What do we mean by Sustainable Exhibitions?

Museums increasingly see the importance of managing their past, present and future through sustainable concepts and practices. This approach is vital to the success of the museum and its exhibitions.

Introduction

Sustainability plays a key part in many museums’ organisation-wide strategies. Museums increasingly see the importance of managing their past, present and future through sustainable concepts and practices. This approach is vital to the success of the museum and its exhibitions.

What do we mean by Sustainable Exhibitions?

When we think of a temporary exhibition, we think of a display that is available for a finite amount of time; an experience that is fleeting, something that is part of the appeal, and is therefore in essence unsustainable. However, exhibitions can be sustainable. Sustainable exhibitions are those that take into consideration environmental, financial, cultural and social sustainability before, during and after their production.

Environmental. Recycling and re-using objects, monitoring energy use and keeping it to a minimum, and using environmentally-friendly materials.
Financial. Sustainable exhibitions are in the most part low-cost as they are focused on low-impact production. However, they may not necessarily be immediately low-cost but they will save money in the long run. Financial sustainability also means ensuring that your touring exhibition is beneficial to the economy, particularly locally.
Cultural. The heritage and integrity of the collection and loan/s to the exhibition must be maintained. The reputation of the establishment must be sustained, with the exhibition being of educational and historical significance.
Social. The exhibition should hold social value locally, nationally and internationally (where relevant). The exhibition is shown to be sustainable through community relationships and staff contribution.

Many of us are already thinking along the right lines; we want to change things but may not have the time or job description to allow for this. It is key to remember that making touring exhibitions more sustainable is a behavioural change. If you have the right mindset from the beginning, then you will quickly see sustainable improvements in every aspect of your exhibitions programme.

Introduction

What do we mean by Sustainable Exhibitions?