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Hi! I’m Suzanne Fischer, the Exhibit Coach.

I help you move from an idea to an engaging, amazing exhibit.

What’s the Big Idea?

  • Ready to start developing a new exhibit?

  • Never made an exhibit and don’t know where to start?

  • Can’t figure out what to do with collections?

  • What is your exhibit even about?

Exhibit Coach brings 15 years of exhibit leadership—with a strong dose of empathy and a sense of play—to jumpstart your process and get you moving towards amazing, meaningful, inclusive exhibit experiences.

 

Services

Exhibit development is how museums tell stories. I use my fresh vision and empathetic historian superpowers of strategy, synthesis, and communication to catalyze your storytelling. My practice centers historical truth and racial equity. I provide visitor-centered:

  • Exhibit Brainstorming, Scoping, Planning, and Content Development

  • Exhibit Prototyping and Evaluation

  • Interpretive Planning

  • Interpretive Writing and Editing

  • Exhibit and Wayfinding Assessments

  • Organizational Transitions and Transformations

  • Team and Individual Coaching and Workshops

Selected Exhibit Projects

  • View of installed exhibit with wall panels and furniture

    States of Incarceration

    Project director and editor for the Michigan History Center’s installation of this travelling exhibit. I led MHC’s team to develop an additional 1500 sq. ft. of stories on incarceration in Michigan.

  • A museum gallery with a large outrigger canoe against a photographic background of ships sailing.

    Pacific Worlds

    Lead curator for this 8,000 sq. ft. exhibit at the Oakland Museum of California developed in collaboration with a community taskforce. Winner of the American Alliance of Museums Excellence in Exhibitions Award.

  • Large vertical interpretive sign in wooded setting

    Higgins Lake Nursery Trail

    Project director and editor for waysides interpreting the history of the nursery that jumpstarted Michigan’s reforestation.

  • A sunny room with seating and a label saying "Prototyping Parlor"

    Prototyping Parlor

    Converted an closed-off space at the Michigan History Museum into an interactive room where staff and visitors can lounge and prototype exhibit elements together.

  • Wooden gallery wall with images of people at internment camps visible through gaps in boards.

    Sent Away

    Curator for 300 sq. ft. new permanent exhibit on Japanese American incarceration in the Oakland Museum of California’s History Gallery.

  • View of large exhibit space with diverse green objects

    Secret Lives of Michigan Objects

    Project director and editor for this 3000 sq. ft. exhibit at the Michigan History Museum taking a fun look at museum collections.

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I’ve developed exhibits of all sizes—from one case to 80,000 sq. ft.

I’ve spent 15 years in director and curator roles at history museums, most recently the Michigan History Center, where as museum director I led 11 museums and historic sites around the state. I was also a curator at the Oakland Museum of California and The Henry Ford. I’ve developed exhibits of all sizes, many developed collaboratively with communities, winning multiple national exhibit awards along the way. I’ve also acquired and managed many types of collections.

My executive experience gives me a unique perspective on the role of exhibits and exhibit teams in institutional strategy—and the resources needed to sustain teams and organizations. I’ve raised over a million dollars in grants for cultural institutions. My history chops (Ph.D., history of science and technology, University of Minnesota) give me a unique understanding of context, methodology and research.

My dozens of successful exhibits have taught me that what I love most about them--just behind connecting with visitors--is the excitement and creative energy of exhibit development teamwork. I love being the catalyst to get teams moving on developing amazing visitor experiences!

I live in Lansing, Michigan with my wife and bulldog and am available to travel to you and your team.