Planning an exhibit at your museum for the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution? We can help.

The magic of an American Revolution site relies on the visitor’s ability to imagine what happened there. Your exhibit should help museum guests to do so, both by telling the story of the Revolution, and by encouraging meaningful connections to all the individuals that this story touched, from civilians to sergeants. Whether it’s exploring the connection of New Jersey’s Greenwich Tea Party of 1774 to protests today; realizing how Loyalists fleeing other areas caused New York City to be overcrowded then, similar to current conditions now; or how Connecticut’s role of supplying provisions led to a state nickname - we can use broad themes to connect past to present and help visitors understand their role in the ongoing American experiment.

Team250 are Museum Professionals Claudia Ocello, of Museum Partners Consulting, and Johanna Goldfeld, of exhibitista creative, who can research, write, design, and install an exhibition.

How do you approach creating exhibits?

We’ve worked with museums, historic houses, and historical societies in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. We tell inclusive stories. We write and design with the visitor in mind. We take the perspective of the audience when creating exhibits -  thinking about learning styles, accessibility, and what grabs and keeps their attention. We keep all this in mind as we research and plan the exhibit to be for the visitors

We know there are some tough subjects associated with the Revolutionary Era and we understand the magnitude of the importance of handling them sensitively and accurately.

What can you do?

Your organization might be led by a single director or a volunteer board filled with historians experts, and/or local residents. We meet you where you are to transform your ideas into a cohesive exhibit experience. We can:

  • Research the stories; 

  • Choose objects and documents to tell the story;

  • Design the exhibit space to showcase the artifacts;

  • Write labels and text;

  • Create graphics to visually communicate your story

  • Manage fabricators/builders, installers, and other specialists as needed

If your organization just needs help with one aspect of exhibit planning, like research or graphic design, we can support you. If your project is bigger, or requires different expertise, we can put together an appropriate team.

Interested in new institutional branding and a refreshed website? Want to evaluate the response to your exhibit or need education programs designed around it?  We can do that too.

Who are you?

Claudia B. Ocello

Currently President & CEO of Museum Partners Consulting, LLC, Claudia B. Ocello has over 30 years’ experience in exhibition development, education, evaluation, and accessibility. For nearly 10 years she worked on exhibitions and programs at The New Jersey Historical Society, and as a consultant with Merchants & Drovers Tavern Museum; Montclair History Center; Museum of Jersey City History; and Historic Cherry Hill. As a museum professional and visitor expert, Claudia can find the best way to tell YOUR story to YOUR audience. Claudia earned an MS in Museum Education from Bank Street College of Education and won awards from American Association for State and Local History, American Alliance of Museums, and the NJ Association of Museums for excellence in exhibitions, programs, and practice.  She’s worked full-time at museums in NJ and CT, and since starting her consulting practice in 2009 has helped museums across the country with exhibits, school and family programs, accessibility reviews, and evaluation of programs and exhibits. For more, see  www.museumpartnersconsulting.com.

Johanna Goldfeld

Johanna is a Brooklyn-based graphic and exhibition designer, founded exhibitista creative in 2006. Since 2016 she has served as an adjunct professor at Citytech, City University of New York. She has designed exhibitions for many historical societies including the Princeton Battlefield society, Greenwich Historical Society, Mather Homestead, Connecticut Historical Society, and the Museum of Jersey City History. Her strength lies in translating complex content into a visitor experience that informs, moves, and dazzles. Her expertise working with clients and teams hinges on clear and consistent communication, mastery of production techniques, and a keen eye to detail allows her to deliver stellar projects on time and on budget. More at www.exhibitista.com.

In our clients’ words….

The most exciting thing to happen at the Clarke House since the Battle of Princeton.
-Will Krakower, Resource Interpretive Specialist, NJ Department of Environmental Protection

Johanna brought a sharp insight and design sense... to create a sublime gallery atmosphere.
-Maggie Dimock, Curator of Exhibitions and Collections, Greenwich Historical Society

Claudia’s expertise allowed us to showcase an exemplary exhibit... in a way that made our organization, the school district and the city very proud.
- Marion Bolden, Chairperson, Newark Public Schools Historical Preservation Committee

What’s your style?

Here are some history exhibitions we’ve designed.

How much will it cost?

That depends! We will meet with you and talk about the possibilities within your budget. We tailor everything to the organization we’re working with, so no two projects will be alike or cost the same amount. Our sweet spot for a soup-to-nuts exhibition including content, design, and installation is $30-80k.

Just want a smaller piece like a graphic identity or revamp of your educational materials? Our rates start at $5,000. 

If that sounds expensive, never fear—we can help you think through how to raise the money for your 250th project, whether through donations or grants.

Contact us using the emails or form below to start the conversation.

What are next steps?

Reach out via the contact form below. Or email us directly: jg@exhibitista.com (Johanna) or info@museumpartnersconsulting.com (Claudia). We’ll set up a meeting and figure out how to move forward.