We wrote about the future of traveling exhibitions not too long ago, and it’s time to bring it up again because there’s an excellent new opportunity for you to help shape the future of the industry.
I’ve mentioned before what a valuable resource Touring Exhibitions Organization (Teo) is for those looking to understand more about traveling exhibitions with regards to sustainability, hosting partnerships, visitor engagement, value, etc.
On October 30, Teo announced it has once again teamed up with Culture Connect on a Cultural Dialogue Survey for 2025 to explore the future of touring exhibitions. Things have changed so much in the museum sector, especially since the pandemic, and having organizations do a deep dive into current practices, successes, and challenges can be extremely useful. See also: Data Stories from the American Alliance of Museums’ Annual Survey of Museum-Goers.
For the 2025 traveling exhibition survey, members of the community are invited to contribute their thoughts on the present and vision for the future. You’ll have a chance to express your opinions on:
- Fee structures for touring exhibitions
- Specific types of touring exhibitions you find most valuable
- Factors you consider when choosing between touring or in-house development
- Challenges you face in this area
- Sustainability concerns
It’s largely multiple choice, but there are some key spots where you have a chance to elaborate in your own words. Teo alleges it will take 10 – 15 minutes, although your mileage may vary, of course.
From the organizers:
The first two editions [surveys in 2021 and 2023] explored the impact of major contemporary crises and revealed key trends, questioning the power of the object in exhibitions, unveiling tested sustainability practices, and highlighting the resilience and optimism of the sector.
As our context of globalisation continues to be put into question, the survey series is designed to map the appetite for cultural dialogue through touring exhibitions, to collectively build an understanding of important future trends and open a dialogue for thinking about and planning for the future of touring exhibitions. Four years on from the first survey, what long-term trends have emerged, and what challenges are expected for the future?
The survey is open to all professionals involved in hosting, touring, production, or promotion of cultural exhibitions worldwide at museums, galleries, science centers, exhibition venues, heritage venues, libraries, archives, and gardens. The organizers particularly emphasize that ALL perspectives matter.
Access the survey here.
Be sure to submit your answers before it closes on February 10, 2025. Results will be presented by Culture Connect at Teo Live on May 15, 2025, and we’ll report on that once results are unveiled.
For those interested in previous iterations of this survey, you can read about the results here:
2023 Cultural Dialogue Survey
2021 Cultural Dialogue Survey
Note: The timing of the two previous surveys was such that the impact of COVID was a major factor. Now that we’ve reached somewhat of an equilibrium following the height and fallout of that crisis, I think we’re all very interested to see what the 2025 report reveals and how the takeaways differ. Stay tuned.
