- What is a Master Plan?
A Master Plan is the product of a research, planning and design process to organize and refine a museum’s collection of ideas into a cohesive set of exhibit and building concepts which are expressed in detailed narra-tive and rich illustration. It is the culmination of an approach designed to maxi-mize community support and build strategic alliances through creative engage-ment, development of a shared vision, demonstration of sound decision making, and attention to business detail. A Master Plan is a powerful tool for case support, community educa-tion, and a capital campaign.
How Does the Process Work?
The process is conducted as a collaborative effort among museum staff, stakeholders, - and the design team includ-ing a content/ education developer, exhibit designer, architect, and business planner. The first step is a series of participatory com-munity workshops to brain-storm ideas that will evolve into creative concepts for development. The workshop approach is based on the premise that a successful and unique children’s museum is deeply rooted in its commun-ity, that its exhibits evolve from the hearts, minds, and work sessions of its leader-ship and audience, and that it delivers its promise.
The workshops include museum leaders and a diverse cross section of community stakeholders who are led by the exhibit devel-oper and exhibit designer to brainstorm ideas that will evolve into the creative concepts for development. - Steadily, the museum is refined from a collection of ideas into organized theme-based narratives based soundly on principles of child development, reflecting both informal and formal educa-tional theories. In addition to the educational content of the museum, the Master Plan addresses space plan-ning, begins the preliminary design of individual exhibits and visitor experiences, develops the character and feel for the building, and begins to establish a design vocabulary tying the museum together as a whole.
The process is equally formatted to test and build a sustainable project. Creative concepts are balanced against market factors such as audience, attendance, staffing requirements, capital budgets, and opera- - tional pro forma to calculate the “right size” of the project. While planning decisions are based on creating the best visitor experience, additional revenue opportunities are sought from the creative organization of spaces.
What Does a Master Plan Look Like?
The plan is a bound book for in-house and public consumption containing exhibit narratives, spacial illustrations, and market studies that can be separated for flexible presentation applications. It also contains content materials linking the exhibits to established early learning standards, identifying development domains and learning styles, and establishing the variety of experiences for different age groups and genders.
