RISK ASSESSMENT AND ALTERNATIVE SCENARIOS

EspaceTemps association

The project relies on the association members’ voluntary work. Daily management of the exhibition (opening to the public, guided tours) and the renewal of members will therefore represent major challenges, in order to keep the association and the exhibition alive. However, I plan to establish partnerships with regional institutions. First, I would like to discuss the possibility of sharing mediation activities with the MIH (trained guides, promotion etc.). Second, I would like to discuss with the Musée d’histoire naturelle in Neuchâtel, because in the past the museum has shown great interest in the history of science. Thus, common activities could be organized and financed. Moreover, according to Christophe Dufour, former director of the museum, the Observatory Park is a fascinating botanical and zoological area that the museum would be interested in studying. In this perspective, the Hirsch Pavilion might become a “branch” of the Museum.

Financing of the exhibition

Fundraising also constitutes a risk. Here are a few alternative options, if the necessary amount of money won’t be gathered: – To renounce historical films and recordings and some of the touch screens. These would allow us to save ca. CHF 50’000.–. These elements would be paid by future fundraising campaigns. – To show an audiovisual montage of historical films only in the Committee room.

Savings: CHF 30’000.–. – To define priorities for rooms setting. Rooms without items would be set up first, to enliven spaces which are currently empty. – To stagger the realization of the rooms over several years. Each room opening would be an event raising curiosity and renovating interest in the exhibition.

Exhibition renewal

It will be necessary to update and renovate the exhibition content and design, so that it remains attractive to audiences. The operating budget has a specific entry for this. The space available in the Hirsch Pavilion isn’t enough for temporary exhibitions. In the future, it will be interesting to obtain the permission to use the Director’s House, on the Observatory site, to carry out this new project.

SOCIAL RELEVANCE

The usefulness of museums for society has been stressed by the International council of museums (ICOM). In a society constantly turned towards the future and technical progress, looking back at the past and our heritage represents a powerful means to better understand how scientific discoveries have led us to knowledge and to evolve with this knowledge. This exhibition project wishes: – To share scientific questions and knowledge – To safeguard an important heritage for future generations and make it accessible – To contribute to a better understanding of the history of time measurement in the

Neuchâtel region, because this history shaped our culture of time – To understand the past to help us to develop the future – To offer a poetic way to deal with science contents.

“Museums are democratising, inclusive and polyphonic spaces for critical dialogue about the pasts and the futures. Acknowledging and addressing the conflicts and challenges of the present, they hold artefacts and specimens in trust for society, safeguard diverse memories for future generations and guarantee equal rights and equal access to heritage for all people. Museums are not for profit. They are participatory and transparent, and work in active partnership with and for diverse communities to collect, preserve, research, interpret, exhibit, and enhance understandings of the world, aiming to contribute to human dignity and social justice, global equality and planetary wellbeing.”

International council of museums (ICOM)