REBECCA
MIGDAL
Museum Quality Research & Writing
on Art, Antiques, Architecture, and Artifacts
Services
I work on projects for museums, historic sites, non-profit organizations, and private clients to tell great stories, explore important ideas, and engage their audiences. I provide the following services, combining and adapting them to meet the needs of clients and their project goals.
Collections Research
What is this stuff?
Collections are key to museum missions and I can help you establish better care, control, and understanding of these essential resources. My goal is to improve your stewardship of your collection and your ability to share it with your community. From buildings to books and spoons to sofas, I evaluate and research artifacts as an extension of your curatorial team. I advise on collection policies and procedures, including selection and documentation. I bring to this work an expertise in American Material Culture and a deep curiosity for things.
EXHIBITION DEVELOPMENT
How do we engage visitors?
Exhibitions are opportunities to build community and strengthen society through meaningful experiences with history and culture. I can help at all stages of building those experiences. I help develop exhibits by identifying key goals, curating the objects, researching content, organizing the space, considering the interactive features, developing designs, or writing text. I collaborate with architects, planners, designers, and fabricators to produce a clear and effective visitor experience. I bring to this work both playfulness and practicality.
INTERPRETIVE WRITING
What is our story?
In pursuit of your mission, you must tell your story — about your building, history, collections, community, and/or future — and I can help craft it. I find the right tone and style for interpretive (educational) material in temporary or permanent displays or tours. I transform dense research into clear exhibit text. My writing about various topics, but specialize in using historic places and objects to reveal insights into human aspiration and innovation. I bring to this work a love of words and a vision of museums as place of connection and transformation.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
How do we make this work?
Every museum project requires coordination of a team and I can help. I guide projects from start to finish. I keep a team focused, coordinated, and motivated, whether it is a team of one, a vast team spread out geographically, or a small-but-mighty team on-site. I help a team identify goals, set priorities, track progress, and troubleshoot problems, aimed at creating valuable and meaningful projects. I bring to this work an adoration for spreadsheets and the idea that people should be at the center of every museum project.
Rebecca Migdal is a museum consultant and freelance curator that offers collections reseaarch, interpretive writing, exhibition development, and project management for museums and other non-profit organizations. She works on projects for museums, historic sites, non-profit organizations, and private clients to tell great stories, explore important ideas, and engage their audiences. I provide the following services, combining and adapting them to meet the needs of clients and their project goals.