Exhibit Planning Phase
Exhibit Planning Phase[edit | edit source]
The importance of introducing conservation early in the exhibit process cannot be overemphasized. Museum exhibition experience has shown that an object-friendly exhibit can be achieved most effectively and efficiently when object conservation is included as a priority at the beginning of an exhibit’s development.
click on the Standards below to view the associated guidelines that expand on the topic.
Conservation concerns must be addressed systematically throughout all phases of exhibit planning
Each exhibit team member must share in the responsibility to protect collection objects; and must work cooperatively to ensure object conservation
Appropriate collections management and collections care practices must be used throughout all exhibit phases
Movement of collection objects must be strictly limited and the transport of any exhibit objects must be carefully planned and implemented
Objects must be selected with regard to the specific needs of object preservation, as well as of the exhibit plan, and selection must be guided, in part, by an object’s vulnerability to damage and the exhibit’s ability to provide the appropriate protection
Objects selected for exhibit must be surveyed to establish their current condition and vulnerability to display and to provide an initial estimation of their individual treatment needs
The selected exhibit location must be assessed to ensure that it can provide a safe and non-hazardous environment for the objects on exhibit or that it can be sufficiently modified
A conservator must establish the Conservation Requirements for each exhibit object to provide the basis for deciding what conservation strategies and hazard mitigation features to include in the exhibit
