Center for Museum Studies Smithsonian Institution Workshop Series INTRODUCTION TO CREATING MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS April 15 - 19, 1996 Application Deadline: February 16, 1996 Exhibitions can be one of the most exciting ways to give voice and vision to a community's sense of itself. The process of planning exhibitions can develop in ways which promote and foster on-going dialogue between the museum and the public. Successful exhibitions are the result of thoughtful conception, sensitive planning, and more frequently, direct community involvement. Effective management of the process rather than large amounts of money is the key to achieving institutional goals. Workshop Objectives Participants can expect to learn: | about the stages in the exhibition development process, the issues that arise, and the products that result at each phase | how to research information and develop productive partnerships with community members | how to manage the flow of work and the budget | how to identify and secure needed materials and expertise | how to design a scale drawing for an exhibition | how to design a simple exhibition case or panel Application Deadline - February 16, 1996 Workshop Content The Workshop Series curriculum is linked directly to issues faced by people working in small, emerging, culturally specific, and rural museums. Introduction to Creating Museum Exhibitions focuses on helping staff understand the role of exhibitions in museums and the responsibilities of an exhibition project manager. Topics will cover the key components of the exhibition process from concept vision to concept realization. The workshop will acquaint participants with the basic elements for planning, designing, and producing an exhibition. It offers a model of exhibition development that is responsive to the needs and interests of audiences. Who should attend Participants should have major responsibility for managing the planning, design, and/or installation of exhibitions at their facility. The workshop is intended for those who work in museums with budgets under $250,000 and have five or less staff. Eligible are staff, volunteers, and board members, in paid or unpaid positions, who work full- or part-time. Selection criteria Up to 10 participants will be selected on a competitive basis to attend the workshop. Preference is given to applicants who have a demonstrated commitment to the museum/cultural institution field and whose primary responsibilities are directly related to the workshop topic. Workshop methods and materials Instructional methods include a mix of presentations, demonstrations, tours, group discussions, and hands-on skills training and exercises. A "problem-solving" approach is used for conveying the workshop content. Tools for analyzing and making decisions appropriate to specific institutional resources and goals are provided. Participants are expected to take an active part in their learning process - analyzing and sharing their own experiences, contributing to and leading group discussions, and developing and critiquing exhibition plans. The workshop is project oriented. Those selected to attend will be asked to bring a floor-plan drawing or sketch of the museum area in which they intend to install a new exhibition. The plan should indicate electrical outlets, doors, windows, ramps, plumbing. Participants can expect to go home with a rough planning document and a simple exhibition floor-plan and a case or panel design that he/she creates for a specific exhibition project. Each participant receives a resource notebook specially designed for the workshop. It contains selected reference materials, model forms, source lists, and bibliographic citations. Faculty The teaching team is led by Sharon A. Reinckens, Deputy Director, Anacostia Museum. Prior to her current position, Ms. Reinckens was the museum's exhibition designer. Other faculty will be drawn from the exhibition staffs of Smithsonian and other museums in the Washington, DC area. Course instructors have demonstrated expertise in their subject areas and have first-hand knowledge of situations similar to those that workshop participants face. Cost The workshop fee is $300.00. It covers all tuition, instructional materials, one group meal, and transportation to instructional sites that are not accessible via city's subway/bus system or within walking distance of the Smithsonian Mall. Participants are responsible for their own lodging, food, transportation, telephone and fax charges, and other personal expenses. Scholarships are not available from the Smithsonian. We encourage applicants to contact the Institute of Museum Services (IMS), for information about their Technical Assistance Grants (TAG). TAG provides funds to help museum staff defray the costs of attending training workshops. The IMS telephone number is 202-606-8539; fax number is 202-606-8591. Funding opportunities may also be available through your state arts or humanities council. PLEASE NOTE The Smithsonian Institution/Center for Museum Studies (SI/CMS) and the Institute of Museum Services (IMS) are completely separate organizations. An application to IMS for a TAG grant does not function as an application to a SI/CMS workshop, nor does an award of a TAG grant by IMS confer acceptance to a SI/CMS program. You must follow the application process described below to be considered for participation in a CMS workshop. Payment Schedule Do NOT send any money with the application form. A $150.00 deposit is due within 7 days of notification of acceptance to the workshop. Seventy-five dollars of the deposit is refundable if written notice of cancellation is received four (4) weeks prior to the first day of the workshop. The balance of the workshop fee ($150.00) is due in the CMS office three (3) weeks prior to the first day of the workshop. Application procedure 1. Complete the enclosed Introduction to Creating Museum Exhibitions Application Form. 2. Attach a one-page resume outlining your educational and employment history, professional affiliations, and achievements. 3. Secure a one-page letter of support from your director, board official, or the person to whom you report, and include it with the Application Form and Resume. 4. Mail an original and three (3) copies of all application materials (application form, resume, and letter of support) to: Workshop Series Center for Museum Studies MRC 427 Smithsonian Institution Washington, D.C. 20560 Facsimile transmitted applications will not be accepted. 5. To be eligible for consideration, applications must be postmarked by February 16, 1996. Notification of admission decisions will be made by March 22, 1996. For further information, contact the Workshop Series, Center for Museum Studies telephone 202-357-3101, fax 202-357-3346, or e- mail [log in to unmask] APPLICATION DEADLINE - FEBRUARY 16, 1996 | Application Form Introduction to Creating Museum Exhibitions April 15 - 19, 1996 Center for Museum Studies Smithsonian Institution Application Deadline: February 16, 1996 Name Name of museum Title Mailing address Daytime telephone Fax number e-mail address Tell us about your institution (These questions are designed to help us develop the workshop content. All information will be held in confidence.) Do not send brochures or other printed materials with this application. 1. What is your museum's main purpose? 2. What is the museum's best strength? 3. What is the major problem facing your museum? 4. How many people work in your museum? _______________ How many are paid? ________ 5. What is your museum's total budget? $__________________ 6. What is the annual budget for exhibition programs? $ ________ 7. Does the museum have permanent exhibition(s)? yes ___ no___ 8. Does the museum mount temporary exhibitions? yes___ no___ Approximately how many per year? _____ 9. Does the museum design its own exhibitions? yes _____no____ sometimes ___ 10. Does the museum construct/install its own exhibitions? yes ___ no ___ partially ___ 11. Does the museum use the services of commercial exhibit designers and fabricators? yes___ no____ 12. What is the major challenge to creating exhibitions at your institution? 13. Is your museum "computerized?" yes _______ no ______ For what function(s) is a computer used? administration ____ word processing ___ collections management ________ designing exhibitions/brochures ____ communicating between offices and other institutions _____ other___________________________________________ Is your museum connected to "internet?" yes ___ no___ 14. What kind(s) of collections does the museum hold? 15. Is your museum part of a collaborative cultural network or other association? yes_____ no_____ 16. How many visitors per year does your museum serve? ________ Approximately what percentage are in _____ school groups? _____ adult groups? ___ individual walk-ins? Tell us about yourself: 1. What got you involved in museum exhibition work? 2. What are your major responsibilities? 3. Please describe the exhibition project on which you are currently working: Working title What is it about? What is the purpose for mounting this exhibition? Who is the intended audience for this exhibition? 4. What is it that you need to know to mount the exhibition? 5. Do you have supervisory responsibilities? yes___ no___ 6. Do you have responsibilities for budgeting? yes ___ no___ 7. Do you write grant(s) seeking funds? yes___ no___ 8. Are you new to this assignment? yes____ no____ 9. What drawing tools can you use? ___ ruler ____ T-square ____ X-Acto knife other ___________________________ 10. Can you read scale drawings? ___ yes ___ no 11. Do you operate a computer? yes ______ no_________ What software do you use? _______________________ 12. What would you most want to accomplish by attending this workshop? 13. How will the information/experiences gained through attending this workshop be shared with others in your museum or network? 14. Other information you would like to share that will help us design the workshop? Thank you for your interest in the Introduction to Creating Museum Exhibitions Workshop. Signature________________________________________Date____________ Mail an original and 3 copies of the completed application package (application form, resume, and letter of support) to: Workshop Series Center for Museum Studies MRC 427 Smithsonian Institution Washington, DC 20560 Postmark deadline: February 16, 1996 The workshop provides participants with a framework for analyzing situations a n d devising solutions appropriate to the realities of their . strengthen analytical and decision-making skills in the Faced with unprecedented changes in the museum workplace, museums are challenged with additional and different sets of problems. About the OMP Museum Training Series Institutional commitment to employee growth and development is the key fa c tor in enabling a museum to flourish rather than just survive the coming decade. To h elp museums meet this commitment, the Smithsonian Institution's Office of Museum Programs (OMP) initiates a new series of basic level professional development a nd training workshops for the staff of small, emerging, minority and rural museums. The g o al of the series is to help museum staff work more effectively and efficiently. The wor k shops Bruce C. Craig Internet: [log in to unmask] Center for Museum Studies Smithsonian Institution A&I 2235-MRC427 Washington, DC 20560 (202) 357-3148 FAX:(202) 357-3346