museum interpretation: exhibits and their captions
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Museum Interpretation: Exhibits and their Captions
Laurel CasjensUtah Office of Museum Services
lcasjens@utah.gov
What makes a good interpretive exhibit?
The Big Idea: The major theme or storyWell written informationVisually appealingInteresting objectsWell laid out/organized Encourages explorationVisitor is comfortable
Planning an ExhibitForm an Exhibit TeamIdentify the Big Idea (the story)Organize the layoutChoose objects that tell your story
Display in a safe and attractive manner
Write captions or labels telling your storyEvaluate throughout
Who are your visitors?Do they understand and are they interested?
The Big IdeaOne Sentence that tells what the Exhibit is about (identifies the story)
Identify subthemes
Reflects what you want visitors to learn and retain
Creates a cohesive whole to which everything in the exhibition relates
Visually Appealing
CleanNot crowded Colors are not overwhelmingLight enough to see; some objects can be spotlightedProps (but need to be subdued)
Interesting ObjectsWell Laid out and Organized
Tell their storyDon’t crowd themArrange by some criterion that helps you tell their storyPeople want to understand what they are seeing
Encourages Exploration
Exhibit has learning objective, impacts visitorsRoom for visitors to look at items togetherAdditional information availableHands on, multimedia, etc.
Visitor is comfortable
Signage tells where things areRestrooms, Layout if not obvious
Labels are easy to readThere is room to gather together to look at exhibitsEnough light to seeTemperature is comfortablePlaces to sit
Captions
Captions tell the story (The Big Idea and all the sub themes and details that make the story interesting)
Must be easy to read
Need to make sense regardless of the order in which they are read
Types of Captions
Main Exhibition Title Introductory LabelCase Titles Group LabelsCaption LabelsObject Details
Exhibition Title
3-8 wordsMay have subtitleShould reflect the Big Idea—give people some idea of what the exhibit is aboutEvaluate: make sure potential visitors can figure out what you mean
Case Title
3-8 wordsMay have subtitleWhat is the story/purpose of this case
Introductory Label
20-300 WordsIntroduce the Big Idea and add an overviewOrient visitors to space (if needed)
Group Labels
20 to 150 WordsSubtheme: story told by the exhibit case or by a group of objectsStart label with information about objects.Then relate these objects to the Big Idea
Caption Labels
20-150 wordsInterpret individual objects/illustrationsStart by talking about the objectsThen relate to Big Idea
Object Details
10-20 wordsWhat Object is, material, use, donor, date of donation, etc.Should all be consistent in form and order Placed next to object (numbered lists much harder to read)
WritingUse simple, clear languageActive sentences are more compelling Vary length of sentences and paragraphsMake chunks of text
Content
Start with object and move to Big IdeaRestrict text to important ideasMake sure facts are correct
Placing Captions
Captions shouldn’t harm objectsNo pins through textilesNo high-acid paper directly on objectsNo scotch tape, tacks, staples etc. attached to object
Fonts
Choose one that is easy to ReadCan be serif (Times Roman – T g y l)or sans-serif (Arial –T g y l)Use Bold only in TitlesUse only small amounts of ItalicUse limited number of fonts
Use a Simple Font
Color Color Color Color
Use large contrast between letters and paperDon’t use opposite colorsDon’t use a busy backgroundCan use different colors for different types of captions
VoiceGroup labels vs. object descriptions
White on Yellow is bad
Blue on red is bad
Black on Blue is Bad
Back Ground too Busy
This is Way Too Large
Edit and Evaluate
Edit and Edit again; cut out ALL unneeded textEvaluate; have people who are not part of the museum read the text to see if they understand it and find it interesting
Placing Captions
Captions shouldn’t harm objectsNo pins through textilesNo high-acid paper directly on objectsNo scotch tape, tacks, staples etc. attached to object
Preparing CaptionsHands on
Equipment and Supplies Computer and PrinterPaper–pastel or earth tone, not flimsyMounting boardSpray Mount (permanent—not repositional)Heavy rulerMat Cutter (mounted or hand held) ORExacto Knife
Print Caption
Shape like a block, not a line
Print several on one sheet--Leave 2 inches between them
Put a box around them if you want—about 1/3 inch for small, more for large labels
Minimum size about 3” x 1.5”
Mounting Board
Use 4 ply acid free mount board (cut with mat cutter)
orFoam Core (cut with exacto knife)
Mounting board should be larger than paper with captions
Mount paper to boardSpray Mount (well ventilated space)
Shake up spray mountPlace label paper on newspaper (face down)Coat paper evenly with spray
Hit edgesDon’t Glop
Place paper on board—Two people—one lays it from one side and other flattens (rubs) with cotton gloves or roller
Or use dry mount press and dry mount tissue
Leave extra space around paper (especially foam core)
Put under weight for a few hours
Trimming
Leave more space for larger labelsIf you printed a box, you will cut inside the box
Bevel Cut (mat cutter)
Use mat cutter so angle leads to outside Use 4 ply mat boardThis is opposite normal mat cutting)
Vertical Cut: Exacto knife
Exacto knife along a heavy ruleror
Mounted straight cutterFoam Core cuts easily; mat board is also ok
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