[BCMA] travelling exhibits shipping query - A few tips

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

Hi Jennifer;

Colin has provided some excellent tips. The only thing I could add at  
this point, and you may have already covered it, is to talk with some  
exhibit designer/fabricators. We are fortunate to have some world- 
class professionals in BC; some are BCMA members, some not.

I lied, there is one more thing I'd like to add. And this follows -up  
on Colin's comments. The documentation of the process, including  
planning, installation, dismantling, service and environmental  
requirements, etc, can require more effort and resources (time and  
expertise) than it appears. Many of the points covered below are very  
much common sense; the reason much of this is often not provided is  
that the exhibit producers ran out of time, money, and steam.

Good luck, HTH;
Chris


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chris Au
Burnaby, BC
Canada V5G 3R7
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
T: 604 438 8180
C: 604 961 3472
F: 604 438 8180

On Dec 9, 2009, at 11:18 AM, Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv. wrote:

> Here are a few tips from one who has handled many travelling exhibits
> while serving as Executive Director of a National Exhibition Centre:
>
> 1. CLEAR instructions including floor plan(s). Floor plans & photos of
> assembled exhibit. We once assembled the "Men and Wood" exhibit from
> Ottawa and the floor plan did not show an entry or start point where
> public should start so we mistakenly assumed that it did not  
> matter. The
> exhibit was assembled using the plan provided, but as it turned  
> out, was
> facing away from our entry door! Embarrassing for us certainly, but  
> VERY
> frustrating due to the poor instructions. :-(  Each crate should  
> have a
> packing list inside the lid and instructions on packing and unpacking.
> 2. Watch the weight of panels etc. Remember that someone has to  
> assemble
> and dismantle it at the other end and smaller institutions do not  
> have a
> crew of strong movers on hand. The "Nightwings" exhibit on bats from
> Ottawa was great in that many of the panels were actually light metal
> frames with printed cloth panels. Other exhibits had heavy wooden
> panels.
> 3. Crates - Few facilities have adequate room to store empty crates. I
> visited one new museum recently and they had to store the travelling
> exhibit crates off-site in another building. Try to be creative, maybe
> all or some of the crates could be incorporated into the exhibit (e.g.
> hidden by panels, acting as islands etc.
> 4. Tool box and spares - Clamps and brackets will get lost or break.
> Special tools should be included (like an Ikea furniture purchase). Do
> provide a tool box with spare tools, spare fasteners and fittings,  
> bulbs
> etc. If you send your exhibit to the USA and use Robertson screws
> (square hole, Canadian 1908 invention and far better than Phillips +
> head) you MUST include Canadian Robertson head screwdrivers or the
> Americans will have to resort to making their own.
> 5. Condition Reports - These are important. One museum I worked in
> loaned a gallows (which we had borrowed from another organization) and
> when it returned it had some graffiti written on it and one of the
> wooden floor planks was split.
> 6. Good simple packing - Have you ever tried to repack a TV into the
> original? Make your packing CRYSTAL CLEAR for directions. Number the
> pieces (e.g. AA joins AA. This side up. Left side. Etc. have  
> diagrams -
> make it idiot proof. Assume that someone will unpack several crates at
> one time at mix up the packing materials. They should not of  
> course, but
> assume that it will happen.
> 7. Small artifacts should be in clearly marked containers that  
> won't be
> overlooked.
>
> Colin MacGregor Stevens,
> Manager,
> New Westminster Museum and Archives,
> 302 Royal Avenue,
> New Westminster, BC,
> V3L 1H7
>
> Phone Office:    604-527-4639
> Work Cellular : 604-830-6965
> Fax:                  604-527-4641
> E-mail: cstevens at newwestcity.ca
> Web Site: www.newwestminster.ca
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv. [mailto:bcma at lists.vvv.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 2009 9:31 AM
> To: bcma at lists.vvv.com
> Subject: [BCMA] travelling exhibits shipping query
>
> Hi all,
> We are in the process of applying for funds to develop a travelling
> exhibit.
> We are researching the procedure and costs for shipping the components
> and
> wondered if anyone has any comments, tips, or suggestions regarding
> crating
> and shipping.  We will be potentially shipping text panels, a few
> artifacts,
> audio-visual equipment, large panel photographs, some display  
> props, and
>
> supporting discs and documentation.
> Any advice would be welcome.
> Thanks,
> Jennifer
>
> Jennifer Dunkerson
> Executive Director
> Revelstoke Railway Museum
> 719 Track Street West
> P.O. Box 3018
> Revelstoke, BC
> V0E 2S0
> Phone: 250-837-6060
> Cell: 250-837-1564
> Fax: 250-837-3732
> email: director.railway at telus.net
> www.railwaymuseum.com
>
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