Iowa Administrative Code › Agency 223 - Historical Division › Chapter 14 - Exhibitions Policies › Rule 223-14.5 - Education Principles and Practices

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 2024
(1) All exhibitions shall incorporate the
			 highest standards of scholarship.
(2) Exhibit design shall employ learning
			 theory and shall be designed for the appropriate cognitive and age
			 developmental levels of the audiences.
(3) Exhibits shall minimize enclosed casework
			 and barriers between visitors and the artifacts consistent with artifact
			 security and preservation requirements.
(4) Items shall be displayed within
			 appropriate interpretative frameworks.
(5) Written text shall support the exhibition
			 of original artifacts, specimens, images, and documents, but shall not be the
			 focus of the exhibit. If extensive labeling is required, presentation in a
			 format other than a museum exhibition shall be used.
(6) Exhibition design shall incorporate
			 appropriate current design concepts, fabrication techniques, and technologies.
			 Experimental design shall be used as appropriate.
(7) Interactive components shall be
			 incorporated in all exhibitions and shall not be confined to a single
			 designated area. No interactive components shall violate the integrity,
			 preservation, or security requirements of the artifacts.
(8) Any individual or group from the general
			 public, local groups organized for historical or cultural purpose, or the staff
			 of the society may propose an exhibition. All proposals may be directed to the
			 Bureau Chief, Museum, State Historical Society of Iowa, Capitol Complex, Des
			 Moines, Iowa 50319, (515)281-5111. Final selection of exhibition topics,
			 artifacts, and form of presentation rests with the chief of the museum and the
			 administrator of the society.
(9)
			 Exhibitions shall be developed by teams that include appropriate
			 representatives of the museum, other bureaus of the society, the scholarly
			 community, and the general public.
(10) Whenever possible exhibitions shall be
			 pretested with a representative sample of the intended audience. Exhibition
			 design, fabrication, and installation shall be adjusted appropriately to
			 reflect the results of the testing.
(11) The museum shall maintain an ongoing
			 evaluation program and incorporate the results in future exhibition
			 design.
(12) Exhibitions shall be
			 designed so as to make guided tours unnecessary for understanding the
			 exhibition.
(13) Exhibitions shall
			 create and maintain environments conducive to learning. This includes adequate
			 lighting for comfort and safety; space for group tours and individuals
			 simultaneously; seating and appropriate spaces to relieve visitor fatigue; and
			 clear traffic flow patterns.
(14)
			 Exhibition techniques shall not intentionally misrepresent the facts or the
			 authenticity of the collections.
(15) The exhibitions shall accurately reflect
			 the social and cultural diversity and heritage of the state.
(16) Exhibitions shall consider visitor
			 safety. Design and fabrication shall adhere to all safety and health codes.
			 Potential use and misuse by the public shall be considered.