Open Forum

Hi all,

I am writing a guide to accessible low-budget exhibits and displays for individuals and organizations. My goal is to inspire and aid in the creation of engaging, beautiful, and accessible low-budget exhibits and displays. How could I help you achieve that? What kinds information would you find valuable or would like added? If you are comfortable sharing any tips or tricks you have picked up over the years I would be honored to add them in some way.
Currently I have sections on:

• Planning on a budget
• Low-budget Materials
• Tips for DIY Exhibit Design

------------------------------
Mark Riewestahl
Exhibit Designer
Stetten Museum of Medical Research NIH
Washington DC
------------------------------

You might want to add a section on the inclusion of community and specialty stakeholders into the exhibit development process.  This is a now a key element for museums in these times.  And, can be accomplished without a huge budget.  It takes time and building relationships.

------------------------------
Kathryn Boardman
Faculty & Principal
Cooperstown Graduate Program - SUNY at Oneonta
Cooperstown NY
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 7/22/2021 9:15:00 AM
From: Kathryn Boardman
Subject: RE: What would you like to know? WIP Guide for Accessible Low-budget Exhibits and Displays

You might want to add a section on the inclusion of community and specialty stakeholders into the exhibit development process.  This is a now a key element for museums in these times.  And, can be accomplished without a huge budget.  It takes time and building relationships.

------------------------------
Kathryn Boardman
Faculty & Principal
Cooperstown Graduate Program - SUNY at Oneonta
Cooperstown NY
------------------------------

How wonderful! Boy, we could really use your guide now! We are a small, start-up creating pop-ups (very low-budget) that go to where people live, work and play. We are looking at ways to co-create witht the community.  We're using an agile approach, with the goal of doing- testing/learning -iterating. 'm needing to learn a lot and network. We're in the process of assembling an advisory board for this purpose.

 Integrating points of view from people with different disabilities throughout your guide (such as photos, interview snippets or quotations or other real-life examples) would be great.   Good luck and thank you!

------------------------------
Crystal Cullerton-Sen PhD
Founding director
The Compassion Museum
Minneapolis MN
------------------------------

We have an Exhibit Resource Guide on our website, that will give you the secrets to our trade. :) This guide will help you build your own exhibits. https://taylorstudios.com/resources

------------------------------
Betty Brennan
President
Taylor Studios, Inc.
Rantoul IL
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-10-2021 03:00 PM
From: Crystal Cullerton-Sen
Subject: What would you like to know? WIP Guide for Accessible Low-budget Exhibits and Displays

How wonderful! Boy, we could really use your guide now! We are a small, start-up creating pop-ups (very low-budget) that go to where people live, work and play. We are looking at ways to co-create witht the community.  We're using an agile approach, with the goal of doing- testing/learning -iterating. 'm needing to learn a lot and network. We're in the process of assembling an advisory board for this purpose.

 Integrating points of view from people with different disabilities throughout your guide (such as photos, interview snippets or quotations or other real-life examples) would be great.   Good luck and thank you!

------------------------------
Crystal Cullerton-Sen PhD
Founding director
The Compassion Museum
Minneapolis MN
------------------------------

I would look at other industries and careers that do things like exhibits on shoestring budgets.  How are artists building and creating immersive sculptural experiences on significantly lower budgets?  What is theater doing differently because those budgets are tiny.  How about K-12 public education examples like science fairs, or PTO events/displays.  What about FFA, and county fairgrounds.

I would also suggest talking about some creative ways for distilling the project values and goals.  It doesn't always take a traditional exhibit formula to communicate the vital components of a story or message.  What are the most important parts.  Not every exhibit needs the same treatments, but every exhibit does need to evaluate what elements are most important for the receiver to understand the message.

------------------------------
Jeni O'Malley
Sr. Exhibit Designer
Minnesota Historical Society
Saint Paul MN
------------------------------