Legacy of the Lakes Museum 3-5 Year Exhibit Schedule Plan
The Legacy of the Lakes Museum hired a contractor to create a 3-5 year exhibit schedule plan. The exhibits committee will use this plan to create exhibits that incorporate broader stories of lake life in order to engage a larger audience and create an improved experience for visitors.
The museum?s interpretive scope broadened three years ago when an interpretive plan was completed. Instead of focusing solely on classic boats, the museum now looks at lake life as a whole. By broadening this scope, the museum becomes more relevant and engaging for a larger audience, which increases its viability. This exhibit project was an important step in actually incorporating the other lake life topics and stories into our physical exhibits and, in turn, educational programming.
The process of completing this project also helped educate staff, committee members, and the board about professional exhibit planning and implementation. This education helps continue to move toward a more professional museum, which improves the visitor experience.
$4,500,000 the first year and $6,500,000 the second year are for history programs and projects operated or conducted by or through local, county, regional, or other historical or cultural organizations or for activities to preserve significant historic and cultural resources. Funds are to be distributed through a competitive grant process. The Minnesota Historical Society must administer these funds using established grant mechanisms, with assistance from the advisory committee created under Laws 2009, chapter 172, article 4, section 2, subdivision 4, paragraph (b), item (ii).
Available upon request. grants@mnhs.org
Short Term Measurable Outcome: To have a clear understanding of our exhibits space and which areas are for large, small, permanent, and traveling exhibits.
This outcome was exceeded thanks to Bluestem?s floorplan and 3-D designs for the entire gallery space. The floorplan organizes the space by interpretive theme and creates a natural flow for visitors. It also incorporates more professional exhibit design structures like half walls, scrims, artifact mounts, and exhibit cases. This design helps us see our museum less as a showroom and more of a professional museum.
Intermediate Term Measurable Outcome: Staff, committee members, and board members have a better understanding of best practices and exhibit needs. Our exhibits committee has a budget in place prior to the upcoming season.
This outcome was achieved. Staff, committee members, and board members were able to learn more about exhibit planning and museum best practices from the meetings and presentations that Bluestem led. Any exposure to experts in the museum field helps us gain knowledge we did not have before. Bluestem opened our eyes to what it really takes to plan and implement high quality exhibits. We have a better understanding of the time commitment and costs go into exhibit planning. The exhibits committee is using elements of the plan in order to create a budget for 2019.
Long Term Measureable Outcome: Our audience has an improved overall visitor experience.
This outcome is yet to be determined since pieces of this project will not be visible by the public until our next season and beyond.
Available upon request, grants@mnhs.org