Reinventing the Collection

“We wanted to reinvent how the collection was presented.
We wanted to better tell the story.”

-Jeffrey Spier, Senior Curator of Antiquities J. Paul Getty Museum

 Author: Summer Stuckey, Frederick Fisher and Partners

Frederick Fisher, founder of Frederick Fisher and Partners and Lauren Friedman, Campus Architect, J.Paul Getty Trust.

On September 26th Frederick Fisher and Lauren Friedman, Campus Architect, J. Paul Getty Trust presented at the 2018 International Association of Museum Facility Administrators (IAMFA) Annual Conference. The IAMFA is an International nonprofit organization devoted to meeting the professional needs of facility and security administrators at cultural institutions.

[Image: Getty Villa / © J. Paul Getty Trust]

The presentation provided a window into the process and challenges associated to the re-organization of the Getty Villa Collection and was structured through the following topics:  Vision, Team, Operations, Scope, Challenges and Material Samples.

 The reconfiguration of galleries was driven by a curatorial decision to present the collection of antiquities chronologically rather than thematically. This direction promotes a better understanding of the pieces in a wider cultural context. Through an inclusive and collaborative process, the Getty team, architects, exhibition designers, engineers and the contractors were able to establish common goals.

Before

After

Photography: Takashige Ikawa

Rapid responses and clear lines of communication were required to complete the project on schedule. All the while working around the museum’s events and keeping 50% of the galleries open during the renovation. The teams goal was to improve lighting, environmental control, visitor support, and increased exhibition space.