ABSTRACT
The lifespan of a 'permanent' gallery display often overwhelmingly exceeds a decade with little or no change to the objects, themes, or interpretation. In all cases, this ubiquitous affliction is caused by the lack of funds with which to re-exhibit collections. There is a strong possibility that the collection redisplay process will revert to being a piecemeal affair. This method of redisplay led to the disjointed displays in museums prior to the current swell of Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) redevelopments. The project completed by the Kelvingrove New Century Project (KNCP) team deliberately factored in flexibility within its themes and display solutions, learning from past experiences of funding uncertainty. The case study museums, highlight is to consider flexibility within a new display philosophy. Selecting themes that narrow opportunities for reinterpretation, or new exhibits, is not preferable if galleries are still expected to span two decades.
