We’re Poor?

There is a song we sometimes sing in our exhibition and experience projects:

We’re poor.

Our projects are underfunded.

Our budgets don’t have the money those “other” industries have.

We’re the ones who have to do a lot with a little.

A common refrain. But is it true?

Walmart’s budgets for interiors are a fraction of what museums spend, per square foot. Just imagine a Walmart with a museum-level budget. But their resources are what they need to serve their people.

The budget for a new Apple Store in a mall is higher than Walmart’s, per square foot — but still lower than a big new museum with new exhibitions. Regardless, Apple serves its people well with that budget.

Serving their people is their goal. Building things is only a means to that end.

Here’s the thing:
Walmart's interior fitout budgets are small. Apple's are bigger. But museums have the biggest of all three — and we’re the ones who think we're poor.

Are we sure project funding is the issue?

Warmly,
Jonathan

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MtM Word of the Day:

Time & materials, or T&M. A type of contract where a vendor charges for actual hours worked and materials purchased, rather than a fixed price agreed in advance. T&M requires careful oversight to avoid cost overruns.