Using the Resources at Hand: Sustainable Exhibition Design

Using the Resources at Hand: Sustainable Exhibition Design 

Version 4 (July 2023) of Using the Resources at Hand: Sustainable Exhibition Design is now available for download! Every step of exhibition design, from the initial organization to the deinstallation, can benefit from a lower carbon footprint. This guide can help.

Using the Resources at Hand is primarily aimed at helping students think about eco-friendly options in designing exhibitions, but it can be used by anyone with an interest in making the museum sector more sustainable. The guide offers tips for low-carbon design, outlines resources in Southwestern Ontario (with a focus on London) and includes information on borrowing and sharing resources and materials at Western University and elsewhere. Version 4 also includes examples from galleries across Ontario and Quebec, student projects, and new information on sustainable materials and approaches to exhibition design. 

Using the Resources at Hand is open-source and can be adapted and used by anyone hoping to share information about eco-friendly exhibition design. Email us at sustainable.curating@uwo.ca for the source files – we’re happy to share! We’re also always open to receiving new information and examples. Please don’t hesitate to contact us.