This is the text of the NAME article in Spring 2002, written by Jay
Rounds and Joyce Cheney. We send this article to clients who ask
about cost.
How Much Do Exhibits Cost?
NAME (National Association of Museum Exhibition), spring 2002, Volume
21, #1
How much are museums spending on exhibits these days? We did an
informal survey to check up on the "rule of thumb" figures that
colleagues are currently using to project exhibit costs, as well as
how those costs break down in different categories.
Costs of course vary widely, depending on the complexity of the
exhibit, use of outside contractors, amount of new research required
and other factors. In many small museums exhibits are done at
remarkably low costs, though the actual cost, are often understated
because they ignore the use of donated or recycled materials and
volunteer (or underpaid) labor. We focused on larger museums
producing sophisticated exhibits, with additional input from a design
firm and a fabrication house.
One mid-sized aquarium reported producing simple in-house exhibits
(mostly flat graphics panels with a few electronic elements) for $120
to $150 per square foot. A science museum estimates $150 per square
foot for "flat photo-type shows." All of our other informants figure
on a minimum of $200 per square foot for new exhibits, assuming basic
casework and graphics with no interactive
elements.
Prices soar with additional complexity. The mid-size aquarium budget,
$300 per square foot for exhibits with interactive elements and live
animals. A large history museum plans on $450 per square foot for its
more complex installations. Most science centers are now budgeting
over $500 a foot for their typical hands-on galleries, and at least
one has reported costs in the range of $700.
Jane Bedno, of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, says that
we can be expecting to see one-thousand-dollar per foot exhibits in
the near future, if they haven't already.
A large state museum provided the following scale of per-square-foot
costs:
• $550 for interactive galleries
• $400 for new galleries
• $330 for outdoor exhibits
• $250 for temporary exhibitions
• $42 for updates or reinstallations of existing galleries.
Where does the money go? Most informants estimated that from 15% to
30% of the total budget goes to design, with 25% or more being
typical for most exhibits. The range varies depending on such factors
as size of exhibit, degree of interactivity and whether the designer
is responsible for
research and copy writing.
A private design firm reports that the design fees it receives
generally reflect the following allocation:
• 40%-research and conceptualization
• 35%-script and design planning
• 25%-supervision of implementation.
The aquarium breaks down its overall exhibit costs in six categories:
• 30% -specimens, models and photo fees
• 7% -equipment
• 8% -supplies and photo processing
• 25% -design and scientific artwork
• 20% -fabrication and installation
• 10% - maintenance.
Most museums are now planning for maintenance as part of the original
exhibit budget. Our informants usually cited around 5% of the
original fabrication budget for annual maintenance after opening,
with some as high as 10%. In addition to the routine maintenance,
same museums are also budgeting 5-10% for "remediation" or "immediate
retrofit" in the first months after opening.
Do these figure tally with your own experience? Periodically
Exhibitionist will publish updates on how costs are running for new
exhibits, Please write to Jay Rounds ([log in to unmask]) to pass along
figures from your latest projects, as well as any other information
that you think will be useful to colleagues in dealing witi1 the
always-challenging task of projecting exhibit costs. We look
forward to hearing from you!
Split Rock Studios typically recommends $350/SF as a target
design/build budget which allows for a variety of exhibits to be
included in the final product. We have done projects that range from
$175 to over $350/SF so it is certainly possible to do good work in a
range of budgets. Allocating money to well- defined priorities, and
what the client can contribute (for example images and other content
support), become more significant factors in lower budget projects.
Lisa Friedlander
Split Rock Studios
2071 Gateway Blvd., Srden Hills, MN 55112
[log in to unmask]
651-631-2211 x717
---- Original Message ----
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Estimate for exhibit design, fabrication & install per sq.
foot?
Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:55:06 -0700
>Hello All,
>
>I'm looking for what I hope is an easy answer. Is there a rough
>amount per sq. foot that can be used (for budgeting, grant
>writing,etc) to estimate costs for design, fabrication and install
>for redoing gallery exhibits?
>
>Thanks,
>Keni Sturgeon
>Curator
>Willamette Heritage Center
>Salem, OR
>
>--- On Fri, 8/20/10, Monta Lee Dakin <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>From: Monta Lee Dakin <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: [MUSEUM-L] MPMA: Discount Hotel Rates Ending Soon
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Date: Friday, August 20, 2010, 2:33 PM
>
>
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