Guideline 8.4

Back to complete list of Exhibit Planning standards
Back to STANDARD 8: Exhibit Conservation Requirements

Guideline 8.4:
The Conservation Requirements are set as early as possible in the exhibit development process.

Why is it essential to set the Conservation Requirements as early as possible in the exhibit process?

The conservation requirements should be established early in exhibit development if they are to provide effective guidance for incorporating damage mitigation into the design and layout of the exhibit:

• Ensuring conservation is covered by the budget: If the conservation requirements are delayed, the exhibit budget may not include sufficient funds to pay for the recommended mitigation features and specialized equipment.

• Ensuring sufficient time in the schedule for conservation: If the conservation requirements are set late, it may now be impossible to schedule adequate time for fabrication and delivery of the conservation features.

• Ensuring conservation is incorporated efficiently into exhibit design: As exhibit design progresses, it becomes more and more difficult and costly to add in or change features aimed at object protection. An object’s exhibit case, for example, cannot provide maximum protection against humidity unless it is initially designed with the appropriate seals and air exchange features. In such a situation, where a case cannot be retrofitted with the necessary safeguards, the exhibit team may be faced with the costly alternative of providing climate control throughout the larger exhibit environment.