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Strategies for Developing Exhibit Projects
Meriwether Lewis at Harpers Ferry exhibit at Harpers Ferry NHP

"Meriwether Lewis at Harpers Ferry" Discovery Center Exhibit at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, West Virginia.

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Today there are many options for parks who want to accomplish media work. Work can be done by Harpers Ferry Center staff, park staff, contractors, and others. Development processes vary. It’s good to collaborate with media specialists in developing a strategy.

1. Who Will Do the Work?

Major tasks for team members include:

  • Project Management / Review / Research / Planning / Design / Contracting / Detailing / Fabrication / Evaluation

Team members can be assembled from:

  • Park Staff
  • Harpers Ferry Center: a) In-house, b) Contract, c) Task Assist, d) HFC Interpretive Media Institute
  • Contractors: a) RFP, b) IFB, c) HFC Gen. IDIQ, d) Park IDIQ
  • Subcontractors / Architectural firms / Partners / Cooperating associations / Friends groups / Park volunteers / Support offices / Clusters / Neighbor parks / Regional offices / Other organizations / Service centers

2. How Will They Do It?

Development processes vary, and tend to be linked to team preferences:

  • Harpers Ferry Center: IP / Schematic Design / Concept Design / Final Design / Fabrication
  • Exhibit Contractor: (i.e.) Master Plan / Schematic Design / Concept Design / Fabrication
  • Architectural: Concept Design / Schematic Design / Construction Documents / Construction
  • Other processes include those used by NPS Curators, Smithsonian, AAM, and others

3. How Long Will It Take?

Schedules vary greatly according to project conditions and team member availability:

  • Normal: Plan/design, 1 year; produce, 1 year; Total: 2 years
  • Accelerated: Plan/design, 6 months; produce, 6 months; Total: 1 year (not usually practical)
  • Extended: Plan/design, 3.5 years; produce, 1.5 years; Total: 5 years

Note: Project delays are usually associated with funding and facility development problems.

4. How Much $$$ Will It Cost?

  • How much money is available
  • How much will the project cost
  • Who will control the budget, and with what controls

5. What Resources Does the Park Have?

  • Park staff with specialized skills for media work
  • Graphics, film footage, artifacts, specimens
  • Exhibit spaces, facilities, infrastructure
  
Author: Harpers Ferry Center
Last Updated: Monday, 24-May-2004 11:34:10 Eastern Daylight Time
http://www.nps.gov/hfc/products/exhibits/ex-process-strategy.htm