Samantha Faulkner, State Library of Queensland. A new exhibitions model, a new engaged exhibition program presentation at Opening Doors: 2019 Museums & Galleries Queensland Conference.

1. A new exhibitions
model,
a new engaged
exhibition program

2. The purpose of exhibitions at State Library is
to offer experiences that are inspiring,
thought-provoking and transformative to
people by telling stories with collections and
communities.

3. 1. A new exhibitions model
• consultation
• findings and recommendations
• establishing the team
• exhibitions lifecycle
• implementation
• refinement
2. A new engaged exhibition program
• establish approach
• implementation process
3. The model in action
• Home: a suburban obsession
• I heard it on the radio
Content

4. A new Exhibitions model

5. Realignment and consultation
- Establishment of dedicated exhibitions team and
program
- Identified need for Exhibitions Model and framework
- Engaged Blackwell’s Design Co. to consult with staff
across State Library, develop report and recommend
next steps.
- 1 on 1 meetings with staff
- Focus groups
- Reporting and feedback A NEW
EXHIBITONS
MODEL

6. Findings
A NEW
EXHIBITONS
MODEL
challenges what’s working well
Exhibitions not considered a core
function of State Library
Diverse program
Broadly scoped in content and
target audiences – impacting
visitation
Strength of collection and
collecting opportunities
Visibility – not recognised as a go
to location for exhibitions
Commitment to content,
communities and high quality
delivery
Timeframes – short lead times Our building, our location
Budget Expertise
Roles and procedures unclear Project management
methodologies

7. A NEW
EXHIBITONS
MODEL
Recommendations
Confirm and adopt the purpose of exhibitions at State Library
Implement the exhibitions lifecycle
Dedicated staffing for exhibition project teams
Skills development and capacity building
Establish Exhibitions Governance Board
Holistic approach to visitor experience design
Stagger exhibition scheduling
Review resourcing requirements

8. Teams
- Core team
- Exhibition Producer
- Curator
- Exhibition project team
- Internal:
- Exhibitions
- Preservation services
- Marketing and
Communications
- Collections engagement
- Commercial Services ICTS
- Metadata Services
- Access services
- Schools engagement
- Kuril dhagun
- Strategic Engagement
- Web development
A NEW
EXHIBITONS
MODEL
- External contributors:
- Curator
- Graphic designer
- Educators
- Installers
- Designers
- Builders
- printers

9. Phase 1:
Ideation
4 weeks
Phase 2: Concept
development
6-8 weeks
Phase 3: Concept design
10-12 weeks
Phase 4: Developed content
and design
6 months
Phase 5:
Documented
Design
4 weeks
Phase 6:
Installation
2-4 weeks
Phase 7: Opening,
maintenance and
programming
Exhibition period
Phase 8:
de-installation
1 week
Phase 9:
Evaluation
8 weeks
Exhibition lifecycle
A NEW
EXHIBITONS
MODEL

10. Implementation
- Establishment of Exhibitions Project Governance Board (PGB)
- approvals:
- Phase 1: Ideation - Proposals
- Phase 2: Concept development - Concept brief
- Phase 3: Concept design - Project Initiation Document (PID)
- Phase 4 – 8 - Monthly reporting
- Phase 9 – Evaluation report
- Forward schedule
- Development of Exhibition policy 2018-2021
- Consultation and development of procedures and templates
- Communication of forward program A NEW
EXHIBITONS
MODEL

11. Refinement
What’s working What’s not working
Engaging exhibitions as core
strategic priority for State
Library 2018/19
Budget restraints
Dedicated exhibitions team Short lead times
Curators and Exhibition
producers working
collaboratively
Role clarity
Engagement framework Scope creep
Lifecycle phases
A NEW
EXHIBITONS
MODEL

12. A new engaged
exhibition program

13. A NEW
ENGAGED
EXHIBITION
PROGRAM
- Aim: establish 2019/2020/2021 exhibition program across
three gallery spaces:
- slq Gallery, level 2 (376m²)
- Philip Bacon Heritage Gallery, level 4 (110m²)
- Kuril dhagun, level 1 (38m²)
- Develop ideas - work collaboratively with various departments
across the state library
- Consult broadly concerning exhibition concepts and
scheduling
- Make clear recommendations to Exhibitions PGB:
- implementation process
- scheduling
- exhibitions for approval
- budget
Establish approach

14. A NEW
ENGAGED
EXHIBITION
PROGRAM
- Forward planning strategy
- First year implementation (2018)
- Assess existing program and confirm 2019 schedule
- short lead times unavoidable
- Extended exhibition display periods
- Second year implementation (2019)
- Ideation sessions for 2020/21 exhibition program
- extended lead times
- Limited scope
- 5 month display periods (2 exhibitions per year per space)
- Third year implementation (2020)
- Ideation sessions 2022/23
- lead times in line with 18-24 month exhibition lifecycle goal
by 2021
Establish approach cont…

15. A NEW
ENGAGED
EXHIBITION
PROGRAM

16. A NEW
ENGAGED
EXHIBITION
PROGRAM
- Phase 1: Ideation
- Call for ideas
- Ideation sessions
- Diverse groups
- Brain storm
- Recognise ideas are cheap
- Link to purpose
- Focus groups
- Collection links
- Link to Engagement framework
- Target audiences
- Potential public programming
- exhibition schedule drafted
- Proposal submission to Exhibitions PGB
- exhibition schedule confirmed
Implementation process

17. A NEW
ENGAGED
EXHIBITION
PROGRAM
- Phase 2: Concept development
- Exhibition Producer and Curator confirmed
- Concept development:
- Collection research
- Community liaison and consultation
- Narrative development
- Link to Engagement framework
- Target audiences
- Public programming opportunities
- Exhibition PGB approval of concept and exhibition dates
- Phase 3: Concept design
- Exhibition project team established
- Project Initiation Document (PID)
- PID approval by Exhibitions PGB
Implementation process

18. The model in action

22. Home: a suburban obsession
Co-Curators: Chenoa Pettrup and Adam Jefford
Exhibition Producer: Helen Sartori
- Approach:
- Exhibition narrative themes:
- Story of Frank and Eunice Corley
- Highlight the Frank and Eunice Corley House Photographs collection
- Collection acquisition, digitisation and access
- Showcase how a collection has the ability to create new Queensland stories
- The connection between house, home and creativity
- State Library Engagement framework: Collaborate
- Contemporary relevance and response through collection commissions and Corley
Explorer
- Exhibition layout design: interpretative tools, visitor experience, collection access
- Webpage development: as campaign page and access to content beyond State
Library physical site

24. http://home.slq.qld.gov.au/

28. Curator: Sophia Sambono
Exhibition Producer: Chloe Waters
- Approach:
- Work with 98.9FM to:
- Tell their story
- Access collections and develop exhibition content
- Develop and deliver associated programming
- Identify major exhibition themes
- State Library Engagement framework: Involve and Collaborate
- Exhibition layout design: interpretative tools and visitor experience
- Webpage development: as campaign page and access to content
beyond State Library physical site
I heard it on the radio

29. https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/discover/exhibitions/989fm

30. Enquiries:
Samantha Faulkner
Coordinator, Exhibitions
State Library Queensland
samantha.faulkner@slq.qld.gov.au
(07) 3842 9293