Sponsorship and exhibitions at Nordic science centres and museums

Abstract

Science and technology centres and science museums tend increasingly to rely on external economic support in order to create new exhibitions. But in what ways may the economic situation affect what is presented in their exhibitions? This article explores how staff members consider the impact of sponsors when planning and creating new exhibitions. The results reveal not only that sponsors are often crucial, but also that sponsors may interfere with the content and design both directly and indirectly. Direct impact refers to sponsors' explicit demands of being visible in the exhibition, or demands concerning the content. Sponsors' indirect impact refers to implicit demands, where the staff members need to take into account what they believe are views of the sponsors through self-censorship. This means that staff members seem to need to take into account sponsors' possible views and demands, both in advance and during the planning of new exhibitions.

Keywords:

• museum management
• earned revenues
• museum sponsorships
• fundraising
• science center sponsorships
• science exhibitions
• self-censorship
• exhibition content