The 2 Biggest Museum Questions

The fundamentals of most, if not all, museum projects can be boiled down to two short but essential questions.

I started reflecting on this after reading an excellent article entitled "Who Gets to Decide?" on the Creating The Future website. Among many other excellent points, the article evokes the motto of disability rights activists: Nothing about us without us.

The other question I like to ask before starting a project is, "Who is this for?" or, more sharply, "Who cares?"  I'd suggest if your answer(s) doesn't hinge on some variation of "our visitors" or "the communities we serve, " you might want to head back to the drawing board.

I have been to museums where I'm not quite sure if the answers to the questions "Who is this for?" and "Who gets to decide?" involve VISITORS -- and it shows.

And if your exhibition or museum is instead trying to cater to wealthy board members or only subject-matter experts, why bother charging visitors for that experience?

Before starting your next project, consider who gets to decide and who cares.

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Paul Orselli writes the posts on ExhibiTricks. Paul likes to combine interesting people, ideas, and materials to make exhibits (and entire museums!) with his company POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop, Inc.) Let's work on a project together!

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The Most Important Exhibit Development Question

What's the most important question to ask when you are starting to develop an exhibit or exhibition?

I'd say the most important question is, "WHO CARES?"

You may think the topic or content related to your exhibition is interesting, but will your audience?

To find out, you need to drill down into the WHO part of different kinds of Who Cares? questions.  

WHO are the people that come to your museum already?

WHO would you like to come to this new exhibition?  (Not necessarily the same answer as the previous question ...)

WHO might feel excluded (or even offended) by this topic?

WHO would be so excited by your exhibition that they would want to bring their family or friends back to see it?

The thing about finding the answers to WHO CARES? questions is that you need to speak with potential visitors about their ideas and feelings before you set too many design wheels into motion.  

And perhaps the most important variation of the WHO CARES? questions start internally.  If you and your project team can't generate sincere enthusiasm for the ideas in the exhibition under development, why in the world do you think your visitors will be interested in what you create? 

Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Sign up for Free ExhibiTricks Blog Updates" link on the upper right side of the blog.

Paul Orselli writes the posts on ExhibiTricks. Paul likes to combine interesting people, ideas, and materials to make exhibits (and entire museums!) with his company POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop, Inc.) Let's work on a project together!

If you enjoy the blog, you can help keep it free to read and free from ads by supporting ExhibiTricks through our PayPal "Tip Jar"