Designing Exhibitions for Learning and Engagement

• Language of the training: English
• Duration: 5 days, 30 hours in total (6 × 45 minutes per day)
• Daily schedule: 9:00–11:15 Block I (3 × 45 min) · 11:15–11:45 break · 11:45–14:00 Block II (3 × 45 min)
• Theory–practice ratio: 50–50%
• Number of participants: minimum 6, maximum 20
• Location: Szentendre / Budapest, Hungary – institutional visit at the Hungarian Open Air Museum, Szentendre

Professionals working in museums, cultural institutions and public institutions, as well as teachers and staff of educational institutions who wish to incorporate exhibition development and organisation practices into their professional work.

In a rapidly changing cultural and educational environment, exhibitions are no longer merely spaces for presenting objects and information. They are also important settings for learning, dialogue and participation. The training equips cultural professionals and educators with practical approaches to create meaningful, accessible and engaging exhibition experiences.

By the end of the training, participants will…

• know the fundamentals of exhibition strategy, scriptwriting and budgeting, as well as international good practices in exhibitions aimed at raising awareness and fostering community engagement;
• understand the interrelationships involved in project-based exhibition planning, and how exhibition concepts and knowledge-transfer processes can be effectively integrated;
• be able to apply basic knowledge of preventive conservation and object handling, as well as practical approaches to marketing and communication related to exhibitions;
• develop a feasible exhibition concept tailored to their own institutional context, together with an action plan outlining the objectives, target groups, required resources, implementation steps and expected impacts;
• collaborate with museum professionals from different countries and professional backgrounds, analyse institutional and social challenges, share good practices and develop solutions collaboratively.

• Day 1 – SEE – The Exhibition as a Space for Learning and Community: exhibition types, aims and functions; the exhibition as a learning environment; target groups and visitor needs; preventive conservation and collection management; inspiring international good practices.
• Day 2 – IMAGINE – Concept Development: topic, message and narrative; defining objectives and target groups; exhibition concept and script; storytelling and interpretation; creative design methods.
• Day 3 – ENGAGE – Learning, Participation and Audiences: engagement and participatory methods; museum education; different age groups and learning needs; accessibility and inclusivity; community engagement.
• Day 4 – CREATE – Designing the Exhibition: spatial and visual exhibition design; objects, texts, images and digital tools; interactivity and multisensory elements; resource and budget planning; institutional visit.
• Day 5 – ACT – From Concept to Implementation: project planning and scheduling; tasks, roles and resources; communication and audience outreach; impact; presenting an individual exhibition concept and action plan.

SEE → IMAGINE → ENGAGE → CREATE → ACT

• short professional inputs
• presentation of good practices
• institutional visit
• workshops
• group work
• practical exercises
• case studies
• experience sharing
• reflective activities
• tasks adaptable to participants’ own institutional contexts

International elements: exploring good practices from different countries, examining cultural differences, international group work, experience sharing, examples from partner institutions, collaborative problem-solving.

• Assessment: final self-assessment and participant feedback
• Individual output: an exhibition concept and utilisation plan tailored to the participant’s own institution
• At institutional level: new approaches to exhibition planning, organisation and educational use
• In the longer term: lasting international professional networks and the sharing of good practices

• Course fee: to be announced
• Dates and application deadline: to be announced
• Funding: eligible for Erasmus+ KA1 mobility funding (applied for by the participant’s organisation)

Museum Education and Methodology Centre – Hungarian Open Air Museum
mokkkepzes@skanzen.hu

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