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Historic Preservation Home > Syllabi > 400 Level Courses > HISP 463 Laboratory in Museum Design and Interpretation

University of Mary Washington
Deparatment of Historic Preservation

HISP 463: Laboratory in Museum Design and Interpretation
Spring, 2008
Combs 009
Thursdays, 2 – 4:30pm
Meghan C. Budinger, Adjunct Faculty
Office Hours: Tuesdays, 2 – 3:00pm
Or by appointment
Office phone number: x2113
Email: mbudinge@umw.edu

Class Texts:
There are no required texts for this course.  However, students will be asked to read items placed on Blackboard by the instructor periodically throughout the semester.

Required Materials:
Students will be required to purchase materials necessary for several lab projects, including foam core, utility knives and balsa wood.  Lists of the necessary materials will be distributed the week before they are needed in class.  Most of the materials can be purchased at any arts and crafts supply store, such as Michael’s or Pearl Arts.

Course Goals and Objectives:
By the end of this course, students will:

  • Understand the process by which museums develop and implement exhibitions
  • Understand the key components of exhibition content
  • Acquire skills in the area of curatorial research
  • Acquire skills in the writing of exhibition text
  • Acquire skills in the design of exhibitions

Assignments:
Submission of a “white model” and exhibit binder, due March 13th Presentation of the above, also on March 13th: together, 30% of your final grade

            In the museum exhibition world, ideas for the physical structure and design of an exhibit are submitted to decision-makers in the form of a scale model, often referred to as a “white model”.  Additionally, other components of the exhibition are described more comprehensively in an exhibit binder, which accompanies the white model.  Students will be asked to develop a mini-exhibit, taking their idea through the various development stages we will be discussing in class.  The culmination of your mini-exhibit will be the white model and exhibit binder.  Just as in the exhibition design profession, students will be required to present their ideas to the class, using the model and binder as illustrative tools, in a 7 minute presentation.  Students will be graded on the effort and thought put into their mini-exhibitions, the exactness and neatness of their models, and their ability to explain the relationship between their design and their exhibit subjects.

Three-page paper on your assigned individual role, due April 17th Participation in the Semester Group Project: together, 40% of your final grade

            The ultimate goal of this class is for the students to produce an exhibition that includes all of the components typical of a true museum exhibition, and to develop it through the basic process used by most museums.  As such, the class will be responsible for developing, fabricating and installing an exhibition for public view in the Ridderhof Martin Gallery on campus.  Each student will be assigned a particular role to play in the exhibits process, and will be graded on the effort they put into carrying out that role’s responsibilities.  Additionally, students will also be graded on their work as part of a team.  Obviously, grades for group-work participation are inherently subjective, so it would be to your advantage to be present for all work sessions, to comment and be a part of group discussion, and to be visible in your participation – if I don’t see you working, I don’t know that you are contributing.

Additional Grading:
There will be a final exam for this class, worth 20% of your final grade.  It will be in essay form.

General class participation will be worth the last 10% of your final grade.  I reiterate the statement above about the subjectivity of participation grades and the necessity of being present in order to participate.

Class Schedule:

January 17th: Class Overview

Exhibition Development

January 24th:Developing an Idea: Curatorial Research
Read: Essay, “Noodling Around with Exhibit Opportunities” in Exhibiting Cultures, posted on Blackboard

January 31st:Developing an Idea: Object Selection

***Please Note: There will be no class on February 7th***

February 14th:The White Model

February 21st: The Exhibit Binder, Exhibition Treatment, Script and Object Labels
Read: Excerpts from “Exhibit Labels: An Interpretive Approach” by Beverley Serrell, posted on Blackboard

February 28th: Graphic Selection
Look at various on-line exhibits, url’s provided in class

Exhibition Design and Fabrication

March 6th: No Class – Spring Break!

March 13th:Presentations of White Models and Exhibit Binders
* White model and exhibit binder due at the beginning of class

March 20th: ADA and Other Design Considerations
Read: ADA requirements on-line, url provided in class

March 27th:Class Visit to Exhibit Site
Meet at: Ridderhof Martin Gallery

April 3rd: Class Field Trip to Capital Exhibit Services, Inc. (CESi)

April 10th: In-class Work Day

April 17th: Work Day at Exhibit Site
Meet at Combs to pick up exhibit components

April 24th:Final Exam Review
* Paper due at the beginning of class