2025 Poster Session

The installation of Phase II at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) presents a unique opportunity to explore new theoretical frameworks for interdisciplinary cooperation between mount makers, conservators, and curators. This paper proposes a cooperative model that emphasizes shared decision-making, expertise exchange, and joint problem-solving during the installation process. Although theoretical, this approach could significantly enhance both the preservation of artifacts and the effectiveness of their exhibition.

In the context of GEM’s Phase II installation, the collaboration between mount makers, tasked with ensuring the stability and display readiness of artifacts, conservators, responsible for the long-term preservation of the objects, and curators, who provide the historical and cultural narrative, is crucial. This model advocates for a more integrated approach, where these professionals work closely from the planning stages through to the final exhibition setup.

The proposed cooperation model includes regular interdisciplinary meetings, shared databases for artifact condition reports, and co-created exhibition plans that consider both conservation needs and aesthetic presentation. By examining the installation process at GEM, this hypothesis explores how these cooperative strategies could be practically applied to ensure that artifacts are not only preserved effectively but also presented in a way that enhances the visitor experience.

The anticipated outcomes of this theoretical framework include improved artifact stability through bespoke mounts, better conservation through joint decision-making, and a more cohesive exhibition that reflects both curatorial vision and conservation requirements. This model, while hypothetical, provides a foundation for developing future methodologies that prioritize collaboration, enhancing the storytelling potential of museum exhibitions.