The exhibition project: theories and practices of project management in museum exhibitions.

This master’s degree thesis investigates the importance of project management practices in the organization of temporary art exhibitions in museums. The first part of this thesis is the literature review of the basics of project management and its theories, the history of exhibitions in museums and the practical organisation of exhibitions. The second part is focused on the study of how the theories of project management can be applied to the organization of a temporary museum exhibition and the importance of this specific practice to create successful events. This research will be supported with a case study on the organization of a temporary exhibition in a large museum in Venice, enriched with interviews to the Head of the Exhibition Office, the Director’s Administration Office, and my own observations during the museum internship. The case study will highlight the application (or non-application) of PM practices in a real-life temporary exhibition, the results of these practices and what museum professionals can do in the future to make sure their exhibitions are successful.