Evaluation : inviting the visitor into the exhibition development process

As museums shift to value the role of the visitor over the object, evaluation is increasingly being used to guide exhibition development in order to create experiences that connect and resonate with visitors. In this thesis, the use of evaluation to inform the exhibition development process is examined. After conducting a literature review of both exhibition development and evaluation processes, three case studies of museums that value visitor information in developing exhibits are presented. It is concluded that the successful integration of visitor and museum voices in the development of museum exhibits requires a collaborative exhibition development team, integrated interpretive plans, and a commitment to incorporate visitor information into the exhibition development process through the use of both front-end and formative evaluation practices. A set of recommendations is provided to facilitate how museums can incorporate evaluation into their development process to better connect with a range of\ud visitors