1. What s Your Story?Interpretive Planning with the 5-M ModelLisa Brochu lbrochu@interpnet.com

2. What Makes Your Museum Meaningful? Collections Compelling Stories Emotional and Intellectual Connections(Tangibles and Intangibles) 3. Why an Interpretive Plan? Keeps the project on track with clear objectives. Provides a way of explaining the project to funders, supporters, designers, fabricators and others. Provides an evaluation tool at every phase. 4. The 5-M Planning Model Management MessageMediaMarkets Mechanics 5. Management mission, goals, objectives policies & regulations key issues revision and update strategies operational resources staffing budget facilities & equipment maintenance 6. Logic Model Impact (benefit youre trying to achieve over the long term - for the resource, agency, or individual) Outcomes (observable behavior changes, either immediate or short term) Outputs (what you provide through media choices) 7. Markets product - what you have to offer price - perceived value place - relationship to what s around promotion - how do people know about you publics - market segmentation users & support existing & potential 8. Message Why is this place or collection significant? What interests visitors? What is management most interested in communicating? 9. Theme = Power It s what sticks Thorndyke s 1978 research People forget facts, but remember themes Ham s Lindblad study 10. Message DevelopmentResource ManagementAudience 11. Developing the Message Central theme - the message behind the collection Subthemes - framework for stories Storylines - individual ideas 12. Thematic FrameworkCentral ThemeSubtheme A Subtheme B Subtheme CStoryline Storyline StorylineStoryline Storyline StorylineStoryline Storyline StorylineStoryline 13. Central Theme CharacteristicsShould include tangible/intangible connectionShould include visitor, management, and resource considerationsShould be a simple sentenceAgriculture sowed the seeds of change for 20thcentury Boulder County. 14. Subtheme DevelopmentGroupings of storiesMiller s 7 plus or minus 2Should reflect the language of the themeMay dictate development of site or building layout, but may not 15. Storyline Development Theme of the piece (exhibit, brochure, sign) Message elements Facts Anecdotes Quotes Illustrations Graphic design 16. MechanicsLarge Scale Design Balance Site or landscape features Facilities and buildings Interpretive stories 17. Visitor Experience ModelDecision Entry ConnectionsExit Commitment 18. MechanicsSmaller scale Functionalrelationships Accessibility Space programming Placement Physical opportunities& constraints 19. Media Publications Products for children Signs Demonstrations Exhibits Living history Souvenirs Audio tours Food items Landscape features Visitor centers Art & sculpture Auto tours Playscapes Guided tours Drama & music 20. Texas State Aquarium 21. China National Tea Museum Hangzhou# 22. The care ofriversis not amatter ofrivers,but of thehuman heart.--Tanaka Shozo