Presentation created for the American Association of Museums conference 2011, for a session panel "Future of Exhibiting: Voices from Non-Traditional Museums". Co-presenters: Girl Museum, American Poetry Museum. - Maria Mortati

1. Maria mortatihe san francisco mobile museum Future of Exhibiting: Voices from Non-Traditional Museums #aam2011

2. We are an experimental platform playingwith short-run shows and in-depth experiences. The San Francisco Mobile Museum appears in store fronts, parks, and social spaces. Exhibits run from high participation, locally grown creations, to traditionally curated presentations. ABOUT Maria Mortati Future of Exhibiting: Voices from Non-Traditional Museums #aam2011

3. A way to encourage experimentation with limited confines Why “Platform?” Maria Mortati Future of Exhibiting: Voices from Non-Traditional Museums #aam2011

4. Platform: it sets an expectation both for you and the public it’s contained enough so that you don’t have to start from scratch Maria Mortati Future of Exhibiting: Voices from Non-Traditional Museums #aam2011

5. How mobile? Maria Mortati Future of Exhibiting: Voices from Non-Traditional Museums #aam2011

6. It fits in my car. Maria Mortati Future of Exhibiting: Voices from Non-Traditional Museums #aam2011

7. Where we have gone so far Locations a-plenty! Maria Mortati Future of Exhibiting: Voices from Non-Traditional Museums #aam2011

8. a storefront Maria Mortati Future of Exhibiting: Voices from Non-Traditional Museums #aam2011

9. went to the park Maria Mortati Future of Exhibiting: Voices from Non-Traditional Museums #aam2011

10. a storefront garage Maria Mortati Future of Exhibiting: Voices from Non-Traditional Museums #aam2011

11. + at a museum! Maria Mortati Future of Exhibiting: Voices from Non-Traditional Museums #aam2011

12. + gotta love the outdoors

13. Initial Focus:MaximizingEngagement - For the “Makers” as exhibit content - For the “Visitors” on site

14. HOW Does it work? Maria Mortati Future of Exhibiting: Voices from Non-Traditional Museums #aam2011

15. Began with a challenge-based approach First exhibit was a collaboration with the Denver Community Museum (Jaime Kopke’sproject), “Looking for Loci” which included 37 pieces in a fixed-format Second exhibit (ongoing) “FREE Shrines” which has an open-ended format, and more interpretation Maria Mortati Future of Exhibiting: Voices from Non-Traditional Museums #aam2011

16. What a “challenge” has looked like Maria Mortati Future of Exhibiting: Voices from Non-Traditional Museums #aam2011

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21. “The other great thing about the Looking for Loci project was having the opportunity of showing in the same venue as my niece … since the first part of this project began in Denver …” – participant Alan Disparte

22. Maria Mortati Future of Exhibiting: Voices from Non-Traditional Museums #aam2011

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26. HOW CAN A ‘VISITOR’ PLAY? Saving a piece of the exhibit pie for them Maria Mortati Future of Exhibiting: Voices from Non-Traditional Museums #aam2011

28. From silly to serious Bruce shared with us how his grandfather’s house in Beijing was plowed over to build a freeway. Maria Mortati Future of Exhibiting: Voices from Non-Traditional Museums #aam2011

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32. WHAT I’VE FOUND: exhibits Cohesive look creates a whole: it’s easier for visitors to understand something unusual when it’s unified. When competing with the great outdoors, it gives more impact. Better design, better onsite contributions: designing for visitor input on-site needs be considered as well as the rest of the exhibit. It builds a better overall experience visually, physically, and intellectually. Maria Mortati Future of Exhibiting: Voices from Non-Traditional Museums #aam2011 “Well, less is more, Lucrezia: I am judged.” –Robert Browning

33. WHY it’s good for us Experimentation means you’re open for engagement it’s easier for visitors to understand something unusual when it’s unified. When competing with the great outdoors, it gives more impact. Having a nimble platform means you can get answers and insights quickly: being able to test out an idea on an audience or yourselves with low cost and low production is extremely valuable moving forward. Maria Mortati Future of Exhibiting: Voices from Non-Traditional Museums #aam2011 “Well, less is more, Lucrezia: I am judged.” –Robert Browning

34. Next? Variations on the platform: from microscopic to highly designed to completely virtual “Hijacking” existing types of display, such as graphic panels, storefronts, etc. Experiments with challenge-based content vs. curated collections

35. + continuing to play

36. THANKS For more info: www.mortati.com/aam2011 @sfmobilemuseum www.sfmobilemuseum.org maria@mortati.com