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Melissa,
Good questions, but lots of diffreent answers. Having seen a few science
centres around the world, one thing that strikes you is the range of
sussessful models. And the sussess ( or not) of a project is only in
part related to the model. Location, recoginising your market ( tourists
or mostly schools etc) and on going support are as critical asany of the
issues you have raised in your questions.
Lets try these answers for starters.
1) Questacon biulds almost all of its exhibits. About 1000 sqm of
exhibition a year Other science centres bring most in, otehrs have a
fixed core of fundamental exhibitions, with a temp/travelling exhibiton
space ( common model) to spice up the centre and get the repeat
visitors.
2) we have research, design, graphics, engineering, electronics, and
multimedia all in the one shop..Others have a core of research
curatorial staff and go out to commercial ( including other science
centres) for detailed development and construction. If you want novelty,
innovation and a frequent turn over of exhibits, you should have an in
house team.
3) big range of media (IT) levels in centres. We have about 10 to 20%
depending on subjects. The more fundamental the science the less media (
exhibits OF a principle).. The more information, process rich,
biological... The more media ( exhibits ABOUT a principle).. Some
centres have vertually none ( exploratorium, Tom tits ( sweden)) others
have 50% or more. And all work in their location.
4) Technicans - we have about 3000 sqm ( 30,000 s ft) of exhibition and
about the equivalent of 4 maintenance staff - shared across many more
technicians that normally work on development. This gives us better the
97% exhibits up at any time. A rule of thumb sets maintenance costs at
around 10% of the value of the exhibition ( can be 20% in some cases -
high tech, high maintenance costs, expensive labour).
5) Everybody is responsible for maintenance... We centralise the
breakdown reports, and log them so we can track repeat offenders, to see
if a more serious overhaul is warrented, or throwing the exhibit out.
From this central point the reports go out to the various areas based on
the nature of the reported failure. The cost of keeping content (digital
media) updated is expensive in terms of collecting it (if you aren't
already a collecting institution), preparing it, and getting it loaded,
or incorporated onto the exhibits. Some centrs have free standing
computer/media exhibits ( allows for portability, easy removal if a
breakdown occurs) but prevents a central management of the content (
until the wireless age gets cheap enough for us to install).. Otehrs
centralise the IT hardware and this makes it easier to upgrade, much
more expensive in the beginging, and a real pain to relocate exhibits.
6) the dream fascility -- here is hard to beat.
7) qualifications in a director - experience, attention to detail,
experience, good people skills, experience, ability to foster creativity
and dedication to timelines, and experience is good too.
8) I think the ASTC had a salaries survey done at one time - may have
just been for directors/ceo's.. But most of us work for the love of it,
and strong coffee... Very strong coffee.
Hope this helps, check the ASTC's booklists for examples of planning a
centre, space budgets, throughput etc.
Keen to see any other attempts at answering these questions.
Good luck.
Dr Stuart Kohlhagen
Manager New Concepts
Questacon
Canberra
Australia.
-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Melissa A.Williams
Sent: Tuesday, 14 December 2004 10:40 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: exhibits questions
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
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*****
Hi all -
I'm looking for some brief assistance from Exhibits folks in order to
verify some information for a business plan. If your facility is around
30,000 sq ft, or you have an exhibit that size with dedicated staffing
(especially if it is mostly digital), would you mind answering a few
questions?
1. About how much of your exhibit program do you buy vs. fabricate
2. What sort of fabrication facilities do you have (including size &
equipment)
3. About what percentage of your exhibits include digital components
4. How many exhibit technicians do you have (how many paid, pt time,
volunteer)
5. Who (Exhibits or IT department) is responsible for maintenance,
including upgrades, of any digital components
6. What would be your dream staff/facilities for exhibits
7. What qualifications do you want in an Exhibits Director
8. (and the sensitive part) What is the salary range for an exhibits
director, shop manager, exhibit tech
I appreciate your taking a few minutes to address these questions.
Please forward your responses to [log in to unmask]
Sincerely,
Melissa
Melissa A. Williams
[log in to unmask]
Senior Instructional Specialist
Flandrau Science Center
1601 E. University Blvd.
Tucson AZ 85721
520.626.6257
520.621.8451/FAX
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