Planning an exhibition

Arranging an exhibition takes time, patience and cooperation. Be sure to have booked an appropriate space well in advance of the proposed exhibition date.

You may like to issue media releases to the local media, promoting your involvement in the project and the upcoming display. Donors of objects could also be invited and a local dignitary could be asked to launch the exhibition.

Exhibition Themes

Discuss as a group some themes upon which the presentation of the objects and stories can be based.

• Stages of migration - Leaving, Journey, Arrival, Reunion, Settling, Impact
• Time - construct a decade by decade timeline
• Region / Country - Provide background information on the country of origin
• Motivation for migration - War/conflict, Land, Climate, Freedom, Job opportunity, Reunion, Adventure, Love/marriage, A better life, Natural disaster
• Purpose - keepsakes, memories, practical, work, symbols, identity, the past, the future

Team approach

Just like members of a Museum team, you can take on an area of responsibility to make sure your exhibition looks great, is presented in an interesting way, is informative and well publicised.

• Exhibition Coordinator
• Designer
• Publicist

Working as a team, start to plan your exhibition based on the objects researched in your group. Remember, it is important to discuss options and listen to each other's ideas. This will ensure that the exhibition is a great success.

Cuc Lam - her immigration story

Here is an example of a story on display at the Immigration Museum. Perhaps the display of this object and the text will give you some ideas for your exhibition.

Cuc Lam's suitcase		Cuc and her husband Minh escaped from Vietnam in 1978 in a fruit and vegetable river boat. They slipped past the authorities, who dismissed these boats as too dangerous for open sea travel. After eight days at sea, the refugees were picked up in international waters and taken to a Malaysian refugee camp. Cuc and Minh waited five weeks to be processed and accepted by Australia. Cuc and Minh have studied, established careers and had children. Cuc now works as a Multicultural Service Officer and is a Councillor for the Maribyrnong City Council. No matter what her circumstances, she has continued to support her family back in Vietnam.