Fundamentals

After the intensity of installation and the excitement of the opening, there is often the temptation to think that the work is done and that the exhibition will run itself. In small organizations, or where this is the first-ever exhibition, there may be a real sense of achievement and the feeling that there is no more to do. In larger organizations with an ongoing exhibition programme, it is often a case of ‘on to the next one’: planning begins immediately for the next exhibition and no more attention is paid to the current display.

It's tempting to take a step back once the pressure is off; after all, everything has been completed on time and looks wonderful. However, an exhibition requires constant attention to make sure it continues to look good. A maintenance plan should be in position, with daily monitoring and inspection of both the objects and the exhibition space. Stay alert for environmental conditions and security. There may be ongoing activities such as private views, lectures or workshops which have to be planned, managed and supervised. Members of the exhibition team should be assigned responsibility for each task. It's important to keep monitoring risk during the entire exhibition and, if necessary, to take preventive action to ensure that everything goes well.

Monitoring

Original objectives

The objectives that were set out at the idea and concept stage can now be revisited to see if the exhibition meets the criteria for success chosen when the project began. The maintenance and programme stage consists of observing progress against the plan so any potential problems can be identified. If there is no monitoring during the exhibition, there will be no way of knowing if it was a success or not. Any reports or evaluations will have to include the original objectives. Data on what went well and what was not so successful will be useful for future planning, requesting loans or applying for funding.

Measuring

The exhibition team should measure results against objectives in terms of exhibits, schedule, budget, theme, presentation and interpretation. It is also the time to start measuring visitor reaction, critical acclaim, the number of visitors and the success of the accompanying programmes.