The Megagallery Problem

Quick, which is better:

A. One giant megagallery, a single truly huge room, with lots of mini-exhibitions in the same space.

B. Physically separate galleries, totaling the same size as a megagallery.

I used to think A for sure. Bigger is always better, right?

Well …

A megagallery is the only choice if you have giant objects: herd of skeletons (Paris), dozen jet planes (Washington DC), submarine (Chicago). 

But sometimes we make a megagallery because we think we have a giant idea, but don’t have giant objects. We fill it with unseparated, freestanding mini-galleries, out in the open. Not common, but it happens: Washington, Philadelphia. (I’ve done it, in Los Angeles.)

The idea-based megagallery requires care. If you handle it badly, you’ll run into sound bleed, visitor flow issues, security concerns, and more from day one.

When it's time to renovate the minigalleries inside your megagallery separately, you’ll need a way to hide the work while visitors are nearby in the same big room. And you can’t make loud noises while you do it.

Or you can raise all the funds you need to renovate the megagallery all at once, but you’ll have to close for a year or more.

Is it doable? Yes. Just tricky. 

Here’s the thing:
Megagalleries are the only choice for giant objects. 

Megagalleries for giant ideas are doable, but take special care.

When in doubt, separate galleries are always a choice worth considering. I guess some things are classics for a reason.

Warmly,
Jonathan

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MtM Word of the Day:
Linear media. Media that plays without external influence. Includes films, video clips, soundscape loops. As opposed to non-linear media that is interactive, reactive, or algorithmic. Note: hybrids are common, e.g., an interactive media station where you choose a linear media clip to watch.