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  • 1.  Navigating Exhibits and Stories of Contemporary People Ethically

    Posted 07-16-2025 01:23 PM

    Hello, I am the curator of a small county museum, and we are discussing expanding our space for more contemporary exhibits. The question is, "What if people or close relatives of the stories being exhibited are still alive"? Do we avoid exhibits such as these? If not, how do we navigate this ethically? Thank you!



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    Olivia Fee
    Curator
    Bonner County Historical Society
    Sandpoint ID
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  • 2.  RE: Navigating Exhibits and Stories of Contemporary People Ethically

    Posted 07-16-2025 01:50 PM

    Dear Olivia

    I think the exhibit is a good idea. I also think it would have to be navigated carefully. I do think having community involved in what the museums exhibit and why. I hope this is helpful.

    Thanks,

    Rachel



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    Rachel Alschuler
    Museum Education/ Visitor Experience
    San Francisco CA
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Navigating Exhibits and Stories of Contemporary People Ethically

    Posted 07-17-2025 08:42 AM

    Olivia:  The Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame has a  Museum Preview Gallery where we highlight Philly's rich sporting heritage.  Since our timeframe is only 125-150 years (dating to late 1800s) practically all of our exhibits are "contemporary."  For these we almost always engage with the individual(s) and/or their families when possible.  Specific areas are:

    • Scope of exhibit:  What will be covered, how to address any potentially unfavorable subjects
    • Artifacts:  Hall of Fame-owned items and those that can/will be loaned for the exhibit
    • Follow-ups for thoroughness and especially to confirm accuracy
    • How should they be acknowledged on the "Special Thanks" signage

    For the dedication we have a reception with the individual and/or their families in attendance for a terrific, interactive experience.

    Here is a link with some past exhibits:  https://hub.catalogit.app/2586/folder/b8306120-ff8e-11ec-ba70-aba924436fd2

    I hope this helps and feel free to reach out with any questions.

    Best, Ken



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    Ken Avallon
    Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame
    kavallon@phillyhall.org
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Navigating Exhibits and Stories of Contemporary People Ethically

    Posted 07-17-2025 09:28 AM

    Hi Olivia,

    That sounds like a very exciting opportunity to engage with the people and communities your museum is interested in representing, and I definitely think you should pursue it! That being said, it is important to build relationships with your potential partners, ideally before even approaching them to help with your exhibit. Establishing that relationship and approaching communities with the question "what can we do for you" instead of "what can you do for us" sets institutions up for a more equitable partnership, rather than the extractive practices that museums historically have had with many communities. Ask people how they would want their stories and their family's stories shared, and be flexible with your vision, workflow, and timeline. 

    Working on exhibitions with community members has been a learning curve for me and my museum but it's also been one of the most fulfilling parts of my job. We actually presented a flash session at the AAM conference about piloting community curation projects, I would be happy to share our slides and notes and answer any questions to the best of my ability. Feel free to reach out, good luck on your new project!



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    Charlie Catacalos
    Interpretation Manager
    Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History
    New Haven CT
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    Original Message


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