SLHS: Visible Keys To Success

The overriding measure of success of a museum is footfall and there are key aspects that make visitors want to tell others about their experience. Museums in Britain today are excellently honed. Visitors have high expectations.

1 - Space

2 - Engagement

To return to Master page click on ‘New Museum’ above.

First impressions are important. What gives a visitor confidence that their visit will be worthwhile:

Is there enough space around each exhibit for some to gaup and others to pass by ?

Is the lighting good or is engagement hard work ?

Is the temperature acceptable ? (Or too hot due to lights and lack of ventilation ?) Is there air-con ?

What range of heights are catered for ? Are mobility impaired persons able to see most things ?

Is the space being used wisely ?

To the left here the actor in the video tells visitors why they are are being drawn to look at what’s in front of them: Why it is significant ? How it was found ? What does it also prove ?

The scene is made to look as real as possible and contains real artifacts, real pottery, real leatherware, etc

3 - Collections

In order to get as many things in the museum as possible the density of collections needs to be quite high and so shelves must be of very clean glass with dust sealed out.

High key lighting is used but chosen to give the minimum of reflections.

Everything is grouped and labelled.

Cabinets are all unique and so demand individual attention. They are not laid out in boring straight lines but compliment a story.

The floor also contains hard glass covered exhibits eg a well, hoards of coins or bones, etc.

4 - Children’s Area

This area is remarkably efficient. The children can dress up like the people that they see on the wall.

An optional sound only presentation describes what the people are doing and why. To explain a story each one it lit as the story progresses and no person, each dressed up child, is missed out.

There are also desks where either age appropriate games or studies can be conducted. Adequate storage is available for different sizes of clothes, different materials dependent on age group and demonstration props.

5 - Gift Shop

Have the children been listening ? If so they should be able to answer wall mounted quizzes. The questions chosen would also be interesting for teenagers and adults.

Additional income will be gained by a gift shop. It will need to be policed and money taken by whoever is in charge of the till.

Again a range of age related items should be available.

Stock should be replaced regularly and new items sought for inclusion.

SLHS Picture & Document Archives..

1. Picture Vaults: Example Local History Museum  No photographs are to be used for any purpose other than planning. Please respect the copyright of this museum’s material.

There are many more aspects than the physical layout of a museum for it to be successful. These cannot be dealt with here.

All these pictures and many more are in the Picture Vault below.