a separate function.

I would say that when a designer does the historical research for an
exhibition, and certainly some would be capable of doing so, he or she is
performing a curatorial function.  In my museum, people who do the research
and writing for exhibitions are called exhibition curators, regardless of
what their job title is.  We've had at least one conservator and, I believe,
several administrative assistants and an occasional staff designer function
as exhibition curators.  People with the title "curator" usually have the
responsibility for curating exhibitions in their job descriptions, but I
don't believe our designers ever have curatorial functions as part of their
position descriptions.

As the only curator, perhaps you're the one who should be conducting the
research?

David Haberstich

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