Together: An Exhibition About Global Development
Client: Aga Khan Foundation of Canada in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development. TD Heritage developed the Interpretive Plan, Project Brief, Interactives, online quiz, and all texts. For Interpretive Plan sample, please see the Appendix of this document.
The Together exhibition is a 1,000 square foot exhibition that explores Canada’s role as a key international player in assisting developing nations to thrive and prosper. With stunning photos and videos of children to aid workers, midwives to farmers, visitors follow the stories of individuals—those who have benefitted from Canada’s help, and Canadians who work in the field and on the ground. Visitors are encouraged to see themselves as global participants through several digital interactives, and they leave empowered to make change and to stay connected.
And, yes, the whole exhibition is inside a tractor-trailer.
This innovative concept of “travelling exhibition” presented a whole new set of opportunities and challenges for TD Heritage. Working closely with designers in Detroit and Toronto, alongside the content experts at the Aga Khan Foundation Canada, we developed a road show that not only won top exhibition at the most recent Canadian Museums Association award gala (Heritage sector), but that continues to wow audiences across Canada as it enters its third tour.
Originally, the intended audience was people familiar with global issues, university students with an interest in international development, and “the general public”. We encouraged the client to broaden their scope, knowing that a free exhibition that arrived in the middle of local fairs and festivals, that could pull up to community centres and town squares, would have a huge appeal to families and school children. Accordingly, messaging was layered. Texts were written at different levels. Hands-on interactives were developed and positioned for multi-generational groups to use.
- June 20, 2018