Presentation Type

Poster

Presenter Information

Tiffany E. BirakisFollow

Sharing the Past Through Museum Exhibit Design

Abstract

This poster presents the process and results of creating a museum exhibit,titled “Word Beat,” at the South Florida Museum in Bradenton, Florida. Because museum exhibits have changed over time, it is important to understand how an exhibit is created today in order to engage visitors more fully. I helped to develop the exhibit as part of an internship I held at the museum during the fall of 2010. The exhibit showcases pieces from all over the globe, from delicate Japanese kimonos to intricately decorated Lebanese ceramics. I conducted research on the history, provenience, and function of the artifacts that were to be presented. I obtained this information through literary review, tracing back collections documents, and contacting experts who are knowledgeable about the artifacts. The material then had to be interpreted through exhibit design, which I was able to assist in to bring the objects, and their meaning, to life for visitors. World Beat resulted in a colorful educational experience, full of artifacts, maps, and interactive stations. By understanding the process of creating a museum exhibit, museum visitors and the general public can gain a better appreciation for the material past and the diversity of human cultures around the world.

Categories

Social Sciences

Research Type

Course Related

Mentor Information

Dr. Karla Davis-Salazar

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Sharing the Past Through Museum Exhibit Design

This poster presents the process and results of creating a museum exhibit,titled “Word Beat,” at the South Florida Museum in Bradenton, Florida. Because museum exhibits have changed over time, it is important to understand how an exhibit is created today in order to engage visitors more fully. I helped to develop the exhibit as part of an internship I held at the museum during the fall of 2010. The exhibit showcases pieces from all over the globe, from delicate Japanese kimonos to intricately decorated Lebanese ceramics. I conducted research on the history, provenience, and function of the artifacts that were to be presented. I obtained this information through literary review, tracing back collections documents, and contacting experts who are knowledgeable about the artifacts. The material then had to be interpreted through exhibit design, which I was able to assist in to bring the objects, and their meaning, to life for visitors. World Beat resulted in a colorful educational experience, full of artifacts, maps, and interactive stations. By understanding the process of creating a museum exhibit, museum visitors and the general public can gain a better appreciation for the material past and the diversity of human cultures around the world.