Trends in Museum Exhibitions Laura and Kate’s Observations 2011

1 – Mix it up nBringing together collections across traditional lines and boundaries nCocktail Culture at RISDCocktail Culture at RISD

2 – Cross disciplines nArt and History; Science and Art; Anthropology and History, etc. nArt Encounters PreservationArt Encounters Preservation nRevitalizing Historic Sites Through Contemporary ArtRevitalizing Historic Sites Through Contemporary Art

3 – Add another art form nOther artistic disciplines, not usually found in museums, can change visitors’ perspectives nICA’s Dance / DrawICA’s Dance / Draw noxherding – combined ink paintings and poetryoxherding

4 – Multiple voices nWho else has a perspective on the work, the history, or the issues?

5 - Globalism nIs anything really limited by national borders?

6 – Immerse the visitor nAnd use multiple senses and ways of learning

7 – Visual communication nDesign is more explicit and important than ever before

8 - Link past, present and future nHistory, science, even art are only relevant if there are links to today nBuurtwinkels exhibit (local convenience stores) at Amsterdam MuseumBuurtwinkels

9 – Get outside! nRelevance also comes from linking to community sites, partners, etc. nBuurtwinkels had small exhibits in the windows of local storessmall exhibits in the windows of local stores

10 – Take on issues nFrom last week, talk about questions that are important to visitors

11 – Share the work nCo-Curation means sharing authority, decision making and responsibility nMN 150 is the best example nCookingCooking

12 – Use the crowd nEven civilians can help shape exhibitions nYou Like This!You Like This! nState of the Art/Art of the State

13 - Give people something to do nParticipation – it’s not just for children’s museums!

14 – Invite an expert nWhat happens when a scientist, a historian, an artist, a social worker or a curator is in the gallery, talking to visitors? nMarina Abramovic was part of the exhibition The Artist is Present at MoMAThe Artist is Present

15 – Lift the veil nShow visitors what goes on behind the scene in curatorial, conservation and exhibition departments nMFA Behind the Scenes galleriesBehind the Scenes

16 – Embrace technology nTechnology is embraced rather than either hidden or grudgingly accepted, even in the most traditional museums. nCell phone tours are so 2000! nQR codes are everywhere nThe Warhol: appThe Warhol: app

17 - Go young nGiving younger visitors a voice is the first step on engagement. nMoMA teen audio toursMoMA teen audio tours

18 – Allow fun! nDon’t take everything quite so seriously. People want to have fun.

In summary… nMix collections nMix disciplines nBring in other art forms nBring in other voices nGo global nImmersion nVisual communication nPast, present, future nGet outside nInclude stories n Take on issues n Share the work n Use the crowd n Allow participation n Invite an expert n Lift the veil n Embrace technology n Youth & elderly inclusion n Allow fun n Pop Ups