Finding You Curatorial Voice

"The chief aim of Interpretation is not instruction, but provocation."

    Freeman Tilden

What is the "Big Idea?"

• The first step in the exhibition development project is referred to as creating the “Big Idea.”
• The big idea will guide you through the rest of the exhibition process, acting as an anchor for themes, texts, artifacts, and images.
• It should be a sentence or a statement that expresses what the exhibition is about.The big idea will also convey what the exhibition is not about.

Who is You Audience?

• Who will engage with your exhibit the most?
• What information is most relevant to their lives?
• What is the most effective way to reach them? Images, text, graphics, a combination?
  

Developing Exhibit Outcomes:

• What do you want the visitors to learn? Why?
• How can visitors connect to the content? Consider multiple perspectives!
• Is it relevant to the visitor?
• Does the content and order of the exhibit narrative help visitors understand our “Big Idea?”

Tips for Writing Exhibit Labels:

• Keep it short.
• 150 word limit per case (including item labels)
• Less than 30 words for item labels and captions.
• Identify the key concepts of the story your are telling and engage those topics directly.

Where to Start?

A quick reference for creating exhibition labels.

Now it is You Turn!

• Break into your groups.
• Each group will assigned an object to interpret.
• Then, create a “Big Idea” statement to guide your interpretation.
• Spend the next 15 minutes creating an exhibit label for your object.
• Start with the specifics and work out to the general.
• Tell a story.
• At the end, be ready to share your object and label.