Museum Talk (Part 1)

Museum Talk
by Swee Li (Museum Educator)

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“More visual aspect, Lesser Descriptions.”

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Things to consider:-

• Who is it for?
  


• What are the materials used?



• What we have to look out for?
  

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• New visitors are in blank state when they step into the museum.
  


• “Information Onsite” means information could be found at the museum.
  


• Descriptions at the museum are simplified.
  For more information, approach museum staff or tour guild.
  


• What the questions you will ask yourself when you saw an exhibit.
  - What is this item?
  - What is it used for?
  - How was it made?
  


• Genuine Artifacts are rare, what museum could do was to replicate it so that the visitors could feel it.
  


• If two articles placed together, visitors will tend to compare.If unnecessary to do compares, it’s not recommended to put them together.
  


• If comparing is needed, probably compare the Time, Date, Weight or the material used.
  


• Example for weight: If artifact is 5kg, they will use 5kg Rice Sack as the example.
  


• Example for years (Kids Exhibits): [500BC] just display estimated years or display some old photos.
  


• Don’t make the visitors stop too much as it will make the visitors feel that there are lots to learn.
  


• Don’t talk about Motifs in every exhibit.(Probably use a kiosk to display the motifs in order to let the users find out.)
  


• Use language to suit the exhibits.
  


• Galleries exhibits should come together as a whole.
  


• Highlights of the exhibits shouldn’t be over done as it will make the visitor remembers the highlighted exhibit.
  


• Language used should cater to minimal age of 9 years but at the recommended age of 16 years.
  

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Some Photos taken at the museum