Across the country, history museums interpret America’s past for millions of visitors each year. Hundreds of these exhibitions are shaped and influenced by the best historical scholarship, and they contribute mightily to expanding our knowledge and understanding of the past. But despite the importance of this work, until recently it was rarely acknowledged in academic journals. This new Perspectives column aims to change this by establishing an outlet for exhibition reviews written jointly by academic and museum professionals.
Each review will explore the intellectual underpinnings of an exhibit, examining such things as the quality of the research and how well it is presented. But it will also look at the exhibit as experienced by the visitor. It will examine how the exhibit succeeds or fails in conveying its messages through art, object, and text; how it is presented on the walls; and whether it reaches its intended audience.
The reviews will not attempt to cover every exhibition that is mounted. However, they will strive to place emphasis on innovative work that challenges the established parameters of historical interpretation and presentation. Exhibits that explore new or reinterpreted subjects in light of recent historical scholarship; those that encourage collaboration between the academy and museums; community driven collecting initiatives; and those that use the latest techniques of exhibitry to reach non-traditional audiences will all receive special attention.
In addition, the reviews will try to provide readers with a sense of what the current state of historical exhibition and interpretation is in different parts of the country. This will help to foster an informed dialogue about the issues that historians and museum professionals face in interpreting America’s past.
Learn to infuse local Texas history stories into your exhibits with this five-part online workshop series led by Erin McClelland, a senior staff member at MuseWork, an exhibit planning and design firm in Austin. Using a mix of online resources and hands-on exercises, participants will gain the skills to make their exhibits more engaging and thought-provoking to visitors by learning to select and interpret themes, photographs, objects, and documents. They will also be equipped to handle those difficult or controversial exhibits that everyone dreads to tackle. This course is designed for both museum staff and independent curators of all experience levels.