Micki-
About a year ago we began a project to set the preliminary exhibit
concept/design for our expansion plan that is quietly in progress.  We sat
as a group and brainstormed not about the objects or what we currently have,
but what stories and main concepts did we want ie. the history.  We did not
limit ourselves at all and just wrote down everything that came to mind.

We then used this to form our concepts.  We started from the basic idea that
we have six main subjects or in our case periods of Texas Ranger History.
We then looked for common threads such as clothing, tools, transportation,
etc; then for the extraordinary ideas, events, or people of the subjects;
and finally for the larger context in which to place the various events,
etc.  From there we began separating the ideas in each of the six subjects
into main concepts, sub concepts, hands-on ideas, "permanent exhibit"
elements, "temporary or changeable exhibit" elements, and repetitive themes.
These are still fluid, but everyone seems to agree on what is most important
for each of the six areas.

From there, we are beginning to hash out what would best illustrate the
points and evaluating our collections.  Do we have what we need to
illustrate this point.  What would best illustrate it? Is available in the
community?  Should we reproduce this item?  It is very difficult and
sometimes dangerous for exhibits to come directly out of what you have.
Especially if collecting has not been very broad.  If you have specific
items that you want to exhibit, figure out what stories they are related to
and were they will fit in these overall concepts.  

Remember that your museum knows the stories, the history, and the important
aspects for your institution.  An exhibit firm creates the window dressings
or presentation for these ideas.(No offense to our exhibit designers)  If
you start with the stories, you will be able to focus their work and yours
on exhibit ideas and concepts that will appeal to the community.  People
relate to stories not exhibits.

If I can assist further, feel free to contact me.
Tracie Evans
Collections Manager
Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Micki Ryan [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent:	Thursday, March 10, 2005 7:17 PM
> To:	[log in to unmask]
> Subject:	Query about planning for exhibits
> 
> To the discussion list:
> 
> I am in the ruminating stage of helping to set up a preliminary exhibit
> plan
> for an entire new community heritage museum within a paucity of
> professional
> design command and staff. I'm looking for a handle on how to go about
> evaluating the strength of our existing collections to carry a story line
> about our community's history, with much new emphasis on exploring the
> humanities content of post-WWII immigrant settlement. The exhibits
> themselves will be contracted out for professional design, development,
> construction and installation once we have passed planning and final
> fundraising goals. Currently everything we own except our archives is
> boxed
> or draped and stored, as the existing facility is inadequate and
> temporary,
> and new construction is imminent. A conceptual architectural plan exists,
> the new site is paid for, and the construction permitting process has
> begun.
> The museum content, outside of some eye-catching entrance exhibits and the
> fairly well thought out archives-storage-research areas, is still in
> everyone's heads and also expressed in a preliminary concept outline. We
> feel we need a lot more informed evaluation before we can even think about
> seeking design proposals.
> 
> Frankly, since I'm an archivist/collections manager, I'm a bit in over my
> head here. Working on this planning project are the museum's volunteer
> Managing Trustee, who has a strong background in fundraising and
> marketing,
> a half-dozen archives volunteers who love being part of the planning
> process, and me, the sole paid staff person. We have invited a small group
> of local exhibit designers to a brainstorming charette, coming up quite
> soon. My hope is that this session will lead to the foundation of some
> real
> exhibit planning. My fear is that since I don't really know how to move
> from
> point A to point B, (and am perhaps incapable of recognizing point A and
> point B) I will not efficiently get as much out of this generous sharing
> of
> professional time as we will need to move forward.
> 
> We have asked the design consultants to review our collections for
> interest
> and relevance to community stories, and to pull from their own experiences
> and what they have seen elsewhere some ideas for effective, compelling
> exhibition techniques.  In other words, we have the pedantic history, how
> can we make it come truly alive through effective exhibition of relevant
> objects. We think of this as the first step toward an exhibit plan. I
> believe that from this brainstorming and resulting summary we will be able
> to identify what we lack to tell our story comprehensively, inclusively,
> and
> with interest, and can then create an action plan to bring those important
> elements in. Since all of our 3-dimensional objects are cataloged and
> photographed and none are on exhibit, I hope (pray!) that it will work to
> do
> this kind of evaluation from color photographs, unpacking only what they
> truly want to see for themselves, along with some sample items the
> volunteers are fond of.
> 
> I should add that we have done a community survey for evaluating the need
> for a heritage museum to serve the five incorporated areas we represent,
> and
> we have excellent relationships with leaders and residents in all five
> communities. We have identified the former immigrant groups, now in their
> third generations, who have completely changed the tone, look and content
> of
> the communities since WWII; some are on our Board and many others are not.
> We have accessioned almost nothing related to their lives, as the museum
> started up in the 1970s with an emphasis on pioneer families and the
> school
> district. We plan to hold a series of forums inviting their participation
> in
> creating a space to tell their stories in words, photographs, objects and
> celebrations in the community museum. Only the Asian population has access
> to such a space in this region.
> 
> There are so many good ideas expressed on this list that I am willing to
> expose all my shortcomings here in order to get feedback from those who
> have
> a much better grasp of where to get a toe-hold and what to mark as
> mileposts
> in the planning process.  I do have exhibit planning classes behind me,
> and
> textbooks and project notes/exhibit evaluations available, but for now
> let's
> call this posting and your responses a
> beer-and-pizza-with-jazz-in-the-background kind of a brainstorming
> session.
> 
> What do you think? Is this the way to go about starting a plan? Any
> concrete
> ideas on what I should ask of the exhibit design professionals who are so
> generously sharing their time? Are my objectives realistic or not? Is the
> technique of working with photographs workable or just plain dumb? What
> would you do? What have I forgotten? What should I find out before
> continuing?
> 
> Thanks for any feedback anyone is willing to provide.
> 
> Micki Ryan
> Curator
> Highline Historical Society
> 
> 
> www.highlinehistory.org
> 
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