ABSTRACT
Curators in museums have traditionally been the ones to select objects for exhibit and to decide which narratives would frame and connect them. But the role of curators in museums today is under reconsideration as many museums move toward greater emphasis on collaborative exhibit development. Exhibit teams may now emphasize social engagement and learning, and considerations of marketing and museum finances may take a larger role. Curators, however, have not written widely about their own views of exhibit development. Most of the writing on museum exhibition has been done by educators, exhibit designers, exhibit evaluators, or by outside scholars of museums, rather than by curators themselves. Amidst the ongoing changes in museums, it is an interesting moment for curators to reflect on our practice: What are we trying to achieve? Where we have found success? How have audiences responded to our contributions? While these are questions that affect curators working in a wide range of settings, we focus here on one “community of practice”—curators and colleagues working in museums that include display of material from the ancient Middle East. This volume is intended to begin a conversation within this community.
