Interpretive signage and creating an exhibition

RISE September 2025 resources

Webinar Date: 23 September 2025

Interpretive Signage – Curatorial consultant specializing in the development of ethical narratives at sites of enslavement, Laura Kilcer VanHuss shares approaches to designing on-site signage that communicates effectively with diverse audiences.

The Nuts and Bolts of Exhibitions – Adam Foreman, Executive Director of Shadows-on-the-Teche shares insight into the practical steps of curation: from building cases and sourcing materials, to mounting objects.

Co-Creation at George Washington’s Mount Vernon with Jill Rotschild, Associate Curator in the Fine and Decorative Arts – insights into collaborative exhibition development with staff and descendant communities.

Guides

Interpretation for diversity & inclusion in heritage

This Interpret Europe guide is designed for heritage professionals striving to embed diversity, equity and inclusion in interpretation. It outlines why it matters, whose voices may be excluded and how to ensure your storytelling, displays and experiences authentically reflect diverse communities, identities and histories.

Engaging your visitors

This Interpret Europe guideline introduces the essential principles, planning stages, and practical methods behind high-quality heritage interpretation. Designed for site managers, museum teams, rangers, and project leaders, it explains how to craft meaningful stories, create interpretation plans, design visitor-centred content, and operate interpretation sustainably.

The Interpretation of Slavery at Museums and Historic Sites

James Madison's Montpelier provides a methodology for openly addressing the central role slavery played in the development of the United States, as well as its lasting impact on American society today. (PDF 325KB)

Smithsonian Guide to Interpretive Writing for Exhibitions

Exhibition writers, editors, and developers from across the Smithsonian share their knowledge, experience, tips, tricks, and philosophies in crafting engaging, accessible, visitor centred exhibition text. (PDF 13.1 MB)

Smithsonian Guidelines for Accessible Exhibition Design

The Smithsonian presents guidelines and design tools that synthesize accessibility solutions into the development processes of exhibitions (PDF 1.2 MB)

Writing Gallery Text at the V&A: A Ten Point Guide

A guide from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London on write gallery text that is captivating and comprehensible for a wide audience. (PDF 1.8 MB)

Accessibility resources for museums, galleries and heritage sites

A collection of resources on heritage interpretation for blind and visually impaired people, compiled by Vocal Eyes