Music in a gallery should be afforded the same level of careful curatorial consideration as an object or artifact on display — it becomes part of the exhibition's conceptual space and needs to make sense, just as any object would.  It's not the same as enlivening a department-store shopping experience by piping in background music!

Perhaps you should think in terms of "sound," rather than music, and research the availability of exhibit theme-related sounds that will activate the quiet space to your director's satisfaction.

/stephen

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S t e p h e n    N o w l i n
http://www.williamsongallery.net/google

Vice President, Director,
Alyce de Roulet Williamson Gallery
Art Center College of Design
1700 Lida Street
Pasadena, CA 91103
626.396.2397
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From: Lisa Chastain <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2012 08:30:55 -0800
To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Music in exhibits

Listers,

My director has put to me a request for ‘regional music’ in all of our exhibits. Now, as I curator I balked at the idea of breaking themes of my galleries with random music that has nothing to do with the exhibit ie. A military exhibit or a doctors exhibit. I was wondering of your opinions concerning music in galleries/exhibits, do you have music, have you rejected the idea and why?

Any opinions would be helpful!

Thank you!

Lisa
Curator of Collections and Exhibits



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