About This Course
In this course, you’ll explore the process of exhibition development, from purpose, planning and management to design, production, fabrication and evaluation. You’ll gain both an understanding of the fundamental principles of museum exhibition work and the necessary skill sets to apply those principles at an institution.
You’ll examine methods used to physically and intellectually manage various types of objects for long-term preservation. We'll focus on the types of work typically done by collection managers and registrars in a museum setting. Through hands-on assignments, you'll get practice identifying proper storage materials for preventive conservation and writing a condition report for actual objects. You'll also learn about disaster preparedness, how COVID-19 has affected collections management in museums, acquisition policies and how to best determine whether to accept objects based on museum policies.
We’ll approach collections management and registration with a well-rounded perspective rooted in best practices, and we'll focus on realistic situations, objects and goals, with an emphasis on fine art collections.
What You'll Learn
- Collection management best practices and exhibition design principles
- Practical aspects of collection care, including storage, shipping, sustainability, risk-management protocols and ethical considerations
- Curation techniques that engage diverse audiences and convey meaningful concepts in exhibitions
- How to design accessible gallery spaces and exhibitions and use various interpretation methods to enhance visitor engagement
- Strategies for flexible and collaborative practices among staff, such as integrating AI tools, to enhance productivity and decision-making
