This or That: How to Prepare for an Exhibits Career
By: Rini C.S., NEMPN Committee Member
Each GLAM institution will define the roles and responsibilities for their exhibits team differently. Some institutions may not have exhibit staff at all. So, in a field that can be extremely variable, how do you prepare for your future career?
Firstly, you should decide what in exhibits you are wanting to do:
Decide the larger theme & scope.
Pick the objects for display.
Design the visual content.
Build the exhibit elements.
Write the label content.
Develop and build the digital interactives or displays
At some museums, you might be responsible for all of these tasks, while at others you might only handle one area. Staffing and budget can be large factors in these determinations. It is still common for museums to outsource or contract out parts or all of the exhibit process. Corporate exhibit work can be a rewarding career for those who choose that route—your clients can range from museums, zoos, and galleries to trade shows, conferences, and brand events.
Generally, though, the exhibit process whether it’s in-house or contracted, is highly collaborative. So if you hate group projects, this might not be the best career choice for you.
You want to make the big decisions
Typically, the Curator along with museum leadership will choose which exhibits. Again, it’s a collaborative process. An Exhibits Director, Manager, or Senior Developer may also have influence in this decision. This would be someone who knows the capabilities of their team if production is going to be large in-house.
Curators are subject area experts. They will advocate for their objects, and will often be the main person selecting which items to display. Depending on your institution, they may also decide how and potentially where the items will be displayed.
A Masters or Doctorate level degree is often required for curatorial positions. These would generally match the subject area of the institution that you want to get hired. Because they can be so specialized, curatorial positions can also be highly competitive.
You want to develop the content and experience
Exhibit planning starts with the Big Idea—the overarching message of the exhibit. This, along with theme and mood mapping, is often done by the Exhibit Developer. They will work collaboratively with the Curator to craft the interpretive narrative. This is the story your exhibit is telling. Yes, it means writing a lot of exhibit panels. They should be familiar with the voice of the institution, and be skilled at writing for a variety of audiences.
The Developer will also work hand-in-hand with the Exhibit Designer. The Designer is responsible for the visual components of the exhibit. They create the color pallets, decide the fonts, and often will design the physical layout of the exhibit and all its elements. They will take the written content from the Developer or Curator and lay it out on a panel for printing. At many institutions, they will have a good relationship with the contracted printers for production of exhibit elements.
Exhibit Developers may have Museum Studies degrees. Art or Design degrees are other options—just do not forget the writing element of this position. If you are going for a Museum Studies degree, make sure to investigate the program to see if they have a dedicated exhibits focus/track. What opportunities do you have for practical exhibits experience? If they do not have many exhibit-focused classes in their department, what electives do they recommend?
Designers do not always need a degree, but rather a strong portfolio. An art or graphic design degree can help.
You want to build the exhibits
Welcome to the world of fabrication. Fabricators are the skilled individuals who build, and sometimes product in-house, the physical elements of the exhibit. Depending on the needs of the exhibit, they might be building walls, installing electronics, adjusting lights, painting, mounting, welding… The list can go on.
Fabricators, like designers, do not necessarily need a degree unless it’s required by the institution. A strong portfolio to showcase your skills is key.
You want to design or develop digital elements and interactives
Despite the increased adoption of technology in exhibits, this role still feels new for museums. Largely, that is because it’s often not a singular role. These elements are created by digital designers, interactive developers, programmers, video editors, and animators—to name a few. While some museums may have a digital team on staff, it is often one that is contracted out to specialist agencies or firms.
This is another creative field where a degree may not matter. Your skills and portfolio will speak volumes for you.
The TL;DR
Research institutions you would like to work at and see how they define their exhibit process: is it in-house? Contracted? Who does what roles?
While many museum positions do require a degree—often a master’s degree these days—a strong portfolio and/or writing sample is going to be key for starting your career. Unless you want to be a curator. Then you need to decide where you want to focus and become as knowledgeable as possible.
Rini C.S. is an Exhibits Project Manager at Conner Prairie (Fishers, Ind.). They hold a Master’s degree in Museum Studies from Indiana University Indianapolis.