Eleventh International Conference on The Inclusive Museum

Abstract

Born from the strain between exhibition designers, educators, and curators, the challenge that the museum faces rests in the balance of conveying the overarching message of an exhibition and the consistent, observed behaviors of the visitors. Approaching the exhibition space as an architectural entity and applying spatial theory and planning to exhibitions can establish this balance. Beverly Serrell’s study, “Paying Attention: Visitors and Museum Exhibitions” (1998), on the relationship between the amount of time that visitors spend in exhibits, what aspects of the exhibit they pay attention to, and the impact of these exhibits opened the door for formal evaluation of exhibition spaces in the United States. Serrell’s study introduced measurable means for determining the success of existing exhibitions. Exhibit developers can create elements that are similar, complementary, and reinforcing, and they can encourage visitors to use exhibitions more thoroughly. People will naturally continue to behave as they have already determined they should act in a given space. This natural programming can, however, be manipulated; if the space is changed to manipulate people to act as the exhibition director desires, it is likely to naturally improve thorough use of a space and the interactions with the exhibition itself.