Sorry I'm a bit late jumping into this message string.  But getting back to
Jennifer Nuske's original query (about exhibits being removed from
discipline departments and being turned over to cross-departmental project
teams):

This seems to describe the situation at The Field Museum about ten years ago
and, I am happy to report, it did not lead to the demise of curatorship.

The Field Museum has long had a strong commitment to both collections and
research in natural history.  However, our exhibit program had lagged, and
by 1986 most of our galleries (with a couple of exceptions) were 30 to 50
years old -- some older!  A capital campaign raised the millions of dollars
needed for an update.

We used a developer-driven model of exhibit development --  a wrinkle on the
team approach.  Teams bring together professionals from various museum
departments to work together on an exhibit as equals, each bringing their
own expertise.  However, the traditional team of curator, educator, and
designer lacks a strong advocate for the visitor -- who is, in our
institution, the ultimate user of the exhibit.  The Developer serves that
function.  He/she is also project leader, thus circumventing some of the
thorny issues of group dynamics that often beset a leaderless team.  (Though
sometimes it feels as if we have merely traded one set of problems for another.)

And of course other professionals -- editors, carpenters, photographers,
artists, graphics designers, filmmakers, etc. etc. etc. -- are brought in as
needed.

The exhibit benefits from the input of professionals in all areas of
communication (and, afdter all, an exhibit is a communications medium).  The
curator, no longer responsible for the entire exhibit, benefits in two ways:
first, she/he is no longer expected to be proficient in areas of exhibit
design or development which are beyond her/his expertise; and second, with
fewer exhibit duties, he/she has more time to devote to collections and
research.  At The Field Museum, these areas have actually been strengthened,
while at the same time we've produced over 100,000 square feet of
award-winning exhibits.  (Forgive my modesty.)

So, in short, removing curators from leadership positions on exhibits and
installing communications professionals does not mean 'the end of curators,'
at least at collections-and-research-based institutions.  Rather, it means
better exhibits... and better curation.

RE: Eric's comments: given the fragile funding of many museums, drastic
short-term measures are sometimes necessary to ensure long-term survival.
However, such measures have negative side-effects (restricting growth,
depleting morale) if left in place too long, which will hurt the long-term.



"All opinions are those of the author, and do not reflect the positions of
management or any other animal, vegetable or mineral."

                                                -- Larry Lujack










Eugene W. Dillenburg
Coordinator, Special Projects
Exhibits Department
The Field Museum of Natural History
Chicago, Illinois  60605-2496
V: (312) 922-9410 x636
F: (312) 922-6973
E: [log in to unmask]

"Never pay more than minimum wage for a shirt."

                                -- Bruce Elliott