I'm no longer in the label writing biz inside museums ;-) but I have some thoughts. I travel (domestically and internationally), spend a huge amount of time in all kinds of museums and read labels relentlessly. By and large I find labels to be poorly conceived and written in many ways.
I have done considerable work as a freelance writer for education programs where readability software was part of the process. I learned a lot about the different programs and saw how very different a 5th grade text, for instance, could look depending on which software measured it as 5th grade.
I also include label writing as part of my college art history teaching practice. Students do research on some work in a local museum (usually the Baltimore Museum of Art or the Walters Art Museum), do preliminary research on the artist and movement, write a detailed critical analysis of the work, and finally write a label for it (125-175 words). (Yes, I know that's a really long label, but these are youngsters and writing that kind of condensed language is a skill that takes a long time to refine.) I have found this process helpful in getting art history students to start asking the kinds of questions that nonprofessionals and museum visitors are likely to ask.
So I guess my point is there, studying the several excellent publications that have been mentioned is a very good idea.
Finally, one last thing. A couple years ago we visited Austin TX and went to the Blanton Museum at UT (among others). They had something called the Blanton Poetry Project and poets were invited to produce ekphrasitic poems inspired by works in the collection. Many of those poems were posted next to the standard extended labels. The effect was marvelous and illuminating. I also use ekphrasis in the precollege workshop I teach to highschool students each summer.
IIMO, the less a label talks about a work and the more it becomes a pathway into the work, the more I tend to like it. Great conversation!
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Ellen Cutler
Adjunct Professor
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-22-2017 07:24 AM
From: Susan Timberlake
Subject: Writing labels for children and families
What resources have you found most helpful for guidance on writing for children or writing text to be read aloud to children by their accompanying adults?
These are some that I am familiar with, but I am looking to expand my list, especially with research- or evaluation-based publications.
Family Learning Forum, USS Constitution Museum
Developing Effective Family Guides, Museum-Ed
Engage Families
Thanks in advance for your help. I'll post a link to my final list.