The Smithsonian Institution is a unique complex of 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park, and nine research centers. The Smithsonian is a national and world treasure and is dedicated to its founding mission, “the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” Its exhibitions, programs, collections, and outreach touch the lives of millions of Americans every year, as well as many who visit us from abroad.
In 2021, the Smithsonian’s Arts + Industries Building (AIB) will open to the public for the first time in nearly two decades for a long-term exposition, FUTURES. This 8-month part exhibition, part festival will shift the paradigm in how we think about the future, presenting multiple possible futures for visitors to explore, test, embrace, and debate. In addition to a new type of museum experience, FUTURES will offer a visitor experience that will embrace the curatorial ideas that surround it: cutting-edge, people-focused, embodying an integrated statement about the future, and exploring how we relate to the digital world and our leisure time.
The Contractor will join the exhibition team to execute services for four phases (4):
- exhibition development, where the Contractor will advise on the development of exhibition technology interactives, assist with minimal project management as the overall exhibition and interactive designs are finalized and begin initial planning for daily exhibition maintenance on interactives and key content pieces in the show;
- fabrication and installation, where the Contractor will assist in the oversight and coordination of exhibition interactives, AV/media components and other key elements of the show;
- daily operations and maintenance, where the Contractor will oversee and execute the daily operations and maintenance required to run the exhibition;
- and deinstallation, where the Contractor will assist in the coordination and oversight of deinstallation of exhibition interactives, AV/media components and other key elements of the show.
The Contractor will be responsible for planning for and executing the daily operations and maintenance activities required to run the exhibition with specific focus on the technology interactives planned for FUTURES. AIB will follow Smithsonian-wide COVID safety protocols and the most updated requirements will be part of the daily operations plan.
Submitting Your Quote
Candidate’s resumes and price quotes should be submitted by electronic mail to Melissa Rasowsky at rasowskym@si.edu. Candidate’s resumes and price quotes are due by the close of business on Friday, August 13, 2021.
Statement of Work
The contract will be for approximately 14 months contingent on performance. The anticipated start date is Monday, August 30, 2021.
The Contractor will advise on the final development of AV and media for the FUTURES exhibition and assist with some project management tasks as designs are finalized. The Contractor will thoroughly review all AV and media plans developed to advise on and, as outlined in this scope of work, execute on the further development of those plans. The Contractor will develop the daily operations plan for AV, media and other key components in the exhibition during the run of show and will execute that plan. AIB intends to hire an additional contractor to supplement the execution of the daily operations plan during the Contractor’s off days.
View schedule of phases and further application details!
If you have a job or internship opportunity to share with Arts Management students and alumni, email a full description to amgtgmu@gmu.edu for posting.