ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

Good Afternoon Philippe,
If you will have exhibits that are attractive and engaging.....(read: offer lots of interactive learning experiences and physical interaction).....and.... you want the exhibits to look fresh and to "work"....then I would annually budget (for exhibit maintenance) at least a dollar amount equal to 5% to 10% of the total capital improvement costs that were related to the total costs of designing, producing, and installing the exhibits.  If you will have high percentage of your visitors under the age of 12 years old....you will need every penny of that 10% budget figure.  It is truly amazing what kids can do without hand tools.....they can literally "love" an exhibit to pieces.  The most popular exhibits will the ones destroyed first......unless you have the resources (read: money) to maintain them.
Best Wishes for Success and Have Fun!
Wesley


Wesley S. Creel
Administrator of Programs
Pink Palace Family of Museums
3050 Central Avenue
Memphis, TN 38111-3399
www.memphismuseums.org
(901) 320-6370 Direct
(901) 320-6391 FAX

>>> [log in to unmask] 03/19/04 10:15AM >>>
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

We are in the planning phase of a new Science Center in Salt Lake City,
Utah.

I would like to receive realistic estimates of exhibit maintenance
costs per year. How do you budget this expense? How many % of original
cost per year?

We consider our average exhibit will cost approx. US$ 250/sqft and will
have a life time of 5 years. We have read with interest the recent
exchange about exhibit costs.

Thank you in advance for sharing your knowledge.

Philippe Wyffels

Utah Science Center @ The Leonardo

***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]

***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]