Each year, hundreds of museums produce history exhibitions that are shaped and influenced by the best historical scholarship. These works are often crafted as three-dimensional, visual presentations that can expand the parameters of knowledge and experience. But unlike a monograph, an exhibit has a limited lifespan; once it closes, its only remaining record is its catalogue or videotape. Thus exhibition reviews are particularly important for the preservation of museum scholarship.
As museums try to rethink their mission and prove that they deserve their tax-exempt status in the twenty-first century, they are turning away from the past and looking for new ways to connect with visitors. The challenge is to reach out to people whose stories have been left behind and give them the opportunity to tell their own stories in museums. These new exhibits require research into the many sources of history and a creative interjection of objects, artifacts, graphics, and even re-created spaces to tell an engaging and memorable story.
The most successful exhibitions are those that combine a human narrative with visual storytelling. A museum exhibit is more than a collection of historical objects; it is a drama that uses history to help people understand our shared past and our shared future. Museums can create a sense of personal connection with the past by focusing on an individual experience or by presenting abstract concepts, such as liberty, faith, democracy, and social justice.
This five-part online workshop series will teach participants the skills necessary to infuse local Texas history stories into exhibits – traveling, temporary or permanent. Using Texas history resources, the workshop will begin by reviewing the vast array of available materials and move on to explore interpretive planning and writing techniques. In the final session, participants will learn to address the difficult stories that make everyone squirm.
In addition to providing valuable technical guidelines for exhibit production, this workshop will serve as an opportunity to develop a community of practice in which participants can share ideas and best practices related to the planning and design of history exhibitions. We encourage you to join us!