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I'm lucky to get to be a professional artist on some days and an  
exhibit designer-fabricator on other days.  I've also helped  
coordinate a number of citywide events involving artists.  So I've  
been on every side of the table, top and bottom included!

I could go on and on and on, but here's a consideration or two from  
the top of my brain this afternoon:

1.   There might be somebody on your Board (or somebody on staff!)  
who collects art.  That's a valuable resource, maybe--but not  
necessarily--for art loans, but primarily for who and what they  
already know.

2.    Establish whether you're making a Call for Submissions of  
existing works, which is great for photographers and performancers  
and many painters, or a Request for Proposals, which is great for  
project-based, situation-specific work, and a great way to access the  
installation artists, interactive sculptors, and some poets.  Or  
maybe you're doing both Calls and Requests!  Many artists respond to  
both!

3.   If you're Calling for Submissions, you'll wear curator's shoes.   
You'll look over a plethora of slideshows, and hopefully committ some  
afternoons to making studio visits (always rewarding time spent).   
It's important that you outline for artists the ways in which your  
exhibition will differ from a typical gallery exhibition.  And ways  
may be many!
  Determine if you're paying exhibition fees, or purchasing prints,  
or if the exhibition is offering awards, or some other path for the  
mooney.  If there's isn't much chance for sales, a lot of 2-D artists  
appreciate exhibition fees.

4.   If you're Requesting for Proposals, the process is more like a  
public art selection, or in some cases a residency program.  You'll  
be looking at ideas and qualifications, and considering feasability.   
The wider the cross section of people on your selection committee,  
the better, because the chosen artist(s) will have to work across  
departments during the project, in addition to working closely with  
an on-staff project manager.  Personality conflicts can break a good  
project, so interviews are probably a must.
  Limitations fuel creativity!  Be up front regarding the limitations  
and potential compromises as much as you are about the  
opportunities.  I think your best candidates will be eager to  
confront challenges, and creatively so.
  Getting what you pay for being fact, incentives beyond a materials  
budget are crucial.  Many installation artists don't make a living  
selling work, but by winning grants and awards.  If monetary  
incentives are meager, the host institution should be committed to  
providing access to wise expertise, special equipment, unique  
exhibition space, or in some other way be the lever that lifts  
particular obstacles that would otherwise keep a dream project from  
being realized.

5.   We are lucky to live in a time when a lot of emerging artists  
are exploring collective, multimedia art-making.  You can select  
teams of artists to tackle particular projects, and likely stir up  
some unique activity.


Scott, I'm sure your project is going to be a blast!


--Jason

__
JasonJayStevens
JasonJayStevensStudio
[log in to unmask]
www.potterbelmar.org/jjss
536 Roosevelt Avenue
San Antonio, Texas 78210
210.818.0642




On Oct 3, 2008, at 2:22 PM, Scott Pattison wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related  
> institutions.
> ********************************************************************** 
> *******
>
> Hello all,
>
> What experience have people had working with artists to create  
> displays
> and interactives for exhibits? What worked? What didn't?
>
> We are considering both temporary installations, that would only be on
> display at one venue, and displays or interactives that would be a
> permanent part of a traveling exhibit.
>
> Thanks for your help,
>
> Scott
>
> Scott Pattison
> Senior Exhibit Developer
> Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
> 1945 SE Water Avenue
> Portland, OR 97214
> 503.797.4673
> [log in to unmask]
> www.omsi.edu
>
> Unlock the puzzles in the Mindbender Mansion-A brain teasing new  
> exhibit
> now open at OMSI
>
>
>
> ********************************************************************** 
> *
> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers  
> and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
>
> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at  
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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.

Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.

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