This course aims to provide students with the history and the making of exhibition shows. Starting with an overview about the role of exhibitions in museums as well as in cultural policy and as a leisure activity the students will understand that exhibitions can play different roles. Exhibitions are an essential part of the communication and education strategy of a museum and as a 'Blockbuster' often used for money-raising. But exhibitions are also philosophical and creative statements of the curator or 'Ausstellungsmacher'. 

By discussing famous examples of legendary exhibition shows like 'When attitudes become form' of Harald Szeemann or ' Hotel Carlton Palace: Chambre 763' by Hans Ulrich Obrist or the online exhibition show 'Virtual Transfer Musee Suisse' students will analyze and learn how different the strategies of successful exhibition shows can be. Therefore students will learn the names of great curators and their philosophies. By understanding the different types of display, the students will learn which type of exhibition show will support what kind of messages. Another aspect is the changing interpretation of the object or artifact in the exhibition context. Related to the message of the exhibition the same object can be used for different meanings. The management of exhibition as part of a museum policy and in relation to other museum activities will be another aspect to learn. What are the elements of the workflow to plan an exhibition and what are the steps of the designing process from the first idea until the evaluation after the exhibition. By the end of the semester students should be able to know the different displays, the different strategies of exhibition making as well as to plan and design an exhibition show and how to calculate and produce it.