It depends a great deal on what you are putting in your galleries.  Flat graphic panels are the cheapest.  Objects in cases are fairly economical, unless you are building new cases or need elaborate mounts.  Electro-mechanical interactives start to get pricey, as do audio/video and digital media.  Any exhibit with water or live animals is definitely going to increase costs significantly.

That said, the $300/sq. ft. cited by another post should get you a nice object display with perhaps a small amount of AV or simple interactives.

About 8 years ago, the Exhibitionist ran an article on exhibit costs.  Though now somewhat out-of-date, it probably remains the best printed piece out there.  (I believe it was the Fall '02 issues.)

It would probably be worth your time to buy a few hours' worth of a design firm's time, explain as best you can what it is you want, and have them pull together some ballpark figures based on your situation.

Good luck!

Eugene Dillenburg
Exhibit Developer (and generally out of the budget loop)
Science Museum of Minnesota

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