Planning the Opening of a Museum or Visitor Center

I have had the pleasure of opening quite a few museums during my time working in the industry. There seems to be a few common planning mistakes that I've noticed across institutions that causes everyone involved added stress and headache when trying to open a museum or visitor center.

The issue has to do with scheduled date of opening. Obviously you want a date that will captivate the press and potential visitors as well as hold a huge party for all the donors and investors. However, the date you have in mind; stability of your new original exhibits, the reality of the competency of your brand new staff, and contractors making your institution a reality almost never line up.

I'll say it flat out. DO NOT SCHEDULE YOUR OPENING NEAR HOLIDAYS.

People working in the museum and visitor center industry will make your schedule happen no matter what; but your local contractors such as general contracting firms, electricians, and union based labor generally don't care about your schedule and will take time off. This will in turn delay everyone else that requires basic items like, electricity, lighting, a non hard-hat work environment, running water..etc.

A brilliant strategy that I have seen work wonders and would suggest is as follows: * Schedule a private pre-date of opening a month away from any holidays, and a month in advance of your public opening and donor parties. Inform all contractors and schedule exhibits, media..etc that this is the opening date. This opening could for example; be dedicated to new staff, contractors, and their families. Children are an important part of this pre-opening as they will treat exhibits, staff, and the entire facility in a way that may have been unintended or unplanned for (I doubt there were any children on your planning committee).

I'm willing to assert that you'll find that there are a daunting amount of rough edges during this initial opening. Technical exhibits will break, staff will encounter problems, and you'll be happy you aren't open to the relentless onslaught of the public yet and have another month to refine your staff, and make changes to exhibits.

As long as you plan an opening trial avoiding holidays and well in advance of your real opening; I'm almost certain you will be able to come out on top with a situation that promotes how cool your new facility is, and in turn gives your contractors and staff the time needed to refine a beautiful original institution.