The following link provides details of how to apply for an exhibition at Plymouth City Museum.
Completed proposals should be e-mailed to exhibitions@plymouth.gov.uk, or posted, marked for the attention of the Exhibitions Team
The Museum's exhibition policy provides details of how and why exhibitions are chosen.
Revised Exhibitions Policy June 2008
With reference to The Framework for an Exhibitions Policy 2000
Background
1. PCMAG recognises the vital role of temporary exhibitions in strengthening and
developing audiences, raising the profile of PCMAG as a changing and pro-active
organisation, and making a significant contribution to the cultural offer of the City of
Plymouth.
2. The long-term display of parts of the permanent collections of local, natural, human
and world history in 2008 will have considerable impact on the balance of material
presented in the building. This factor and the reduction of the temporary exhibition
spaces from 3 to 2, will need to be accounted for in the forward planning of the
temporary exhibition programme.
3. The prevailing political and economic environment in which PCMAG is operating has
a high level influence on the content and scale of the exhibitions programme. The
significant reduction in funding from Renaissance in the Regions from 2008/09 is a
current issue. Careful management of resources, increased partnership working and
external funding will be required, if PCMAG is to develop and sustain an ambition to
present a high quality programme beyond 2009.
4. When entering into agreements with external bodies, ethical issues should be
considered to ensure that the partner/funder does not have business interests, or social or
environmental policies in conflict with the ethical principles of the Museums Association
or PCMAG or Plymouth City Council guidelines.
Aims
1. To attract, educate, entertain, and inspire a broad range of new and existing core
audiences to PCMAG.
2. To present an appealing, coherent, balanced, relevant and accessible temporary
exhibitions programme, that represents and reflects the communities, collections and
regional context of PCMAG.
3. To establish a reputation for PCMAG for presenting high quality exhibitions of local,
regional and national significance.
4. To increase capacity and potential to provide a service to the wider museum
community in the South West and in the longer term, to tour nationally.
Objectives
1. To respond to and reflect the diversity of the permanent collections; increasing access
to PCMAG collections; complementing current displays of art, history, world cultures
and nature; increasing research, publication, conservation, interpretation, and potentially
leading to collections development through acquisition (e.g. Patrick Shanahan gift 2008).
2. To enhance public knowledge and understanding of the collections and the regional
context, both historic and contemporary, through research, interpretation and
opportunities for engagement.
3. To contribute to audience development, supporting the Audience Development Plan by
sustaining and increasing existing core audiences, encouraging repeat visits and
developing audiences by attracting new visitors.
Current targets for PCMAG Audience Development are:
Home Market: A/B,CI/C2,D/E,Families,Young People, 65+, Disabled, BME, Volunteers
Visitor Market: A/B/C1 (Family and non-Family), 45-65 and 65+, Day trippers
School Visits (on-site): Plymouth City (KS3 and 4 = main growth area).
4. To use public consultation on key exhibition projects to inform their development (e.g.
Human Cargo), and to take account of visitor feedback and data to assess the popularity
and reach of individual shows.
5. To support the development of educational and family activity in association with
exhibitions, maximising the potential for learning, engagement and enjoyment.
6. To support the development of public events in association with exhibitions, to cater
for a wide range of target audiences and to add value to the visitor experience.
7. To take account of current codes and priorities of the UK Museum community, the
South West Regional Hub and Plymouth City Council, and reflect local and regional
strategies for cultural development.
8. To take account of PCMAG Business Plan and current policies.
9. To programme at least one exhibition of national significance annually.
10. To programme a family-friendly exhibition during a school holiday period annually,
preferably in the summer months.
12. To participate in local, regional and national events that mark significant
anniversaries or celebrations. 13. To engage in local, regional, national and occasionally, international partnerships, to
raise the profile of PCMAG and maintain a dynamic and innovative approach to the
programme.
14. To promote the development of best practice and skills, working with colleagues to
strive to meet approved national standards in the delivery of the exhibitions programme,
in particular, to meet Government Indemnity Standards for environment and security.
15. To develop effective procedures for the management, documentation and review of
the programme.
Planning
General principles
1. As a mixed discipline venue PCMAG has potentially a very wide remit for the
temporary exhibitions programme and this should be considered in relation to the overall
visitor offer at a particular period of time.
2. Forward planning is essential. Ideally, the programme should be in place at least one
year in advance and dates of major exhibitions agreed three years in advance.
3. PCMAG should not only respond to external factors but be proactive in devising and
delivering in-house exhibition projects.
4. A proportion of the exhibition programme is determined by topical and relevant
local/national anniversaries/events (e.g Abolition 2007, Darwin 2009, PCMAG
Centenary 2010, Scott 2012), partnerships (e.g NPG), or by the outcome of a funding
application (e.g St Aubyn Project).
5. There should be scope to respond to opportunity and to take initiative.
6. An overall balance in the programme over a 2/3 year cycle is recommended, with
reference to the following recurrent themes and priorities:
• historic art of national/regional significance – Turner/Reynolds/A Fish Sale
Explored
• cultural identity – Leave to Remain/Human Cargo
• national and regional agendas/anniversaries – Brunel/ Abolition/Darwin
• local, social or historical interest - Scouting/Millbay
• family friendly - Wildlife Photographer of the Year/Space Age
• contemporary visual art and craft - Art of Dining/Lead Astray/Tony Lattimer
• partnership development – national - NPG, V&A; regional – Hub and non-Hub
museums; University of Plymouth, Plymouth Visual Arts Consortium (PVAC) –
Nature Collected/FamilyAlbum/Darwin/ Reynolds/British Art Show 7. Consideration of the interests and expectations of existing core and potential audiences
over a given period, referencing seasonal visitor patterns, such as families during summer
months, schools during academic year, cultural tourism etc, and target audiences for SW
Regional Hub.
8. PCMAG will aim to consider the views of communities and stakeholders in the
selection and development of the exhibition and display programme.
9. In accordance with the Code of Ethics for Museums. PCMAG will aim to consult and
involve constituencies and communities in the development of individual exhibitions and
displays and value the contributions they make.
10. Cost/benefit analysis – cost of buying in a show, developing
in-house shows, projected audience numbers and length of run.
11. Exhibitions and displays to be compliant with current DDA statement. PCMAG will
aim to implement guidance in access audit into exhibition development.
Relevance and promotion of access to PCMAG collections
Please note that examples of exhibitions to be defined with Collections Team.
Art – Balance historical and contemporary
Highlight collection strengths
Thematic displays or colony or movement (Newlyn/St Ives)
Interpretation of selected work/s (A Fish Sale Explored)
Profile raising individual artist of local, regional or national significance (Turner/
Reynolds/Deacon/ Kurt Jackson)
Connection with national events and activity (Abolition / Darwin)
National Touring exhibitions (Geometry of Fear Hayward; British Art Show)
Other touring exhibitions (Where Are We? V&A)
Partnership projects (NPG/PVAC)
Contemporary commissions (Human Cargo)
Decorative art and craft – Balance historical and contemporary
Highlight collection strengths
Develop as a regular feature in the programme
Build regional and national links with craft organisations (Devon Guild)
Profile individual practitioner (Tony Lattimer)
Small and large-scale touring exhibitions (Indigo)
Collections based interventions (Lisa Cheung)
Partnership projects
Contemporary commissions (A Close Distance, Looking In/Looking Out) History – Balance archaeology, ethnography, local, social and maritime history
Highlight collection strengths
Thematic displays or specific subject
Local relevance (Millbay, Scott)
Social and human interest (Peoples Plymouth)
National and regional anniversary or event (Brunel, Scouting, Abolition, Darwin),
Civic or local anniversary or event ( Royal Albert Bridge 2009)
Partnership projects (Treasures from the Earth)
Nature – natural history and science
Highlight collection strengths
Geographical relevance
Major events or achievements (Darwin 200)
Collectors (Nature Collected)
Local and regional context
Profile raising opportunities (Claws)
Partnership projects (Nature Collected)
A multi-disciplinary approach should be encouraged where appropriate
Selection
Criteria
1. Quality of concept and content
2. Valid, defined purpose
3. Target audience identifiable and/or potential for audience development
4. Education and outreach potential
5. Profile raising potential
6. Innovative concept and/or imaginative presentation
7. Resources identifiable and available
8. Deliverable in timescale
9. Capacity to deliver
10. Relevance to collections or regional context
11. Legacies to PCMAG
12. Hub priority/ benefit to wider museum community
Process
On average around 100 applications are received each year and proposals are regularly
submitted by internal staff.
Procedure for selection transparent and streamlined, as per flow chart attached
Exhibition Proposal Form on Public Drive and website
Ideas bank for internal proposals Dates agreed for receipt of proposals by Exhibitions Department 3 deadlines a
year
Short-listing by ED scoring against above criteria
Draft programme presented to MMT for consideration 2-3 times a year
Approved programme published on Public Drive
Staff exhibition meetings 3-4 times a year
Related areas recommended for further action
Interpretation strategy
Contracts
Conservation
Evaluation
Judith Robinson
Exhibitions Officer
June 2008
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