From Wikipedia Natural History Museum London, Photo by DAVID ILIFF “A museum is a “permanent institution in the service of society and of its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment, for the purposes of education, study, and enjoyment”, as defined by the International Council …
Collecting Information about museum visitors
Survey Monkey is a great tool for collecting quick information from museum visitors, potential donors or get feedback on potential exhibition ideas. Survey Monkey is free for a basic account or $19.95 for a premium account. As a sample we have created a simple 3 question sample survey regarding the Museum Planner Blog. The survey will be active for the …
Generations of Museums / Science Centers
Museum 1.0 First Generation Museum / Science Center Collection cases, static displays, object centered • Mutter Museum Museum 2.0 Second Generation Museum / Science Center Collection cases with push buttons and cranks • Museum of Science, Boston Museum 3.0 Third Generation Museum / Science Center Open ended, multi-layered and visitor centric • Exploratorium
Types of Museums and Centers
Art museums Science centers Children’s museums Maritime museums Military and war museums Mobile museums Natural history museums Open air museums Specialized museums Virtual museums Zoos and Zoological Gardens In future posts we will list our “Top 10” of each type
Mickey’s Ten Commandments
By Marty Sklar President, Walt Disney Imagineering I. Know your audience. II. Wear your guests’ shoes. III. Organize the flow of people and ideas. IV. Create a “weenie” (visual magnet). V. Communicate with visual literacy. VI. Avoid overload – create turn-ons. VII. Tell one story at a time. VIII. Avoid contradictions – maintain identity. IX. “Ounce of treatment – ton …
What is Museum Master Planning?
Museum Master Planning is the creation of documents to describe a new museum’s vision, the visitor experience and an organizational plan
Renzo Piano Embraces Chicago
By Nicolai Ouroussof New York Times, May 13, 2009 Multimedia Slide Show CHICAGO — America has been suffering from Renzo Piano fatigue. For years Mr. Piano seemed to be snapping up all the best commissions: the renovation of the Morgan Library & Museum in Manhattan, a science center in San Francisco and museum additions in Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago and …
Disney Expert Uses Science to Draw Boy Viewers
By Brooks Barnes New York Times, April 13, 2009 LOS ANGELES — Kelly Peña, or “the kid whisperer,” as some Hollywood producers call her, was digging through a 12-year-old boy’s dresser drawer here on a recent afternoon. Her undercover mission: to unearth what makes him tick and use the findings to help the Walt Disney Company reassert itself as a …
$24 Per Person!, California Academy of Science
At $24 per person, the California Academy of Science is setting a tone before you enter the door, two adults and two children, $78 dollars! for a public institution. This is a violation of the trust between a learning institution and the public. That is before we even discuss if the experience is worth it and I would say it …
Context over Content in LA
By HOLLAND COTTER, Published: August 26, 2008, New York Times NEW YORK TIMES LINK LOS ANGELES — The Latin American collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art is back on view after three years’ absence. And the reinstallation opens with a piquant flourish in a display of ancient pre-Columbian art that doubles as a solo show for a …