Office of Policy and Analysis: Exhibitions
This section contains documents on the following issues: Qualitative and/or quantitative studies and evaluations (formative, summative, process) to assess visitor satisfaction and experiences and improve effectiveness; exhibition development process; exhibition audiences.
Exhibitions
2012
A Study of Visitors to the Systems at Work Exhibition at the National Postal Museum - Summer 2012, December 2012 | Abstract
A Study of Visitors to the Mail Call Exhibition at the National Postal Museum, December 2012 | Abstract
Pioneers of Flight: Exhibition Evaluation, December 2012 | Abstract
A Study of Visitors to American Stories at the National Museum of American History, July 2012 | Abstract
A Survey of Visitors to Infinity of Nations: Art and History in the Collections of the National Museum of the American Indian at the George Gustav Heye Center of NMAI, New York City, May 2012 | Abstract
African Cosmos: Stellar Arts: Formative Evaluation with School Focus Groups, April 2012 | Abstract
Gertrude Stein in Portraits: A Pose Is a Pose Is a Pose, A Study of Visitors to Seeing Gertrude Stein: Five Stories at the National Portrait Gallery, April 2012 | Abstract
Evaluation of The Bright Beneath: The Luminous Art of Shih Chieh Huang - A Multi-Method Study, March 2012
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A Study of Visitors to American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music, An Exhibition by the Smithsonian Latino Center at the International Gallery of the S. Dillon Ripley Center, February 2012
2011
NASA|Art: 50 Years of Exploration, An Exhibition of Artworks Collected by NASA and Exhibited at the National Air and Space Museum, October 2011
Wired for Art, A Study of Visitors to Calder's Portraits: A New Language at the National Portrait Gallery, October 2011
Not Just Passing Through: A Study of Visitors to Americans Now at the National Portrait Gallery, September 2011
Digital Reincarnations: A Study of Visitors to Echoes of the Past: The Buddhist Cave Temples of Xiangtangshan at the Sackler Gallery, September 2011
A Song for the Horse Nation: A Study of Visitors to the Exhibition, August 2011
A Study of Conservation Messages in the Sant Ocean Hall at the National Museum of Natural History, August 2011
A Study of Visitors to Up Where We Belong: Native Musicians in Popular Culture at the National Museum of the American Indian, June 2011
A Study of Visitors to Elvis at 21: Photographs by Alfred Wertheimer at the National Portrait Gallery, June 2011
The First Ladies at the Smithsonian: A Report Based on a Study of Visitors at the National Museum of American History, April 2011
Hiding in Plain Sight: A Visitor Study of Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture at the National Portrait Gallery, March 2011
A Study of Visitors to Southern Identity: Contemporary Argentine Art, An Exhibtion by the Smithsonian Latino Center at the International Gallery of the S. Dillon Ripley Center, March 2011
2010
A Two-Year Study of the Visitor Experience at the George Hustav Heye Center 2009-2010, November 2010
Spark!Lab Visitor Survey Study, National Museum of American History, Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, September 2010
Spark!Lab Interview and Observation Study, National Museum of American History, Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, August 2010
Ocean Today Kiosk, Usage and Satisfaction Study, National Museum of Natural History, August 2010
Ocean Today Kiosk: Final Summary Report, National Museum of Natural History, August 2010
Nature, Science and Culture on Display, Results from the 2009-10, National Museum of Natural History Visitor Survey, July 2010
Brian Jungen: Strange Comfort, A Report on the Findings of a Visitor Survey for the Exhibition Brian Jungen: Strange Comfort at the National Museum of the American Indian, May 2010
Donald W. Reynolds Center Visitor Survey, Study Highlights and Frequency Distributions, Spring 2010
Engaging the Mind, Tickling the Heart: A Study of Visitors to Artful Animals, National Museum of African Art, March 2010
Exploring Encounters: A Study of Two Family Guides Prepared for the Exhibition Fritz Scholder: Indian/Not Indian at the National Museum of the American Indian, March 2010
Science on a Sphere: An Evaluation of an Educational Display conducted at the Amazonia Science Gallery, National Zoological Park, February 2010
2009
A Program Evaluation of the 2009 Latino Museum Studies Program of the Smithsonian Latino Center, November 2009
Glittering Remnants of Dipolmacy and Trade: A Study of Visitors to The Tsars and the East: Gifts from Turkey and Iran in the Moscow Kremlin, October 2009
Spring 2009 Visitors to the National Postal Museum, June 2009
Asia Trail Observation Study, National Zoological Park, March 2009
2008
Spring 2008 Visitors to the National Postal Museum, December 2008
Exploring Air and Space, A Study of Visitor Expectations and Responses at the National Air and Space Museum in Spring, 2008, December 2008
Donald W. Reynolds Center Visitor Survey, Study Highlights and Frequency Distributions, November 2008
Plan-it for the People: A Background Study for the Science On a Sphere Installation at the Amazonia Science Gallery at the National Zoological Park, August 2008
Summary of Work Completed by the Office of Policy and Analysis in Support of the SI Connections Project, July 2008
Framing Air and Space: A Report of a Study on the Subject Matter of the National Air and Space Museum from the Perspectives of Visitors and Staff, July 2008
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum Visitors Summer 2008 Summary of Findings, July 2008
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Winter 2007 Visitor Survey, July 2008
Expectations and Experiences, A Study of Winter Visitors to the National Museum of the American Indian, July 2008
Will Frogs Croak? A Background Report for the 2008 Amphibian Crisis Exhibition at the National Zoological Park, July 2008
The Price of Beauty: A Study of Visitors to Patterned Feathers, Piercing Eyes: Edo Masters from the Price Collection, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, June 2008
Treasures of the Desert: A Visitor Study of Art of Being Tuareg: Sahara Nomads in a Modern World at the National Museum of African Art, June 2008
Intoxicated by Georgia: A Study of Visitors to Wine, Worship and Sacrifice: The Golden Graves of Ancient Vani, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, March 2008
Visitor Expectations and Responses to Inscribing Meaning: Writing and Graphic Systems in African Art, National Museum of African Art, March 2008
Summer Visitors at the National Postal Museum, March 2008
Postal Inspectors: The Silent Service, March 2008
Trailblazers and Trendsetters: The Art of the Stamp, March 2008
2007
Through Visitors' Eyes: A Study of Visitor Responses to African Vision: The Walt Disney-Tishman African Art Collection, At the National Museum of African Art, December 2007
A Summative Evaluation of the Young Ambassadors Program of the Smithsonian Latino Center, December 2007
Globalization 1.0: A Study of Visitor Responses to Encompassing the Globe: Portugal and the World in the 16th and 17th Centuries at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, November 2007
An Analysis of Existing Data on Visitors to the Freer and Sackler Galleries, November 2007
A Study of Visitors to Asia Trail, Smithsonian National Zoological Park, October 2007
The Buzz on Insects, A Study of Attitudes and Knowledge Among Visitors to the National Museum of Natural History, September 2007
Mapping Treaties: Concept Mapping as a Guide for Developing a New Exhibition at the National Museum of the American Indian, August 2007
The Experience of Scholars and the Public at In the Beginning: Bibles Before the Year 1000, The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, July 2007
Summary Report on Phase I of Visitor Testing, Ocean in the News Kiosk, June 2007
Donald W. Reynolds Center Visitor Survey: Study Highlights and Frequency Distributions, Summer 2007
The Finest Expedition, A Program Evaluation of Art a la Cart at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, May 2007
An Evaluation of the Future Female Scientists Program at the National Museum of Natural History, May 2007
An Evaluation of the National Museum of Natural History Discovery Room, April 2007
Splendor in the Gallery: What Visitors Said About the Newly Reopened National Portrait Gallery, April 2007
Donald W. Reynolds Center Visitor Survey, Study Highlights and Frequency Distributions, February 2007
Mexico Comes to the Smithsonian, A Visitor Study of Myth, Mortals, and Immortality: Works from Museo Soumaya de Mexico, Smithsonian Latino Center, January 2007
2006
A Nation in a Nutshell, A Visitor Study of Colombia at the Smithsonian: Colombian Presence in the Collections of the Smithsonian Institution, Smithsonian Latino Center, November 2006
Does Size Matter? A Study of Visitors to BIG|small at the National Museum of African Art, November 2006
A Study of Visitor Responses to Facing East: Portraits from Asia, An Exhibition at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, October 2006
An Evaluation of the Hands On Science Center at the National Museum of American History, September 2006
Visitors Views on American Dreams, A Study for the National Museum of American History, June 2006
Hokusai: A Study of Visitors to the Exhibition at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, June 2006
An Exquisite Feast for the Eyes: A Study of Visitors to Style and Status: Imperial Robes from the Ottoman Empire, April 2006
Visitors to the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden: Who Visits, Why, and What Do They Get Out of Their Visits?, February 2006
2005
Where Art and Culture Meet. A Visitor Study of "Where Gods and Mortals Meet: Continuity and Renewal in Urhobo Art" at the National Museum of African Art, October 2005
Visitor Experiences in the Enid A. Haupt Garden and the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden, October 2005
Multiple Perspectives on America on the Move at the National Museum of American History, August 2005
Visitor Responses and Behaviors in the Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals at the National Museum of Natural History, July 2005
Visitor Ratings of Exhibitions at the National Museum of American History, July 2005
Visitor Opinions about the Layout of The Price of Freedom: Americans at War. An exhibition at the National Museum of American History, June 2005
Visitor Experiences at the Orchid Express, June 2005
Perceptions of Treasures. An exhibition at the National Museum of African Art, May 2005
Asia in America: Views of Chinese Art from the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Two Studies of Visitor Responses to the Exhibition, April 2005
Twelve Seconds that Changed the World: An Assessment of a Three-act Play at the National Air and Space Museum, March 2005
A Program Evaluation of Design Directions at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, March 2005
Raising the Bar: A Summary of Key Points, March 2005
2004
Playful Performers at the National Museum of African Art: An Exhibition Review, December 2004
Results of the 2004 Smithsonian-wide Survey of Visitors, October 2004
Return of the Buddha Visitor Study, October 2004
An Overview of Visitors to the National Museum of African Art in June 2004, September 2004
Polio Exhibition Title Test Report, July 2004
A Snapshot of Spring Break at the National Museum of African Art: Report of Interviews with Visitors at the National Museum of African Art, April 2004
A Study of Visitors To Genome: The Secret of How Life Works, March 2004
Report of Interviews with Visitors to the Gyroscope Exhibition at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, February 2004
2003
A Case Study of "Nature's Jewels: A Living Exhibit of Orchids and Butterflies", August 2003
Raising the Bar: A Study of Exhibitions at the Smithsonian Institution, June 2003
A Survey of Visitors to "Nature's Jewels: A Living Exhibit of Orchids and Butterflies", May 2003
Three Studies of "September 11: Bearing Witness to History: An Exhibition at the National Museum of American History", May 2003
Study of a Prototype Kiosk for the Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum, January 2003
2002
The Making of Exhibitions: Purpose, Structure, Roles and Process, October 2002
A Study of The Graduate Training Seminar of the Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives, September 2002
Exhibitions and Their Audiences: Actual and Potential, September 2002
Exhibition Development and Implementation: Five Case Studies, August 2002
The Costs and Funding of Exhibitions, August 2002
Lure the Visitor: A Report for the National Museum of American History, July 2002
Exhibition Concept Models, July 2002
Marketing Exhibitions: Will They Come?, June 2002
Developing Interactive Exhibitions at the Smithsonian, May 2002
Three Studies of "Explore the Universe," April 2002
Capability Profile of Exhibit Departments, March 2002
2001
Art Night on the Mall: Visitor Study - Summer 2001, November 2001
Social Pressures on Art Museums: An Overview of Issues, November 2001
Partnerships among Smithsonian Art Museums, October 2001
A Visitor Study of "Fast Attacks and Boomers: Submarines in the Cold War," October 2001
A Study of Readers of the Freer and Sackler "Calendar," September 2001
Studies of Visitors at "The American Presidency", August 2001
2000
Investigating Invention: Results from the Invention Interview Study, January 2000
1999
Microbes ARE Wonderful! A Study of Visitors to the Microbes Exhibition, December 1999
Canvasses Off the Mall: Studies Conducted at the National Museum of American Art, National Portrait Gallery and Renwick Gallery, November 1999
Understanding "Where Next, Columbus?": An Exhibition Study at the National Air and Space Museum, October 1999
Strangers, Guests or Clients? Visitor Experiences in Museums, March 1999
Examining Mammals: Three Studies of Visitor Responses to the Mammals Hall in the National Museum of Natural History, February 1999
Summer Visitors to "The Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals" at the National Museum of Natural History, January 1999
1998
Exploring Amazonia: Three Studies of Visitors at the National Zoological Park, December 1998
Teachers Talk: A Study of "Smithsonian in Your Classroom" conducted for the Smithsonian Office of Education, July 1998
Public Perception of the Star-spangled Banner: Background Studies for the National Museum of American History, July 1998
More Asian Art Experiences: Visitor Preferences and Responses to "Twelve Centuries of Japanese Art from the Imperial Collection," July 1998
Still Thinking About Thinking, April 1998
The Asian Art Experience: Visitor Preferences and Responses to "Puja: Expressions of Hindu Devotion," February 1998
1997
Visitors and Non-Visitors to "Amber: Window on the Past!" An Exhibition at the National Museum of Natural History, October 1997
The Influence of Exhibition Texts on Visitor Responses to Richard Lindner: Paintings and Watercolors 1948-1977, August 1997
On the Road with Rock and Soul: A Study of Visitors to the "Social Roots of Rock and Soul" Preview Exhibition, June 1997
An Assessment of the "Think Tank Exhibition" at the National Zoological Park, February 1997
1996
Visual Journal: Harlem and DC in the Thirties and Forties! A Study of an Exhibition Presented by the Center for African American History and Culture, December 1996
Visitors Comment on "Flight Time Barbie: Dolls from the Popular Culture Collection of the National Air and Space Museum," November 1996
Ocean Views: A Study of Visitors to the "Ocean Planet" Exhibition at the National Museum of Natural Historye, May 1996
Visitors to History: A Report Based on the 1994-1995 National Museum of American History Visitor Study, April 1996
Connecting with Native Voices: Visitor Impressions of the Gustav Heye Center, February 1996
1995
An Assessment of the "Science in American Life" Exhibition at the National Museum of American History, November 1995
Beyond the Elephant: A Report Based on the "1994-95 National Museum of Natural History Visitor Survey," October 1995
Air and Space Encounters: A Report Based on the "1994 National Air and Space Museum Visitor Survey," May 1995
Different Sites, Different Views: A Study of the Exhibition: "Degenerate Art: The Fate of the Avant Guarde in Nazi Germany," April 1995
Mechanical Brides: Women and Machines from Home to Office: A Study of an Exhibition at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, March 1995
1994
From Reptile House to Reptile Discovery Centers: A Study of Reptile Discovery Centers Project at the National Zoological Park, Zoo Atlanta and the Dallas Zoo, December 1994
Space Fantasy and Social Reality: A Study of the "Star Trek" Exhibition at the National Air and Space Museum, November 1994
1993
Visitors to the "Czech Cubism" Exhibition, October 1993
The Power of Maps: A Study of an Exhibition at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, September 1993
1992
Appreciating Art: A Study of "Comparisons: An Exercise in Looking" at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, April 1992
1989
Visitor Perspectives of Tropical Rainforests: A Report Based on the 1988 "Tropical Rainforests: A Disappearing Treasure," May 1989
For more information regarding the studies and reports on this site, contact the Office of Policy and Analysis.
