Home and Away: Stories of Travel to Peterborough and Beyond

Curatorial Research, Exhibition Development and Installation

Explore Home and Away and take your own journey through the past and future of travel to Peterborough and beyond!

Opening April 2022 at the Peterborough Museum and Archives (PMA), Home and Away: Stories of Travel to Peterborough and Beyond presents stories of leisure travel through time. This temporary exhibit was developed over eight months by myself, my classmates, our faculty, and our community partner, the PMA. We were given the opportunity to put theory learned through lectures and readings into practice. Every part of our curriculum was drawn into this exhibit, from applying budgeting skills learned in ‘Gallery and Museum Administration’ to writing an exhibit script from skills learned in ‘Exhibition Development’ and ‘Curatorial Research.’   

Online Exhibit

Curatorial Research 

Research Report

In our first semester, we were tasked with conducting research into an aspect of leisure travel and assembling our findings into a report. I focused on travel destinations in the Kawarthas, the wider rural community surrounding the city of Peterborough, Ontario. By exploring a variety of sources (books, journals, interviews, articles, archives and artifacts), I assembled a report that covered everything from the history of cottages to local First Nations sites.

Script Writing

Final Exhibit Script

In our second semester, we were split into five exhibition development teams: scripts, graphic design, media, interactives, and 3D design. I was placed in the scripts team, where we were responsible for translating our research reports from semester one into engaging, visitor-friendly text. Through many drafts and lots of feedback from our classmates, faculty and the PMA, we created a script that worked in tandem with the artifacts, archival materials, interactive activities and visual and 3D design.   

Budgets

In our Gallery and Museum Administration class, we were split into four teams: budgets, project management, marketing, and fundraising. We were expected to effectively manage all administrative tasks related to the exhibit. I was placed in budgets, due to an affinity for Excel and significant experience in managing budgets. As a team, we carefully approved and documented all exhibit expenses.

Exhibit Installation

With our exhibit script sent off to the graphic design team, I turned my attention to other exhibit installation tasks. Leading up to and throughout installation week, I got to apply many of my handyman skills and try my hand at some new ones. Whether carefully cutting out dry-mounted panels or installing a hand-painted backdrop, the work was challenging but enjoyable.