This document discusses trends and challenges for the next generation of museum exhibitions. It emphasizes that exhibitions need to move beyond purely aesthetic and didactic approaches and become more highly interactive and contextual. Museums also need to focus on interpretation and engagement as their audience and the competitive landscape changes. New technologies can help attract younger audiences and create more accessible experiences, but also require resources and careful implementation. The document advocates for more collaborative and personal approaches like co-curation, direct dialogue, and highlighting diverse voices and stories.

1. Trends Challenges:
T d & Ch ll
The Next Generation of Exhibitions

2. from the purely
aesthetic & didactic

3. …to hi hl
highly
interactive
& contextual

4. Its all about
INTERPRETIATION!

5. Why do we

6. We care because…
• Most important COMMUNICATION tool
tool.
• Our AUDIENCE is changing and we need to be
RELEVANT in order to connect them to our stories and
collections.
• We need to address MULTIPLE VOICES
• There is greater COMPETION.
• CREATIVE and CULTURAL TOURISM is growing
growing.
• We need to ENGAGE with COMPLEX GLOBAL EVENTS
• Large investment – MONEY, TIME, SPACE

8. Technology can …
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• Attract YOUTHFUL a diences used to high
audiences sed
tech means of communication
• Can establish RELEVANCE
• Creates opportunities for multiple layers of
pp p y
information.
• Improves ACCESSIBILITY– more than one
way to communicate content

9. Technology: Multi-touch
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10. Technology: Interactive Maps
gy p

11. Technology: QR Codes/Smartphone
gy p

12. Technology: Augmented Reality
gy g y
© US Army Museum

13. Technology: Augmented Reality
gy g y

14. Technology: Gesture Based
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15. Technology: Audioscapes
gy p

16. Challenges of Technology
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• Can be e tremel EXPENSIVE to produce and
extremely prod ce
install.
• Can impact OPERATIONS through additional
staffing and maintenance costs.
• Can OVER STIMULATE audiences.
• Can and DETRACT from the collections and
stories you want to tell.

17. Human Interaction

18. Visible Storage
g
“Back-of-house” becomes “front-of-house”
Back-of-house front-of-house

19. Thematic Visible Storage
g

20. Interdisciplinary
p y
Combining art, design, archaeology, and culture with science
C
and technology.

21. Interdisciplinary
p y

22. Personal Stories
Intimate, personal stories can bring artifacts to life and/or make
,p g /
connections with difficult subject matter.

23. Co-Curation

24. Co-Curation
BMW Guggenheim Lab
brings together people
from diverse backgrounds
in a public space to
address issues of public
concern.
How to improve the
quality of life in the
contemporary city. i

25. Direct-Dialogue
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26. “Behind the Scenes” Access

27. Enhanced Orientation

28. Enhanced Orientation

29. Enhanced Orientation

30. Enhanced Orientation

31. Current/In-The-News

32. Voice

33. The “Fun Factor”

34. Idea-based Interpretation
p

35. Multiple Pathways
p y
CSI: The Experience, Traveling Exhibition

36. Non-Outcome Based Learning
g

37. Non-Outcome Based Learning
g
Weston Family Learning Centre
Weston Family Innovation Centre

38. Non-Outcome Based Learning
g
Washington State Historical Society – History Lab Learning Center
Musée du Louvre-DNP Museum Lab Museum Sheffield – History Lab

39. Making Connections | Social Media
g
@SUEtheTrex:
“For the curious, here was
my #NFL Draft scouting
report: “Strengths: Is a
Strengths:
T.rex. Weaknesses: Tiny
Arms, Dead for 67 million
years”

40. What is this change?
g
Passive User
Passive User Active User
Active User
Presentations Tools/Resources
Museum Venue Community Venue
Informing Training
Museum s Voice
Museum’s Voice Multiple Voices
Multiple Voices
Teacher/Authority Peer Learning
Visitor Member

41. Implications
p
• E hibition teams with DIVERSE SKILLS
Exhibition ith SKILLS.
• New OPERATIONAL paradigm.
• Larger BUDGETS required for both capitol and
operations.
p
• Greater need for CHANGE – Temporary versus
Permanent displays
displays.

42. Its all about
INTERPRETIATION!

43. THANK YOU!
Maria Piacente
Vice President
Lord Cultural Resources
mpiacente@lord.ca